Exam prep - Writing styles and more...

Essay Writing

Interesting articles to read in preparation for the exam
Ensure that you have an opinion on the following issues before the exam. (Why is this important??!?)

1) Kindles

2) The impact of social media on social relationships

3) UK and the EU Referendum

Features and success criteria:

·         Use a lot of CONNECTIVES

·         Stated sense of purpose / aim : an effective and clear introduction to the issue or question

·         Introduction + conclusion : these should show clearly the 'sense of purpose'

·         Clear organisation: both in terms of the individual steps of the argument, and in terms of the overall pattern of the argument.

·         Formal language

·         Range of aspects considered - There should be a sense that different arguments are explored – if only to disagree with some of them.

Introductory phrases

•Nowadays/ Recently, there is widespread concern about …

•Not only do I think (one idea) but I also think (a different idea)

•Throughout history, there has been …

•History has been littered with examples of …

•In the past there has been many examples of …

•In the (near) future, maybe there will be

•Despite (+noun OR + gerund)

e.g.   Despite the protests …

  Despite hating protests …

•It is a vital/ critical/ crucial/ fundamental/ essential/ key  problem or issue in society

•The relevance of/the awareness of this issue is crucial because

•Clearly, it is inevitable/unavoidable/inescapable to be concerned about this issue

•As an engaged/ informed/ educated/ thoughtful/ critical citizen, it is …

Connectives

1) To add: and, furthermore, in addition, what is more, to add, moreover

2) To contrast: but, although, though, despite, in spite of, however, nevertheless, yet, whereas, while

3) To give reason: because, since, due to, as, owing to, because of

4) To give a result: therefore, consequently, so, as a result

5)To show sequence: firstly, secondly, finally, lastly, last but not least

6) To summarise/ conclude: to sum up, in conclusion, in brief, in summary, in short, to conclude

Powerful verbs

•To impact upon/ to affect

•To give rise to …

•To raise awareness  of …

•To give weight to …

•To urge/to encourage

•To retaliate

•To initiate

•To trigger/to spark (something)

•To cost lives

•To take steps towards

•To reach an agreement

•To be declared independent

•To seek/strive for independence

•To solve/ resolve

•To take into account

Linking phrases

•… culminated in… (ended in …)

•…resulted in…

•… led to ….

•… was caused by …

•…was said to be …

•…is still thought to be…

Summarising

- Taking all this into account, it is clear that ...

- All in all, ...

- To sum, this crucial issue needs to be dealt with by implementing ...

- In conclusion, the facts suggest that ...

Advanced Blogging Structures...

How to start?

·         For many people,…

·         I’ve been waiting to write this for some time…

·         So, if you haven’t heard about the recent controversy of …

·         So, I recently went to …

·         I know I’ve posted about … before, but …

·         From … to …, our … have

·         There’s a story currently…

·         Nowadays, I find myself …

·         So, this post is going to …

Expressions/ Idiomatic vocabulary

·         Well, it goes without saying that …

·         If I could put my finger on one thing in particular, it would be …

·         Shame it doesn’t work like that.

·         It goes hand in hand with …

·         Rhetorical questions and answers: Who knows? I don´t. …, right? But when did … become …?

·         Yes/No, …

·         A distraction that I, for one, can’t wait to get rid of.

·         How dare he/ she/ they!

·         I have never eye-rolled this much…

·         Let’s face it …

·         Boo them!/ Cheer them!

·         Needless to say …

·         Anyway, each to their own.

·         To become a dartboard - to become a target

·         To go through the roof - to increase

Introducing yourself in the text/ expressing opinions

·         As a teenager

·         As a black woman…

·         How much I care…

·         But that’s just me.

·         I never thought I’d find myself saying this but …

·         I must say that I agree/disagree with …

·         If I could put my finger on one thing in particular, it would be …

·         What I do know is …

·         Aghh, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound like …

·         So, I’m here to …

·         As much as I think that …, I also think that …

·         I love…

·         I reckon… (informal for I think)

·         I guess there is/are …

·         I was pretty freaking amazed…

·         Oddly, while…

·         Aside from the fact that I’m …, I also think …

·         Shock horror, I’m not into …

Speaking directly to your reader

·         Ha! Don’t be ridiculous!

·         Don’t try and kid yourself!

·         Don’t be silly enough to…

·         Get off your high horse!

·         Get off your soap box!

·         Make a difference!

·         By the way, …

How to end?

·         If you want to share/ offer your opinion and join in with this conversation, please leave a comment below.

·         I’d love to know your thoughts so leave a comment below!

·         If you agree with me, please share my post.

Idioms are an excellent way to show off in informal writing. Try to learn some of the ones below and use them in your blog.

CAE Idioms

Body Idioms

Remember!!

Criterion B: 67%

Reading - C1 style parts 5, 6, 7, 8


Use the work from your blue grammar books and check this link out:

http://www.flo-joe.com/cae/students/tests/

Criterion C: 67% 

50% Written task - choice of ESSAY or BLOG - have a look at some of the structures in the above post!

50% Grammar and Vocabulary
- Passive Voice
- Irregular Past tenses/participles
- Purple Hibiscus vocabulary
(-gerunds and infinitives)