IGCSE ESL

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Writing Questions
Summarising
Letter (Friendly or Formal)
Essay (Newspaper Article)

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Friendly Letters
The Basics
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Sample Questions
Write to a relative who missed a family
celebration, telling him/her all about it.
A cousin you have never met before has
written saying she/he is coming to stay.
Write and tell him/her about your family,
your home and the area you live in.
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Most Important
Forget you are in an exam
Always imagine the situation is real.

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So, before you write ..

While reading the question, try to imagine the
WHOLE situation.
Where you are.
Why you are writing.
How you are feeling.

Also, consider
Who you are writing to.

Then, write to this person.

NEVER WRITE TO THE EXAMINER.
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Friendly Letter Format

Greeting
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Transition and Body
Paragraph 3: Body
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
Ending and signature
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Body
Body has different features depending on question
type
1. Narrative

Telling a story
Describing an event

2. Descriptive
1.

Describing people or places.

3. Advice
Well do this later.
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Introduction WHY?

TO SHOW THE
LOVE
As such, dont answer the main
question here.
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Introduction HOW?
1. Apology
1.

Reason for not writing previously

2. Not an apology
1.

Positive reason for writing

3. Personal Reference
1.

Just thinking about you

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Transition Sentence
Second paragraph first sentence
Links introduction to main part of
letter.
So, should inform reader of reason for
writing, i.e. the question.
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Transition Sentence
1. Using Anyway; or Anyhow,
1.
2.

These words change the subject

Show that the real reason for writing is
coming

2. Using the past tense

1.
2.

Shows respect.
That the information may not be
important to the reader.
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