WRITING LESSON 5

Lesson focus Describe maps

I. MAP

1. Types of map

 One map: describe a map using past/ present tense

 Two maps: describe and compare the changes between two maps, which can be past -
present, present - present, present - future.
Example:

The two maps below show road access to a city hospital in 2007 and in 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisions where relevant.

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2. Structure

Introduction Paraphrase the topic of the task

Summarize the overall changes/ the most

noticeable differences in the map, such as size,
density, modernity, etc.
Examples:
Overview - Over the period, the area witnessed dramatic
changes.
- The village saw spectacular developments.
- During the 10 year period, the old docks were
totally transformed.

- Body 1: Describe specific changes

Body
- Body 2: Describe specific changes

3. Language to describe map

* Directional language

Top left - hand corner Top Top right - hand corner

Left - hand side Middle/Centre Right - hand corner

Bottom left - hand corner Bottom Bottom right - hand corner

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Examples:

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* Language to describe changes

Object Change Example

A power plant was
built, constructed, erected constructed to the east of
the mine.

reconstructed, renovated, The university library was

Buildings
modernized completely renovated.

The playground was

converted , transformed (into
converted into a large car
something)
park.

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 The garden was replaced by
replaced (by something)
a large car park.

The student hall was

relocated, moved (to
relocated to the east of the
somewhere)
university.

The hotel was greatly

extended, expanded extended to a total of 70
rooms.

The warehouse was

demolished, knocked down,
demolished and replaced by
flattened
a garage,

cut down, chopped down The forest on the Western

end of the island were
cleared (to make way for) chopped down to make way
Trees/Forest for a hotel.

Many palms were planted

planted
around the villa.

A bridge across the river was

constructed, built, erected
erected.

The main road was widened

Bridge/ Road/ Port/ Railway/
expanded, extended, widened to meet the increasing
Mortorway, etc.
demand.

The old railway alongside

reopened
the river has been reopened.

A new theme park was

opened up, set up,
opened just opposite the
established
Amenities shopping mall.

developed, expanded, The cinema was expanded

extended to the north.

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4. Practice

Practice 1

The plans below show the layout of a university’s sports centre now, and how it
will look after redevelopment.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and
make comparisons where relevant.

Introduction

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Overview

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Body

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Practice 2

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Introduction

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Overview

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Body

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Model essay

The two maps describe a number of changes which took place in Islip town during a 10-year
period starting from 2005.

Overall, the town has been completely transformed after the constructions of several
facilities.

In 2005, the main road running from east to west was lined with shops. There were two
housing areas to the south of this road while the northern side remained a rural area. A
school was located to the west of the residential areas and there was a park to the east of the
accommodations. Both the school and the park were connected to the main road by minor
roads.
As can be seen from the second picture, the most notable change that took place in Islip in
2010 was the construction of a dual carriageway surrounding the town. Besides, the main
road was converted into a pedestrian precinct and the shops on the north side of it were
demolished. A bus stop and a car park were built and in the middle of these areas, a shopping
mall was established. In addition, there was also a new housing area which can be accessed
via a minor road connecting with the divided highway. Finally, more accommodations were
also built on the south side of the pedestrian zone and the park was made smaller to make
way for this development.

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Practice 3

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Practice 4

Practice 5
The map below shows the changes that have taken place at the waterfront area of a
town called Darwin between 2009 and 2014.

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