1

1. WHAT THE TEACHER WANTS FROM YOU…

Ideas…
KEY QUESTION: Does the writer stay focused and share
an original information or perspective about the topic?

 Make sense and are important

 Has a main idea, then it develops into an explanation and finally,
concrete examples
 Writer includes his or her own experience
 The writer says something new

Voice . . .
KEY QUESTION: Would you keep reading this piece
if it were longer? MUCH longer?
• Writing has style, flavor
• Reaches out to me, the reader. Brings me “inside”
• Makes me feel…

Sentence Fluency…
KEY QUESTION: Can you feel the words and phrases
flow together as you read the passage?

• It’s smooth going – easy to the ear, I could easily read this aloud
• Almost every sentence begins in a slightly different way, OR with
nice connectors
• Variety between short and long sentences
• Sentences have a SUBJECT and are not left incomplete

Organization . . .

KEY QUESTION: Does the organizational

structure enhance the ideas and make it easier
to understand?

• The opening makes me want to keep reading

• Has a logical order or pattern (problem/solution, comparison-contrast,
story unfolding over time, etc.)
• I can follow the story or main points
• Ends well. Ties up loose ends. Doesn’t stop abruptly
• Doesn’t end with, “Then I woke up and it was all a dream!” or “and this
is my story”
• Doesn’t repeat with, “Now you know the three reasons we should fight
pollution.”

2
Word Choice . . .
KEY QUESTION: Do the words and phrases
create vivid pictures and linger in your mind?

• Makes me say, “YEAH! that’s just the right word or phrase.”

• Long after reading, some words still tug at my memory
• Words are used correctly
• The writer chooses wisely, but isn’t afraid to stretch
• This writer knows the language of the topic – but doesn’t try to impress
me with phony, bloated, phrases
• Tip: Use simple language if it gets the job done

Conventions…
KEY QUESTIONS: How much editing would
have to be done to be ready to share with an
outside audience?

• The writing is clean and polished. It looks proofread.

• Most things are done correctly.
• Careful, controlled use of conventions makes meaning clear and reading
easy.
• No BIG ERRORS ON THE PAGE. Think about the mistakes! A lot!!
• Spelling, punctuation, grammar, capital letters and paragraph
indenting: This writer has thoughtfully attended to ALL conventional
details.

2. BEFORE WRITING:
1. Analyse the question and think about S-A-R-I

Subject

What is the question about?

Aspect

What aspects of the subject must be included in your answer?

Write about what you know!

Restrictions

Any word limits? Any structures that you need to use? Any
vocabulary that is relevant for the topic?

Instructions

What does the question ask you to do? An essay, a report, an

article?

2. Find your voice.

3
 a. All human beings have something to say, what do you have to
tell me about the topic?
b. Remember that the aim of any writer is to hold someone’s
attention. Make them curious about your writing.

3. BRAINSTORMING: plan your answer!

 Write down all the ideas that come to

mind
 Try to formulate questions like WHO,
WHAT, HOW, WHEN, WHILE, WHERE?
o Choose the ones that you think
are relevant
 Start organizing them in groups, so that
one idea relates to the other.

3. START YOUR TASK

1. Organization

Interesting headline: try to play with words, collocations and idioms, raise
your reader’s curiosity. Why should he or she read your work?

Paragraph structure (3 main parts)

a) Opening sentence  presents the idea

b) Body of the paragraph  it adds relevant information to the main idea.
It can include examples or personal experiences.
c) Closing sentence  rephrasing of the main idea

4
Text organisation: The text must be divided into paragraphs; each with
a different function.

1. Introduction/opening (paragraph 1): introduces the topic and

catches the reader’s attention. To do so you can use:
a. Questions: Have you ever wondered…?
b. A fact: It is a well-known fact that…// In 1992, X was born.
It was the beginning of….// One of the most striking features
of X is…
c. A quote (if you know any): As X said, “…”, this is relevant
because…
d. A prompt: it is widely considered that… // it is often
said/asserted/claimed that…//By way of introduction/ As an
introduction,
2. Body (Second/third... paragraphs): it develops the topic and provides
information on the topic.
a.
3. Conclusion (last paragraph): it summarizes the topic and the key
ideas. It also provides food for thought.

These paragraphs are organized by means of CONNECTORS or expressions,

and enriched through the use of ADJECTIVES

EXAMPLE:

It’s hard to imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower. This famous tower is
the city’s most famous symbol. But what do you actually know about it?

First of all, it’s 300 metres tall and it weighs 7,000 tonnes. It’s got
1,672 stairs and five lifts. It was built in 1889. Back then, it was the
tallest structure in the world. Its design was also very unusual as it was
designed by an iron engineer, Gustave Eiffel. The French Government
asked him to build something in honour of an international exhibition.
He wanted to design a building with a special open shape that showed
its iron structure. That is why the tower hasn’t got any walls. Some
people thought the building was unsafe. Others found it to be quite
ugly. But obviously, Eiffel’s design is original and powerful. Over 250
million tourists have visited the tower and enjoyed its magnificent views
of Paris.

Clearly, the Eiffel Tower is no ordinary skyscraper. It has been

one of the world’s favourite attractions since it was built.

5
Listen:

6
 2. Select the right Connectors

Here is a list of the main connectors you are going to use this year.

Type Function Examples

We didn’t go because it was raining.
We couldn’t hear him because of all the noise.
They express
We went home since we ran out of money.
Cause cause or
The route was changed due to the weather
reason
As a result of your support, I didn’t give up.

I was late, so I missed the train

It describes a As a result, I didn’t get to London on time
Effect I was sceptical. Therefore, I didn’t listen to her advice
result

I am daring, but I’m not fearless.

The film was funny. However, it wasn’t original.
Although he is my favourite actor, the film was bad
They relate Even though I was tired, I enjoyed the film
Contrast contrasting While the king was young and inexperienced, he made
ideas excellent decisions.
The queen was popular despite/in spite of her
unusual personality

At first, he saw the flames.

In the beginning¸we heard a loud sound.
Previously, we had smelt smoke.
They provide
Next, I phoned the police.
Sequence logical order
Then, I ran outside.
to your text
Eventually, the firefighters arrived.
Finally, we went home.
In the end, everyone was safe
We took the train and we rented a car for a day.
We visited many museums. We also toured a number
of palaces.
The add In addition, we stopped using disposable products.
information There’s a café as well as a restaurant on the beach.
Addition
on the same The hotel is central. Furthermore, it’s eco-friendly.
topic We recycle all our bottles. Moreover, we have a
compost bin.
Besides its historical sites, the town has got a lovely
beach.
I called to invite you to my party.
She came in order to help us.
I shouted so that they would hear me.
Express an
purpose
intention

7
 In case you want to expand on connectors…

Meaning Sentence connectors Subordinates Phrase linkers

Therefore
As a result
Consequently because because of
As a consequence since as a resault of
Cause and effect Hence as due to
Thus thereby leading to
Conclusively owning to
In conclusion
Inevitably
Likewise
Comparison as like
Similarly
similar to
In the same way
However
Nevertheless
Yet although
Still even though despite
Contrast in expectation On the contrary though despite of
Unfortunately despite the fact in spite of
Originally but but
Surprisingly
Ideally
Apperently
On the other hand
Contrast in comparison while unlike
In contrast
whereas
Conversely
Contrast in action Instead instead of
In fact
Indeed
As a matter of fact
Emphasis That is
Essentially
Interetingly
Fortunately
Inevitably
Primarily
Main reason
Most important
Typically
Usually
Confirmation Traditionally In accordance with
Normally confirms
Naturally
Clearly

8
 In other words
Clarification That is summing up i.e.
To sum up In
summary
In general Generally
Generally speaking
Generalization In a broader context
In a broader perspective

In particular
Specialization Particulary
Specifically
Moreover
Besides in addition to
Additional Information Additionally with besides
in addition
Furthermore
In this contex
In this Connection
Continuation of explanation In this respect with
In this perspective
Here
if
provided that
In that case when
Condition Otherwise while
Now until
Given as long as
now that
once that
Regardless regardless of
Without condition even though
Despite despite of
For example
exemplified by like
For instance
Example ilustrated by such as
As shown by
shown by e.g.
As As exemplified by As
be it
illustrated by
Qualification At least
First second, ...
Then
Next before before
Ordering Now after after
Continuing
Further
Finally
Regarding For
Reintroduction In connection with
Focusing on With respect to

9
UNIT 1

A Narrative
Why is a narrative important? Because we constantly tell stories and we need
to organise our ideas.

Check model on SB page 16.

Paragraph 1 (opening)
When:
Where:
What happened in general

Paragraph 2
Details of what happened

How the people felt:

Paragraph 3
What happened in the end

How the people felt

WHAT YOU NEED TO USE (check SB page 20 for the summary)

 Structures in the past

 Vocabulary
 Connectors of sequence

Consider these questions for inspiration:

 Where did you go?

 Why did you go there?
 Who did you go with?
 What happened?
 How did you feel?

TASK: Write a narrative about either the most interesting trip you ever
had. Write about 110 words

10
 HEY HO! LET’S GO!

Title:

P1

P2

P3

11