Listening &

Writing
 In today’s lesson:
Listening: Form Completion
• Basic information
• Strategy – Tips
• Practice
Writing: Creating a good
paragraph in IELTS task
2
• What makes a good paragraph
• How to achieve the criteria
• Practice
Form completion
Form completion
- SECTION 1: 10 questions
- Factual information:
names, phone numbers,
addresses, dates, time,…
Strategy
Strategy
Step 1: Read the instructions
and pay attention to WORD
LIMIT
Strategy
Step 2: Read the title:
Understand the context
- Who are the speakers?
- What are they talking
about?
Strategy
Step 3: Underline keywords
 Strategy
Step 4: Predict the answers
and word type

number
N N
number
adj
Strategy
Step 5: Listen and answer
the questions
Practice
 230 South Road

18
activities workshops
250
interactive
Materials

insurance
publicity

programme

not available / unavailable

Ralph: Hello?
Paula: Ralph, it’s Paula
Ralph: Hi
Ralph: You know i told you we could apply to the local council for money for our
drama club. I've got the application form here but we need to get it back to them by
the end of the week. I could send it on to you. You really ought to fill it in as
president of the club, but I don't know if it’ll get to you in time.
Ralph: Well, you're the secretary, so I expect it's OK if you fill it in.
Paula: Yeah, but I'd really like to check it together.
Ralph: Right. That's fine.
Paula: Like the first part asks for the main contact person can l put you there?
Ralph: Sure
Paula: Right. So that's Ralph Pearson .. and then need your contact address, so
that's 203 South Road, isn't it?
Ralph: No. 230
Paula: Sorry. I always get that wrong .. Then it's Drayton .. do you think they need a
postcode?
Ralph: Better put it's DR6 SAB
Paula: Hmm mrnm. OK ... telephone number that’s 01453 586098 isn’t it?
Ralph: Yes.
Paula: Right Now, in the next part of the form I have to give information about our
group ... so. name of group, that's easy, we're the Community Youth Theatre Group, but
then I have to describe it. So, what sort of information do you think they want?
Ralph: Well, they need to know we're amateurs, not professional actors... and how many
members we've got what's that at present, twenty?
Paula: Eighteen and should we put in the age range, that's 13 to 22?
Ralph: No, I don't think we need to. But we'd better put a bit about what we actually do ...
something like 'members take part in drama activities’.
Paula: Activities and workshops?
Ralph:OK.
Paula:Right That’s all for that section I think.
Paula: Now, the next bit is about the project itself what we're applying for funding for. So
first of all, they need to know how much money we want. The maximum's £500.
Ralph: l think we agreed we’d ask for £250. didn't we?
Paula: OK. There’s no point in asking for too much, we'll have less chance of getting it.
Then, we need to say what the project ... erm, the activity is.
Ralph: Right so we could write something like 'to produce a short play for young children’.
Paula: Should we say it's interactive?
Ralph: Yes, good idea ...
Paula: Right . I've got that. Then we have to say what we actually need the money for...
Ralph: Isn’t that it?
Paula: No, we have to give a breakdown of details, I think.
Ralph: Well, there's the scenery
Paula: But we're making that.
Ralph: We need to buy the materials, though
Paula: OK Then there’s the costumes.
Ralph: Right. That’s going to be at least £50.
Paula: OK. And what else ... oh, I just found out we have to have insurance ... I don’t think it’ll cost
much, but we need to get it organised.
Ralph: Yes ... I’d forgotten about that, and we could be breaking the law if we don’t have it. Good
thing we’ve already got curtains in the hall, at least we don’t have to worry about that.
Paula: Mrhm. We'll need some money for publicity otherwise no one will know what we’re doing.
Ralph: And then a bit of money for unexpected things that come up - just put ’sundries' at the end
of the list.
Paula: OK. fine Now the next thing they want lo know is if they give us the grant, how they'll be
credited.
Ralph: What do they mean, credited?
Paula: I think they mean how we'll let the public know that they funded us .. they want people to
know they've supported us, it looks good for them.
Ralph: Mmm. Well, we could say we'd announce it at the end of the play. We could make a speech
or something.
Paula: Hmm, they might prefer to see something in writing. We'll be giving the audience a
programme, won't we - so we could put an acknowledgement in that?
Ralph: Yeah, that's a better idea.
Paula: OK And the last thing they want to know is if we've approached any other organisations for
funding, and what the outcome was.
Ralph: Well, only National Youth Services and they said that at present funds were not available for
arts projects
Paula: Right. I’ll put that and then I think that’s it. I'll get that in the post straight away I really hope
we get the money.
Ralph: I think we've got a pretty good chance hope so anyway. Thanks for doing all this, Paula.
Paula: That’s OK See you soon .. Bye
Ralph: Bye
 Vocabulary

Amateur (adj): doing something

for pleasure or interest, not as a
job
- He was an amateur singer until the age
of 40, when he turned professional.
 Vocabulary

There’s no point v-ing: it is useless

or a waste of time to V:
- There is no point in locking the barn
door now that the horse has been stolen.
 Vocabulary

Interact (v): to communicate with or

react to
-> interactive (adj): involving communication
between people
- The school believes in interactive teaching
methods.
 Vocabulary

Breakdown (n): detailed

information that you get by
studying a set of figures
- Please provide us with a breakdown
of expenditure by department.
 Vocabulary

Publicity (n): the business of

attracting the attention of the
public to something/somebody -
The bank has launched a $15 million
publicity campaign.
 Vocabulary

Credit (v): to say that somebody is

responsible for doing something,
especially something good
- All the contributors are credited on the title
page..
 Vocabulary

Acknowledgement (n): a statement,

especially at the beginning of a book,
in which the writer expresses thanks
to the people who have helped
- a page of acknowledgements
Writing
Paragraphing
 Introduction
Topic
sentence

Body paragraph

Supporting
sentences Body paragraph

Body paragraph

Concluding
sentence Conclusion
EFFECTIVE
TOPIC
SENTECE
 Effective topic sentence
1. Usually at the beginning of a paragraph

2. Can signal what type of information is going to be presented in the paragraph.

- Make sure to understand what you are going to write about. Make sure one paragraph deals with one
type of information only.
- Think of organizing words: advantages, disadvantages, causes (reasons), effects (problems),
differences, similarities, process, classification, description.

E.g:
- There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world to live.
- I believe that investing in adult illiteracy is important due to several benefits.
 Effective topic sentence
3. Is neither too narrow nor too general
- Don’t write a fact as a topic sentence
E.g:
- (a) Sir Edmund Barton was Australia’s first Prime Minister => X
(b) Sir Edmund Barton is remembered for these important achievements => V

- In my country, children start school in September.

Þ Too narrow

- School is terrible.
Þ Too general

- I want to write about my first day at school.

=> Do not announce your topic only
 Effective topic sentence
4. Should reflect both the topic and controlling ideas
- Topic: what the whole essay is about
- Controlling idea in each paragraph: smaller, just part of the whole essay

Think about what aspect of the topic this paragraph is about, and what aspect of the topic the next
paragraph will be about, etc.
Þ Write a topic sentence that includes:
- Key words in the essay question
- Controlling idea (your own words) Topic
sentence

Controlling
The topic
idea
 Effective topic sentence
E.g:
1. Cycling is becoming less and less popular in many places
Topic
around the world. What are the reasons for this trend? Can sentence
you suggest some ways to make cycling more popular?
Topic sentence: “There are two main reasons for this.”
Controlling
controlling idea The topic
idea

=> There are two main reasons (controlling idea) for

cycling becoming less popular (topic).

2. Global warming/Climate change are pressing problems

that every country and the world will have to deal with in the
future.
What are the causes of global warming?
What are some possible solutions?
Topic sentence: The main cause of climate change is the
mass consumption of fossil fuels.

controlling idea topic

 Effective topic sentence - Practice
1.
(a) Sir Edmund Barton was Australia's first Prime Minister.
(b) Sir Edmund Barton is remembered for these important achievements.

2.
(a) Here is a description of Manuka Post Office.
(b) Post Offices are an important institution found in nearly every suburb.

3.
(a) World War I started in 1914.
(b) According to historians, World War I had three main causes.

4.
(a) Saturday sport is good for young people.
(b) I play sport every Saturday afternoon.

5.
(a) Jenny Biggs has just moved to Canberra.
(b) Jenny Biggs is very glad she moved to Canberra.
 Effective topic sentence - Practice
6.
(a) The Erindale Centre opened recently.
(b) The Erindale Centre has a lot to offer Canberra residents.

7.
(a) Most people who are unemployed think the Government should introduce measures to solve the problem.
(b) There are a lot of unemployed young people in Canberra.

8.
(a) Queensland is a State with valuable natural resources.
(b) Queensland is the second biggest State.

9.
(a) Aboriginal land rights is a serious matter for the Australian government and the Australian people.
(b) The aboriginal land rights claims are based on these facts.

10.
(a) Steps are being taken to protect Australia's wild life.
(b) I saw a documentary about wild life last night.
 LOGICAL
ORGANIZATIO
N OF IDEAS
 Logical organization of ideas
Features Position Example

Topic sentence - States the main point of the whole - Usually at the Benefits of doing physical exercise vary,
paragraph beginning of the but the most prominent one may be
- Needs to be clear but not too specific (no paragraph health benefits. 
listing)

Supporting - States the logical and persuasive - After the topic Doing exercise helps us build our muscles
sentence reasonings to support the main idea sentence and lower blood pressure. 
In addition, it also helps us relax and have
a strong mental health.

Example - Gives clear, realistic and widely recognised - Usually after the A lot of athletes, although their job is to
examples to back up the Topic sentence và supporting sentences play sports, have proved that doing
Supporting sentences exercise does wonder for their health
since their muscles, their heart are
strong, which may help them prevent
certain diseases.

Concluding - Concludes and summarize the arguments - Usually at the end Playing sports does wonders for our body
sentence and evidence. of the paragraph in terms of both physical and mental
(optional) health.
COHERENCE &
COHESION
BETWEEN
SENTENCES
 Coherence & Cohesion between sentences
1. All sentences focus on developing the central idea or the function chosen. -->Avoid irrelevant
sentences

(describing your mother) My mother is beautiful with fair complexion, long black hair and twinkling eyes. She
also has a bright smile. I love my mother very much. In terms of personality, she is very kind-hearted....
-> In a paragraph that describes your mother, you don't need to describe your own feeling. Maybe you mean to
say that you love your mother's smile. Then combine the irrelevant sentence with the original idea. "She
also has a bright smile, which I love very much."

Refrain from adding extra information. Be critical even to yourself.

 Coherence & Cohesion between sentences
2. The connection between sentences must be clear.

- Use suitable structures to show the connection between ideas: from cause to effect (Because ...,S+V), from
one idea to another (S not only V but also V2), from one idea to a contrasting idea (S V but V2...), etc.

- Use suitable connecting devices between sentences:

(idea 1). Moreover, (idea 2). (idea 1). By contrast, (idea 2)
(action 1). Then, (action 2). (Cause). Therefore, (effect)
(counter-argument). However, (one's own argument)
(A general comment). Specifically, (add proof)
(A general argument). For example, (proof/example)

- Repeat part of the previous sentence, usually by referencing:

Juvenile crime is on the rise. This phenomenon raises concern of...
The disease can lead to heart failure and even death. Since it is so dangerous, doctors are required to…
 Coherence & Cohesion between sentences
3. The idea should flow from general to specific.

The previous sentences use more general vocabulary than the next sentences. Supporting sentences
should give specific examples of the key words in the topic sentence.

E.g.: Find the more specific examples of the 2 key words in the topic sentence.
One reason why people's health level is decreasing is their lack of physical activity. Too busy with their work,
few people can go to gym, play sports or even go for a short walk. Since all the calories taken in are not burnt
through such exercise, these inactive people tend to be overweight and are vulnerable to cardiovascular
diseases and spine problems.
 Coherence & Cohesion - Practice
1. Sample 1
On the one hand, that parents' education is crucial in building up children's personality is certainly true. To be
more specific, mother and father are apparently the first teachers who make initial impressions on a child's
perception during his lifetime. It means that what children learn from parents will set the solid base for their
development in mind and behavior, which determines their acts to the society. Actually, according to a survey in
BBC 6 minutes program, nearly 40% of young criminals in the UK come from deprived families with divorce,
violence and law infringement by parents. Therefore, without parents' cautious education, a child may suffer
misperception about moral values, resulting in compromising the society.

2. Sample 2
Besides positive points, administration should take into consideration some drawbacks. There is a popular
tendency that some groups of unemployed people, sometimes, are engrossed in entertainment means on high
tech tools instead of seeking job opportunity. More specifically, they have taken in games or entertaining films.
These activities put them in good spirits as being out of work, though, these attribute to a negative respect: they
are heavily dependent on government's subsidy. Obviously, apart from a smart phone, they are still allocated
enough financial expense to live up to their living standards. In other words, this policy giving the unemployed
a mobile phone, in some cases, place intense pressure on nation welfare.
 Thank
you for
listening