“Monday chat”

Share your piece of news (topic: “Technology & Inventions”) in a small

group:
Briefly summarise it (30 secs. to 1 min) & clarify/explain new words
Ask a question about it to your groupmates and exchange opinions
One student will share their piece of news with the whole class (same
process)
FCE Writing Practice
A REPORT – Preparation for Evaluated Task 1 (9th
November)
Warming up
• What kind of text is a report? Try to explain in your
own words. Consider:
• What do you think is the main
objective/function of a report?
• In which contexts could you be asked to write a
report?
• What characteristics in terms of
structure/contents, language, and style do you
think a report should have?
What is a report?
• A piece of writing that provides information collected by the author about a
certain topic.
• Information is normally provided in an objective tone and formal style, and
it should be based on ideas that we can justify.
• A report is normally addressed at a specific person who has asked about this
information (i.e. has ordered the report), and who is normally a superior (your
teacher, your boss, your supervisor, etc.).
• The final aim of the report is to make a recommendation of what to do (or not
to do), based on AND connected to the information provided.
• The recommendation needs to be logically derived from the information
that we have provided and properly justified.
• However, this part can also include a personal comment about our reasons
for giving a specific recommendation. This helps reinforce our arguments,
and it makes our recommendation stronger. This bit can be more informal.
 Open World Writing
Bank p.242

What is the purpose of a report?

1. To summarise the information
requested (=informative,
descriptive text)
2. To use that information as
arguments towards a
recommendation.
 Structure
a) What three main sections
can you identify?
1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion
b) How is the body structured?
1. 1 idea = 1 paragraph
2. With headings for each
idea
c) Is the tone objective or
subjective?
Objective (exception: the final
recommendation)

d) Is the style formal or informal?

Formal (no colloquialisms, no
contractions)
 It’s good to use a variety of
2 Study the model answer. Does it
linking words (avoid repetition)
cover all the points in the exam task?
Nevertheless, …
Although  change of
structure (Although the city is
small, I would strongly
recommend…)

Connecting ideas
Find examples of:
1. An introductory statement
2. Linking word(s) that express
contrast
3. Linking word(s) that express
result or consequence
4. Linking word(s) that express
addition
5. Linking word(s) that express
conclusion
Opening a report
• How to write an effective introduction:
• Express the main aim clearly
• Don’t copy the same words from the
essay question – rephrase using your
own words as much as possible
“This report aims to… (+INF)”
• Be accurate: make sure that the “This report offers information about…”

introduction ONLY makes reference to

information that will be covered in
the body.
• Be formal: even if you refer to your
personal experience, you need to use
formal language (don’t be colloquial,
avoid contractions)
Opening a report

Informal

Inaccurate

It is clear and direct, accurate (does not include

false information), and formal

Practice question on SharePoint

 Structuring ideas in the body of a report
• How to write a well-organised body paragraph:
• Open with a general statement about the main
idea/concept of the paragraph (mentioned in the
heading)  this will situate the reader. For
example: a description, an ‘umbrella’ statement,
a definition.
• Give (an) example(s) of what that idea/concept
represents
• Add supporting statements: give reasons to
justify why you are highlighting that idea/concept
• Close with a summarising statement to reinforce
your idea but DO NOT REPEAT information
SP
 Closing a report
• How to write an effective conclusion:
• Start with a connector: To conclude, …;
In conclusion, …; To sum up, …; On
balance, …; To finish with, ….
• Express your recommendation clearly.
• Support your recommendation with a
statement that sums up the main
arguments (but do NOT repeat your
words exactly: use paraphrasing
strategies).
• Do not add new information.
• Be formal.
Closing a report

It is clear, justified, and does not repeat exact

statements from other parts of the text
(paraphrasing)

Informal, not relevant (not an adequate justification)

inaccurate

Practice question on SharePoint

Remember the requirements of some linking words,
for example “However” and “Nevertheless” can ONLY
be used at the beginning of a new clause (= after a full
stop or a semi-colon (;): “However, …” / “ …;
nevertheless, …”
AND they are always followed by a comma.
For autonomous work:
• P. 243 Language work:

• Ex. 6: the passive voice

• Ex. 8 typical errors (spelling, prepositions,

punctuation, formulas)
What to remember when doing an FCE writing task (GENERAL):
• Word count: 140-190 words
• Logical, clear structure  use linking words (connectors: however;
moreover, in addition, firstly, secondly, finally; on the one/the other
hand…)
• What type of text are you writing? What are its main characteristics?
• What is the intention of the text (the objective)?
• What is the audience of the text?  Should it be more formal or
more informal?
• What structure should it follow?
• What tense/tenses should it include?
• Should/Can it include personal information?
PRACTICE: Part I
Planning writing
1) Read the exam question carefully:
1) What is the general topic?
2) What are the sub-topics (the ideas you need to include)?
3) What should the final recommendation be about?
2) Do a scheme of your future report:
1) Make a list of all the sections and sub-sections it will include
2) Decide the titles for the sub-sections in the body (one for each idea)
3) Use keywords/concepts to make a list of the main ideas you will
include in each section, and to make a list of the arguments you will
use to support each idea. Don’t write full sentences at this point!
3) Think about useful phrases and formulas for each section
 Being formal: using the passive voice
• Quick review:
a) The chef adapted the menu in order to include more vegetarian options.
b) The menu was adapted in order to include more vegetarian options.
(by the chef)

What is the most important thing in the sentence?
a) The subject (who?)  ACTIVE
b) The object (what?)  PASSIVE
To form a passive verb:
Verb to be in the adequate tense 
adapted = past simple  to be in the
past simple = was
+ the main verb in the past participle

• When the subject is ‘everybody’, ‘people’  generalisations:

Other examples:
People often think that vegetarian and vegan is the same. -It is considered that…
-It is said that…
It is often thought that vegetarian and vegan is the same. -It is believed that…
-It is suggested that…
RELEVANCE

Connecting
ideas