Hi Everybody!! 🙋😁😊
Back to School!! Hope you all had a great summer! 💖🌞🏄
Let's start this academic year off with some WRITING PRACTICE, shall we?? 😝😝
I've been getting a lot of e-mails about writing and how to make it easier... English learners and English exam takers : writing isn't as difficult as you think it is!!! You all need to stop being afraid of it and you need to stop thinking of it as a huge impossible task. It isn't! You just need to focus on the task and give a suitable answer!
Here's an example.
Here is a task from the ECCE examination of English. Look at what the Writing Part requires from you.
For
the writing section you will first read a short article.
Then
choose either Task A or Task B.
For Task A, you will write a letter.
For Task B, you will write an essay. Do only ONE of these tasks. If
you do not write on one of the topics, your paper will not be scored.
•
You will have 30 minutes to
write your letter or essay. You should write about one page.
•
Use your own words as much as
possible. Do not copy a lot from the article given below.
• You may make any changes,
corrections or additions to the body of the letter or essay. Do not
waste time copying it over.
Metropolitan
Times
|
City
Parking Upsets Residents
The city council plans to
build a parking lot on the site of one of the city’s parks.
Council members claim this will help to solve the problem of
limited parking space in the center of the city. Local
residents are upset by the plan because the city has so few
green areas.
|
Task
A: Letter
Write a letter to the editor of the Metropolitan
Times expressing your opinion on the plan. Suggest another way in
which the parking problem could be solved. Begin your letter,
Dear Editor.
Task
B: Essay
Some people believe space is valuable in cities
and that green areas should be used to develop business and commerce.
Other people feel that these green areas are essential for the
quality of life of the city’s population. Discuss both these views.
Then say which view you agree with. Give your reasons. Be specific.
First of all, you have a choice between writing a (formal) letter to the editor of the newspaper in which the article is published and an essay. Most students find it easier to write the letter, but it depends on the topic. Sometimes the essay can be easier. In this case we will discuss and plan both options.
Task A : The Letter
The first thing you have to ask yourself is: What is required of me? Look at the task description. You have TWO things you are required to do.
1. To express your opinion on the plan mentioned in the article and
2. To suggest a different way in which the parking problem can be solved.
Now, the only reason why someone may find this task hard is if they don't have any ideas on what to suggest as a solution! This is why speaking is a very important part of learning! When we talk about a subject and discuss various situations, you become more aware of different aspects of it. In this case, discussing green areas in cities or talking about traffic or city life could easily give you ideas on what to suggest. Your ideas don't have to be perfect or proven to work, but they have to be reasonable. That's not so hard, is it?
Also, you shouldn't forget to pay attention to the register of your letter. Here you are writing to the editor of the newspaper, which means you are not writing to a friend so your language must be formal. But not too formal. 😏 I'll write up a model answer below to illustrate what I mean.
Task B : The Essay
Writing an essay takes a bit more work because you have to discuss two different views already given to you. These are not YOUR views, but your views CAN be the same. Careful! You can't just agree or disagree with these views. You have to discuss them and justify your reasons. Essays are good examples of ways to show your expanded vocabulary or advanced grammatical structures, but you also need to focus on giving a suitable answer. The simplest way to approach this task would be to dedicate a paragraph to each view and discuss them and then give your final conclusion at the end.
So, let's start writing!! 😁😁
Here's my model answer to Task A:
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my opinion on the article "City Parking Upsets Residents" that was published in your newspaper. I must say that I agree that this plan is not such a good idea.
It is understandable that the city is trying to find ways to expand parking areas in the city center, but ruining one of the few green areas that exist and that locals use is not the way to go about it. Everyone knows how important it is for a busy city to provide green areas to its residents, so Council members will have to find a better solution for this parking problem.
One idea could be for the city to provide the limited parking spaces to those who need it most, such as those who are disabled or who possess mobility problems, and invest in an area close to the city center to create a parking lot for the rest. The city could then have mini-buses that could transport those who park there to the center free of charge.
Parking in the city center is a complex issue because it concerns everyone! Local residents, businesses, services and even tourism will be affected by any changes, so ideas should be thoroughly discussed and planned out before making a final decision. I hope this issue is solved quickly and in the best way possible.
Yours faithfully,
Anastasia Xamoyela
See? Wasn't that simple and straightforward? 😊😏💪😁 Try using different words to say the same thing so you don't repeat the same words and use your vocabulary wisely. Practice makes perfect, so get practicing!!! 😁😁😁
Until next time!
Have a great day! 😊😊💖💖
