Letters to magazines or newspapers Model answer You have read an article about the importance of eating healthy food and the dangers of ‘junk food’ on our health. Write a letter to the newspaper saying why it may be difficult for many people to follow this advice. Write about 120-150 words. ‘+ Say why you think the basic idea in the article is a good idea. * Describe some reasons why it may not be so easy for some people. ‘+ Say what supermarkets and fast-food restaurants could do to help. C Dear Sir/Madam, I found your article about healthy The first sentence should food interesting, but I think —<-------|-] get straight tothe point by referring to the context, [usngainkngwodike] | you failed to discuss some very aiden althoughis a good way of | | important issues. Everyone necessary and stating Setling up acontrasting | | knows about the dangers of your reason for writing Torwiy something might | | ating unhealthy food, but constructonisavery notbe as straightforward |.-p although we get lots of advice useful way of beginning a as Is suggested about healthy diets, for many efter ike tis berause you [Using an expression ke] PeOble it isn’t so simple to ons postne tea he this:formenypeople |." suddenly start a diet of good food ‘add but to prepare the itsntso simple They may be very busy and not reade for some diferent prepares ie reader, | have time to think enough about | LYE tofallow. So isa useful the food they eat. They may ayo make them wantto | | find it easier to buy a pizza or a Teun inessawavey hamburger. They may find healthy | efecve constuction and food too expensive. stevseeeeespe] make a point forcefully in ‘Starting a sentence with writing ofthis king. Also, What. again raises the What your article fails to mention | [yen oto of they may ee arecieatnyare | | ig that we still find ‘junk food” in reinforces the point. reads What your article “attractive packets in supermarkets. fails to mentions... he/ |” | We still find fast-food restaurants m Knows chat another everywhere. They should help us made. become more healthy by —<--...--. --] Note the use of the "|. selling good quality food which is cones ve device by m quick to prepare and cheap to buy. | | ised0 ntraduce ways in Yours, fastfood restaurants con igpworts] improve the situation | Practice 4 You read an article in a newspaper about the violence depicted in computer games. The writer obviously thinks that there is too much violence shown in these games and that this could damage young people in some way. Write a letter to the magazine giving your own view on the review. Write about 120-150 words. 2 You read a review in your local newspaper about a new restaurant in your town. The review is very critical of the food and the service. You went to the same restaurant this week and found everything very good. Write a response to the review stating your own view and criticising the critic. Write about 120-450 words. Writing guide FedPer) Emails and other forms of electronic communication Model answer You read a discussion on a website entitled ‘Why we don’t need books any more’, about how our access to technology is replacing the need for books. Write a contribution to the website, giving your opinion. Write about 120-150 words. ene Yes, of course, nowadays we You have a limited number There are lois ofdiferent | | can find as much information as__ || of words, soit's important ways of announcing your ee to get straight tothe point eon inanee a we need on the Internet. But to Inthe opening sentence, writing. Here the writer my mind, books do much more {he writer manages fo uses to my mind, bu pe riefly summarise the point ee than simply give us information hefsheis responding, I'm concemed ar io my Whether we are talking about wlstathe same tine pinion. reparing the reader for an es fiction or non-fiction, the truth Siternative point of view. Here isan example of is that a book provides the Stuns onto thermath [| background to a story, explores s...,implies that thereis_ | | its history and its characters and no lscussion, t's a fac Beach iryouecldeto | | allows the author to express and use this kind of language. t | | develop a point of view Jean emphasise a pont, but shauldbe used sparing. | | A book is real; it's there; you can Other examples are: ts the ease that.., its absolutely | | tUTN Its pages, pick it up, hold The use of short, sharp sure that... what! am it, flick through its pages, check .....-}-{ and simple phrases is [certain about is. Sonn avery powerful way of back to an earlier page. You might eee done argue that the Internet can do inthis ease the witeris all these things but somehow it's see renee are These kinds of phrases ‘not the same. And while we are toreferto the book This are used tink wo ideas isan especial effective within the same subject |_| 0 the subject of bogks, you will ‘approach when the short matter. Imagine how abrupt | | “riever replace a good novel with phrases are followed by a or sudden the change to Tanger phrase or sentence talking about novels would technology. It ls samething so deep to provide contrast. be if the phrase and while in our culture that | don't believe it we are onthe subject of were not there. will ever die. [144 words) Se | Practice 1 You read a discussion forum on a media website comparing the experience of watching films on DVD and watching them at the cinema. Write a contribution to the debate giving your views on the two forms of watching movies. Write about 120-50 words. 2 You read an article on a website saying that technology will soon replace newspapers. The website asks readers to add their opinion and give examples. Write your contribution in about 120-150 words.Essays Model answer You have been asked to write an essay in answer to the following question. Is higher education worth it? Many students make the decision not to do a university course and to get a full-time job when they finish school, even if their results are good enough to continue their academic education. Are they doing the right thing? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this decision? Write about 200-250 words. Writing guide TUT UT UT TTT >f hort waste words by repeating the question |Get straight into answering the question by using lexpressions like the one used here: Most people Ts higher education worth i? Note that the second half | | Mos! people would say that, if you have the ‘ofthe sentence explains | | sbiiy, shen you should continue with your the first. In this case academic education afler you finish se) the word when is used fier instead of Because or as_| | GeHina dood gualifications is tnportan! toda) lyould say... Then you aresult of .|.ahen i is getting more and more difficult to |can elaborate and develop fei & job, But shore are soveral disadvantages. | lyour own argument without Use these kinds of “Fist ofall is expensive Apart from the fees) [wasting any words devices wien you want to |" ie Tor your parents) may have do pay, you Gevelop alist of examples | | also spend af least three years of your life not | | These are known as or ideas: first ofall... arming money So whe is going to suppat you? | | thetorical questions They are asked to make secondly... finally. a point rather than find Siren stipe etces | | Mane chien of less wealthy paren's simply like thisis are: in the first | | can? afford to pay the fees, s0 they get a job ut information so they place... fo begin with Secondly, there is no guarantee hat you get's, | don't expect an answer. rthen.., next... etc.But | | job when you finish Graduate unemployment is \f | Questions like this are make Sure that, when you | |hecominy more and more widespread. typical in spoken arguments use these, you continue but they can also be used the sequence. Fyou write in written contexts. As with firstly.., make sure you all such figures of speech, His true to say that academic education suits some people, while other peo ‘then have a secondly from the practical experience of getting a job 1h) however, they should not rotherwise you will lose | | rather than doing more study. Mang jobs these [| be overused. sourreaders, days tnclude taining programmes for that specific job so the educaion is more focused | [Sis acohesive device Ts always usefulto In my own experience, I was undecided what linking the first part of the personals yourwitog | YT wand 1 ao when lft schol a 1 erence which sates he by sing examalesof | | ronal though thal the epportaiy to go 10 | part af the sentence which eee eerences® | | university was doo god to wiss as you gel an | |aives a possible soliton mnatter Mostofene opies | | edacation and you mectineresing people But f [We could rewrite the sentence like this: Because presented are those which | | 1 didn't sinply choose an ineresting academic Xe have some relevance to subject Insiead I chose a practical subject Mthe fees. the afford ome your own ite so youwillbe | | whick would axprove my chances of employment | |i te fees they gst afob, Bu when J finished university so. Think ofit as meaning So E would say thal, yes, higher education is | Jas aresut. definitely worth il if you use it carefully to Conclude the essay b mY sive yourself a good chance of using it to find referring back to the question and giving your pF employment. own opinion. [262 words] Practice Write an essay in answer to the following questions in about 200-250 words. 1 Do you think famous sports personalities get paid too much? Give some examples and give reasons for your answer. 2 “Cheap travel will soon be a thing of the past and holidays will never be the same again.” Why do you think this statement has been made and how far do you agree with it?Articles Model answer You have agreed to write an article for your school/college magazine, which is producing a special edition entitled "Youth Today". Write about 200-250 words. [The first sentence is important as you lwant to spark the readers’ interest and get them to read further. You can do this in different ways. In this example the jwriter apparently agrees that life should be better, but by including ia many ays in the Fist line, prepares the reader for the opposite view, Are youngsters today happier than they were 50 years ago? «.- > In many ways, it's true to say that life is better for many people today. Technology, science and medicine have made our lives easier, safer and healthier, the age of cheap travel has allowed us to see places we could have only dreamt about fifty years ago, and music and film are much thetorical question, lwhich makes 3 point, rather than expecting Jan answer and prepares the reader For same examples, repetitive language to presenta list of items or ideas for effect This is a useful device for witing for effect. In this case there is a lst of things we want to acquire and at the end we are brought down suddenly by the simple sentence ‘and that costs money. [Another example of a ‘Another example of more available, | “107110730 soossssoseecoeeen If that is the case, why is there so much stress in -}- modern life? The same technology and media that have improved so many aspects of our lives, are also responsible for making us anxious. We |4are constantly exposed to people telling us what we should look like, what we should be wearing, what we should be listening to, what phone we should be using. We see our idols on the TV and want to be like them. We have to have the best, the newest, the most fashionable — and that costs _money. ‘There is also much more pressure in the workplace. Years ago, you would finish your education and get a job you could stay in as long as you wanted. But now you get a job and before you know it, people are telling you that you have to move on. It seems there is no such thing as a permanent job any more, <--------e---seeeeeeeee So are youngsters appier now than fifty years ago? Despite all the excitement and the fast pace of life today, I really don’t think they are. If you're one of the young people affecte u'll probably never know. Meccccccsecceeeeceeeeete [250 words} Articles usually have atitle or a heading to| attract the readers attention. Tis is not absolutely necessary but including one will make your articl| look more realistic and create a good impression from the start This series of clauses expands on the areas that have helped improve our lives in recent years, The use of two contrasting sentences to make apointis very effective inthis kind of writing. a This last short paragraph returns to the question originally asked and attempts to answer itPractice 1 You see this advertisement in an English language magazine and decide to write an article and enter the competi PRIZES To BE Wo Our writing competition this month is entitled Write an essay describing your experience and say why you think it changed your life. ' ‘An experience that changed my life’. Write an article in about 200-250 words. 2 You see this notice in your college magazine. “The best way to study” We need articles for the next issue to help new students coming to the college. Tell us your “top tips” on how to study effectively and which work for you so we can pass them on to others. Write an article in about 200-250 words. Fern