Writing. A letter to a friend giving
advice
Letters of application
Useful language
Openings:
Give a reason for writing:
Talking about your skills and experience:
Talking about your qualities:
Talking about what you would bring to or get out of the job:
Closing:
Useful language
Openings:
Give a reason for writing:
Talking about your skills and experience:
Talking about your qualities:
Talking about what you would bring to or get out of the job:
Closing:
·
Use formal language.
·
Dear Sir or Madam,
·
I am writing in response
to…
·
I am an experienced…
·
I am hard-working and
sensible…
·
I would like the
opportunity to…
·
I look forward to
hearing from you.
LETTER OF
COMPLAINT
Formal Letters.
USEFUL PHRASES FOR
WRITING FORMAL COMPLAINT LETTER
Greeting receipant
Dear SirDear Madam
Dear Mr LastName
Dear Ms LastName
Explainig reason
I am
writing in order to complain aboutI am writing to complain about
Introducing the complaint:
FirstlyIn
the first place
My first complaint is
The first problem is
The first thing I would
like to draw your attention to is
My first concern is
Introducing further complaints:
SecondlyIn
the second place
Moreover
In addition to this
Supplementary to this
…….was also unacceptable
Demanding action:
I propose
that you replace the itemI therefore suggest that I be given a full refund
I would be appreciative
if you could give me a full money back
I would be thankful if
you could give me a full refund
Endings
I look forward
to hearing from youI look forward to receiving a full refund
I look forward to
receiving your explanation
Greeting receipant
Dear SirDear Madam
Dear Sir/MadamDear Mr LastName
Dear Ms LastName
Explainig reason
I am
writing in order to complain aboutI am writing to complain about
Introducing the complaint:
FirstlyIn
the first place
First of allMy first complaint is
The first problem is
The first thing I would like to draw your attention to is
My first concern is
Introducing further complaints:
SecondlyIn
the second place
Not only …….but alsoMoreover
In addition to this
Supplementary to this
…….was also unacceptable
Demanding action:
I propose
that you replace the itemI therefore suggest that I be given a full refund
I would be grateful if my
money was refundedI would be appreciative if you could give me a full money back
I would be thankful if you could give me a full refund
Endings
I look forward
to hearing from youI look forward to receiving a full refund
I look forward to
receiving a replacementI look forward to receiving your explanation
Reports
·
Give a subject for your
report.
·
Explain what your report
is going to cover. State the purpose of the report in the opening paragraph.
·
Use headings to help
readers.
·
Use formal words and
structures.
·
Don’t use contractions.
·
Make any suggestion in
the last section.
Useful
language
Stating
the purpose:
·
The purpose/aim of this
report is to describe/present…
·
In this report I will…
this report gives a description/presentation…
·
This report is intended
to…
Formal linking words:
·
However,…
·
In addition,…
·
Furthermore,…
·
Moreover,…
·
As a result,…
Final
suggestions/recommendations:
·
I would strongly recommend…
·
My suggestion is…
·
If these changes are
introduced…
·
I can recommend…
·
In conclusion…
·
In my opinion…
Subject: Transport in my town
Introduction
The
purpose of this report is to describe the situation with transport in my town.
It describes what kind of transport the town offers, explains the good points
of the system and makes suggestions for improvements.
The
transport system
In the
town there are buses, local trains and taxis. The buses run in the centre of
town and are fairly regular. Tickets can be purchased on the bus. The trains
run to the surrounding areas during the main part of the day. Taxis are always
available, especially from the main station.
The
good points of the system
Transport
is reasonably cheap and also there are special weekly tickets which are
cheaper. In addition, the buses and the trains offer a good service, usually
every ten minutes and there are maps to help visitors.
Suggestions
for improvements
The
buses and the trains are very old and quite often there is not enough space. My
suggestion is that the companies should invest in larger, more modern buses and
extra carriages on the trains to accommodate all the passengers.
Tourism
in Ravenport has grown rapidly – the aim of this report is to review places to
stay and suggest one for people coming to the city.
Large hotels
There
are two five-star hotels in the Revenport city centre: the Majestic and the
Palace. The Majestic has recently undergone refurbishment and now has
air-conditioning and Internet access in all its rooms and boasts three very
good restaurants. Unfortunately, what it gained in style, it lost in character
and now looks similar to any other hotel, with its sterile, formal atmosphere.
The Palace Hotel, on the other hand, is a little on the shabby side and is
looking quite out-dated. However, it is still a very impressive place to stay
with its art-deco architecture and old-fashioned accommodation.
Smaller
accommodation
For the
many smaller hotels and bed and breakfast, two really stand out as quality
places to stay: the Hotel Viktor Hugo and the Oriental Rooms. Both places are
family run business with a welcoming atmosphere and clean rooms which can be a
bit on the small side. That said, both places tend to somewhat rule-bound which
means that the guest is restricted in their time of arrival, breakfast and what
time they are allowed to stay out.
Recommendation
With a
wide range of accommodation in all price ranges, it really is down to personal
taste, but if you want to experience a taste of authentic Ravenstown
hospitality, I would recommend staying at the Palace Hotel for at least one
night.
Articles
·
Ask a question to get
your readers’ attention.
·
Speak directly to your
readers.
·
Give examples to support
what you say.
·
Give your opinion where
you’re asked to.
·
Make sure you give your
article a title.
·
Don’t just write any
information on the topic; plan your article according to the points in the
question.
·
Use a variety of longer
and shorter sentences to show you can use a range of structures.
Useful
language
Questions
to start your article with:
·
Have you ever…
·
Do you ever wonder…
·
Do you think that…
Introducing your
ideas:
·
Firstly,
·
First of all,
·
To begin with…
·
Secondly,…
·
Apart from that,…
·
So,…
·
In conclusion,…
·
To sum up…
Giving examples:
·
…such as…
·
For example,…
·
… like…
·
… particularly…
Endings:
·
It seems to me…
·
What I think is…
·
Personally,…
·
In my view,…
My favourite shop
Can you
imagine a shop where you have an amazing variety of absolutely everything? This
is my ideal shop and it exists! The shop is called Harrods and it is in the
centre of London
Harrods
is an incredible store – it has five floors and it is a beautiful old building.
Inside it has hundreds of departments selling everything imaginable, such as
food, clothes, furniture, electrical goods and even pets. There are also
restaurants so you can take a break from shopping!
To
begin with, I love it because it has feeling of luxury. The shop assistants are
really friendly but the only problem is it is quite expensive. It is a very
well-known store so sometimes when I shop there I can see famous people.
Some
people think shopping is a silly activity but personally I like it because it
is quite social and you can go you’re your friends and discuss things. At the
same time you can find out about lots of new products – and you don’t have to
buy.
Stories
·
We usually use the past
tense in stories or narratives.
·
The first paragraph
usually sets the scene (who, where, when, what). Start your narrative with an
introduction that will encourage your reader to continue reading.
·
Divide your story into
paragraphs.
·
Develop your story using
sequencing expressions like first, then, later, next and finally.
·
Don’t write about too
many events. It is better to describe fewer things in more detail.
·
Give a definite ending
to your story.
·
Use time expressions.
Add background detail.
·
Use adjectives and write
about your feelings. Use adverbs to you’re your story interesting.
·
Use linking words to
join phrases and sentences (however, although, as, instead, in spite of).
·
Make sure you begin and
end with the sentence you are given.
·
Don’t change the words
you are given to start or finish your story.
·
Use the names you are
given in the sentence as characters in your story.
·
Use a variety of
vocabulary.
·
Avoid unnecessary repetition.
·
Check your past tenses
carefully.
·
Use a variety of words
and expressions to show sequence.
·
Use past perfect for
things that happened before the main events of the story.
·
Use descriptive
adjectives and adverbs.
·
Use past continuous for
background information.
·
Show how your story was
resolved.
·
Alternatively, you can
leave the reader in suspense.
Useful
language
Saying
when something happened:
·
It all started…
·
Some time later…
·
Shortly after that…
·
Soon after…
·
Gradually…
·
Slowly…
·
Minutes later…
·
Meanwhile…
·
Eventually…
·
In the end…
Making your story
interesting:
·
Suddenly…
·
At that moment…
·
All of a sudden…
Using
adverbs and adjectives for description:
·
It was
amazing/incredible/ wonderful/ so unexpected…
·
I felt so scared/
worried/ nervous/ frightened…
·
…incredibly scary…
·
Absolutely overjoyed…
·
Completely miserable…
·
Totally overwhelming…
·
Fantastically happy…
The
end of the story:
·
When it was over…
·
When I looked back…
·
After all that happened…
·
It had all been…
·
At last,…
Last
summer my girlfriend Jane and I were outside Buckingham Palace
I was
just putting my camera away when a tall, young man approached us and kindly
offered to take a photo of the two of us together, with Buckingham Palace
Luckily
for us, there was a police officer not far away and he saw what happened and
caught the thief.
I think
one of the worst moments of my life was when I nearly didn’t make it to my
final German oral exam at university.
Three
friends and I had taken advantage of the week between the end of the written
exams and our oral to visit some people we knew in Augsburg
in Germany
Our
journey by train and ferry back home went well, but we arrived in London to find that there were no trains back to Manchester London
The
next morning we got up at 6 a .m.,
grabbed our things, and went back to Euston to catch the train. We arrived in
Manchester at 10.30 with just enough time to run home, get showered and get to
university in time for our orals at 12.30. I still can’t believe we actually
made it, and I hate to think what would have happened if we’d spent the night
in the station.
Anna
began to think about why Mark had stopped talking to her. It was really
strange. He had been perfectly friendly up until the weekend and then, when she
had seen him at the party, he had ignored her.
She
thought it all started when they were studying together for their exams. He
seemed to get very cross with her when she was trying to explain something to
him. Then he had suddenly packed his books up and walked out.
The
next day at school he laughed behind her back when she answered questions in
class. She went up to him afterwards and told him he was rude. He just laughed
again and she felt totally miserable. Then she found someone poured yoghurt
into her schoolbag all over her books. She knew it was Mark so she tried to
talk to him at the party but he refused to speak to her.
Maybe
it was because he thought Anna was cleverer then him. The question was , what
was she going to do now?
Reviews
·
Give the title and the
type of book or film and other relevant background information.
·
Give some basic
information about what you are reviewing.
·
Divide your review into
paragraphs.
·
Summarise the story, but
don’t give away the ending. Give the reader a brief description.
·
Give reasons for your
point of view.
·
Mention both things you
liked and things you don’t like. Tell the reader what was good and bad.
·
Give your overall
opinion in the final paragraph.
·
Remember to include a
recommendation, even if it is negative.
Useful
language
Things
you liked:
·
Excellent, perfect, wonderful, fabulous
Things you didn’t
like:
·
Poor, dreadful, awful, uninteresting
Comparing and
contrasting:
·
…much better than…
·
…not nearly as good as…
·
It was disappointing
compared to…
·
It was surprisingly good…
·
Although…
·
Despite…
Recommending:
·
Overall, I think…
·
I would certainly recommend…
·
I don’t think I would
recommend…
·
All in all…
·
I would strongly advise…
·
Go and visit/see/buy
Spiderman
3 is the latest in the highly popular Spiderman series. It’s a science-fiction
adventure starring Tobey Maguire.
The
character of Spiderman is based on the superhero of the comic book stories.
Peter Parker is a teenager who gains supernatural powers when a spider bites
him. In this film we see darker side of his character as he fights the evil
Sandman and Venom.
As in
the other Spiderman films, the special effects are amazing, especially in the
fight scenes. The soundtrack too is excellent, with songs by Snow Patrol and
Burning Lips. However, I wasn’t impressed with either the acting or the story.
I thought Tobey Maguire was very unconvincing and the story was very
predictable.
Overall
I enjoyed the film, although personally I wouldn’t go and see it again. Having
said that, fans of Spiderman movies won’t be disappointed.
The Blue Palace
Do you
like British food? Well, the Blue
Palace
The
restaurant was very busy when I was there and is decorated in dark blue with
simple wooden tables and chairs. It has a limited menu of starters, then four
meat courses and puddings. My meal costs £25 with my drinks.
I was
expecting to enjoy the evening as the atmosphere is really nice and relaxing
and the staff are all very helpful. The meat dishes were surprisingly good
because they were well-cooked with delicious sauces.
However,
overall, it was disappointed compared to other restaurants in the area. The
starters were very boring and too cold and the puddings had too much sugar in
them. Also the service was very slow.
I don’t
think I would recommend the Blue
Palace
One of
the best books I have ever read is, in fact, the book I am reading at the
moment. It’s called The Bookseller of Kabul
Seierstad’s
book is a collection of stories told to her by the different members of the
family she lived with. First there is the proud bookseller himself, who has
spent all his life protecting his books in order to bring the written word to
the people of Kabul. Then there are the reflections and recollections of his
two wives. His children and his brothers and sisters, which Seierstad reveals
in such a sensitive and intimate way, that it is impossible to put the book
down.
However.
The Bookseller of Kabul
As a
work of non-fiction, the book offers an insight into a culture that most
Europeans will never have the chance to see. As a story, it is gripping. It is
not surprising that this book has become an international bestseller, and I
would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the truth about life in this
part of the world.
Postcards
·
Start the postcard with
Dear or Hi and the name of a person you’re writing to.
·
Say where you are in the
first sentence.
·
You can use informal
language, including contractions.
·
Use a phrase to explain
why you have to finish the postcard.
·
End the postcard with an
informal phrase like Bye for now or See you soon. If you’re enjoying yourself,
you can say Wish you were here.
Hi
there Gary
We’re
in Prague
The
hotel’s nice, but I don’t really like the food. Also I’m not sharing the room
with my friend as we’d planed, because she broke her leg the day before we
left.
Anyway,
must go. It’s time to go down for dinner.
Bye for now,
Sue
Formal letters
·
Start the letter with
Dear and the person’s title or family name. Use Mr for men, Mrs for married
women and Miss for single women.
·
If we don’t know the
name of the person we are writing to, we start the letter Dear Sir or Madam.
·
In the first paragraph
we usually say why we are writing.
·
In the next paragraph we
write the important information.
·
To ask for something we
can set phrases such as Could you please…, or I would be grateful if you could…
·
If we want a reply, we
can write I look forward to hearing from you. After the final paragraph.
·
Do not use colloquial
language or short forms.
·
We finish the letter
with Yours sincerely if we used the person’s name at the start, or Yours
faithfully if we didn’t. We write our full name.
Use
formal language
To
complain:
·
I am writing in order to
complain about…
·
I was unsatisfied with…
·
In the first place…
·
I suggest that you…
·
My main criticism is…
·
I am afraid to say…
To
request and give information:
·
I am writing to inquire…
·
I would like to know…
·
Do you think you could
tell me…
·
The first thing I would
like to inform you of is…
To suggest:
·
I am writing to suggest…
·
I would like to suggest…
·
A further possibility is…
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am
writing to apply for the holiday job in your restaurant, which I saw advertised
in the Evening News last week.
I am
seventeen years old, a student at Newton
I would
be grateful if you could send me some more details about the job and I would be
happy to discuss my application with you. I am enclosing my CV.
I look
forward to hearing from you.
Yours
faithfully,
Tina
White
Dear
Sir or Madam,
I am
writing to you about a recent visit I made to your Museum on 9th July. I was
particularly interested to come to the Museum as I am studying science in
school and I know you have some special exhibitions.
The
“recycling plastics” exhibition was very interesting because it showed what
happens to plastic after we throw it away and how it is turned into other
products.
However,
I was very disappointed with the show on travelling in space. It contained very
little information and was boring because it had too many technical details in
it and not enough on what it is like to travel in space.
Furthermore,
I found the restaurant very expensive. I think you should have cheaper café or
a small shop selling snacks.
I hope
you will consider my points seriously and improve the Museum for the visitors.
Yours
faithfully,
Daniel
Brown
Dear
Sir or Madam,
I am
writing to enquire about the holiday apartments on Costa Bravo advertised in
Beach Holidays magazine this month.
In your
advertisement you mention that all the apartments are self catering. Would you
mind telling me what cooking facilities are available in the kitchen? Could you
also tell me if cooking utensils are provided?
I
noticed from your advertisement that the beach is very near. However, I would
also like to know if the apartments have a swimming pool as we will be
travelling with small children.
I would
be very grateful if you could send me a list of apartments and prices with a
view to making a reservation in August.
I look
forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Catherine Archer
E-mails
Useful
informal language
Opening
and closing:
·
Dear Tim,
·
Tim, hi
·
Thanks for your e-mail
·
It was great to hear
from you.
·
I hope you’re well.
To advise and suggest:
·
Why don’t you…
·
If I were you…
·
I recommend…
·
I think you should…
·
You could try…
·
You ought to…
·
It might be a good idea
to…
To
request and give information:
·
By the way,…
·
Let me tell you about…
·
Could you let me know…
·
Did I tell you that…
Closing:
·
Hope to hear from you
soon.
·
Thanks for everything.
·
I have to go now.
·
Write soon.
·
Bye,
·
Take care,
·
Love,
·
Best wishes,
·
Yours,
Hi, Tim,
Letters of application
·
Use formal language.
·
Use appropriate opening
and closing.
·
Make sure you divide
your letter into paragraphs.
·
Use different structures
to describe your experience, qualities and what you would like about the job.
·
Remember to include
reasons why the company should employ you.
Useful language
Openings:
·
Dear Sir or Madam,
·
Dear Mr Austin,
·
Dear Mrs Smith, etc.
Give
a reason for writing:
·
I am writing in response
to…
·
I am writing in
connection with…
Talking
about your skills and experience:
·
I am an experienced…
·
I have worked for many
years with…
·
I have reached the X
level of…
·
I have passed…
Talking about your
qualities:
·
I am hard-working and
sensible…
·
I am outgoing and
sociable…
·
I like working with
people…
·
I am calm and efficient…
Talking
about what you would bring to or get out of the job:
·
I would like the
opportunity to…
·
I would be delighted to…
·
I would be able to improve
my…
·
I would very much enjoy…
Closing:
·
I look forward to
hearing from you.
·
I would be grateful if
you would consider me…
·
Yours faithfully,
·
Yours sincerely,
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am
writing in response to your advertisement for a person to work in your summer
sports camp for children.
I would
be very interested in this job as I am very keen on sports. I play hockey in my
school team and I also do cross-country running. I have played sports for many
years and have sometimes helped younger children in my school.
In
addition, I enjoy working with younger children, I have younger brothers and
sisters and often babysit when my parents are out. I like playing games with
them and teaching them new things. I also speak quite good English and would
like the opportunity to practice this more.
As well
as having these skills, I think I am the ideal person for you as I am outgoing
and sociable and would enjoy working with people and children from different
countries. It will help me improve my skills and would enable me to be
independent and confident.
I hope
you will consider me for this position.
Yours
faithfully,
Sandra
Maddox
Letters
of complaint
·
If you don’t know the
name of the person you are writing to, start with Dear Sir/Madam, and remember
to finish with Yours faithfully.
·
Say why you are writing
in the first paragraph and give some background to what happened. You can use
phrases like To begin with… and When… to write about what happened and We were
informed… and We were told that… to report what the people said.
·
Describe what happened
and give the first main reason for complaining.
·
Give more details about
what happened as a result of the company’s fault.
·
In the final paragraph
tell the company about the overall effect of their actions and what you would
like them to do.
18 North Road
Uxbric
Middlesed
UBB 112
1 April 2011
Uxbric
Middlesed
UBB 112
1 April 2011
CarQuick
Unit 16
Marsh Business Park
Ealing
London
Unit 16
Ealing
London
Dear Sir or Madam,
We
recently hired a car from your company for a week and I am writing to complain
in the strongest terms about several things that went wrong with the car you
supplied.
To
begin with, in your brochure you claim that your cars are the latest models and
that they are cleaned inside and out before the next customer takes them away.
When we arrived at the garage we were told that all the other cars were out and
the only one available was a ten-year-old vehicle and we were then informed
that you had not had time to clean it.
However,
because it was the first day of our holiday, we decided to take the car after
your representative assured us that it was a very reliable vehicle. As we were
driving to the coast we noticed a rumbling sound from the back of the car,
which got worse as we drove on. Then a few miles later the exhaust dropped off
and black smoke started pouring from the engine.
As a
consequence, we had to spend the first few days of our holiday in a small
village outside London
All of
this spoilt what should have been a relaxing holiday and we would like a refund
for the amount the car parts and service cost as well as a full refund of the
cost of the hire.
Yours faithfully,
Maria Radley
Leaflets
·
Include an eye-catching
title or slogans.
·
Use bullet points.
·
Use short informative sentences.
·
You can address the
reader directly.
·
You can include contact
details, if appropriate.
Action
on Homelessness
There
are over 500 homeless people in our city. Many of them are under 20 years old.
How
would you feel if you didn’t have a home and had to sleep on the streets?
Let’s
do something about it!
Day of
action: 4th May
We are
collecting warm clothes to give to homeless people. If you have any old clothes
you don’t need, please bring them to the school hall.
For
more information ring Harriet on 562265
Essays
·
Give a general
introduction in the first paragraph.
·
Think carefully about
the first sentence of each paragraph to help the reader follow what you are
saying.
·
Use formal or
semi-formal language.
·
Give reasons to support
your arguments.
·
Give your personal
opinion in the last paragraph.
Useful
language
Supporting
one point of view:
·
In the first place…
·
Furthermore…
·
In addition…
·
Moreover…
·
A final point…
Explaining why:
·
Because of this…
·
For this reason…
·
As a result…
·
Therefore…
·
Due to…
Expressing contrast:
·
On the other hand…
·
In contrast…
·
However,…
·
Nevertheless,…
·
Although…
·
While…
Explaining someone
else’s opinion:
·
According to…
·
It is said that…
·
Some people say that…
·
Many people feel…
·
Others think that…
Giving your opinion:
·
I agree that…
·
I think/believe that…
·
In my opinion…
·
I am in favour of…
·
It seems to me that…
Concluding:
·
Overall,…
·
To sum up…
·
On the whole…
·
In conclusion…
Nowadays
pollution is such a big problem for everybody that people say we should all be
doing something to help the situation and not just expect the government to
sort out the problems.
Many
people think that the government should deal with pollution. In the first
place, it is a huge problem affecting whole countries. In addition, factories
cause a lot of problems, such as when they put poisonous chemicals into the
rivers. Therefore, special laws are the only way to control this.
On the
other hand, we each contribute to pollution in some way. For example, we use
plastic bags or make too much rubbish. This is something we can all do about as
individuals and, if everybody did something, it would make difference.
Overall,
I agree with the statement because I think it is very easy for us to change
small things in our lives. If we managed to make these changes then pollution
levels would decrease and our environment would be better.
Opinion essays
·
Make sure you have under
stood the title of the essay.
·
Start with a general
statement. Give an outline of the essay in the introduction to help your reader
follow your argument.
·
Give your opinion in the
first paragraph.
·
In the second paragraph
give your first main point together with any supporting points and examples.
·
In the third paragraph
give your second point together with any supporting ideas and examples (and so
on).
·
Use set phrases to
express your opinion.
·
Use linking words to
join phrases and sentences.
·
In the conclusion,
summarise your argument and give your opinion again.
‘The
differences between boys and girls are natural and are present when a child is
born.’ Do you agree?
This is
an issue on which people hold strong views. Some people argue that male and
female brain are different and that this causes differences in behaviour.
However, I believe that most of the differences are the result of the way in
which we bring up children at home and at school.
At
home, most parents give toy cars and guns to their sons and dolls to the
daughters. In my view, this encourages boys to be aggressive and girls to be
caring and sensitive.
Furthermore,
at school more boys do science and maths than girls. In my opinion, this is not
because boys are naturally better at these subjects but because there are more
male scientists, who act as role models.
In
conclusion, I believe that boys and girls are born the same, and that the way
we treat them as children makes them different from each other.
What
are the possible uses of space travel in the near future?
As the
world’s population grows, humans will definitely need to look for other places
to get resources and space to live. One hundred years from today we are very
likely to have colonized space and are bound to have invented new forms of
space travel. In this essay I will look at how we will go to space, and how we
can live there.
The
most likely way into space is by reusable spacecraft but there are other
possibilities like a space elevator: a lift into space, or space balloons may
well be used to lift us into orbit. Other possibilities in space are
nuclear-powered spacecraft, which are very likely to be built or ships powered
by solar winds another possible alternative.
But
where will we be going? Already space tourism is a strong possibility with
companies offering space rides. Within the next 100 years we will almost
definitely have orbiting hotels for the people to stay high above the planet.
On a
more serious note, it seems increasingly likely that we will need to have a
base on the moon to mine minerals and provide a station to go to other places,
for example NASA is already planning this for the middle of this century.
And
after the moon? We know that there is water on Mars and for the long-term
future of the human race, we will almost definitely need to settle on the
planet and start a new colony in order to take pressure off the Earth’s
ecosystems.
For and against essays
·
Divide the essay into
four paragraphs.
·
Write an interesting
introduction to your essay that will encourage your reader to continue reading.
·
In the first paragraph
give the reader some idea about the current situation and say why the subject
is important. Make sure you give the outline of the structure of your essay to
help the reader follow your argument.
·
Include points in favour
of the topic in the second paragraph, even if you disagree with this. Show that
you disagree with phrases like While it is true to say…, While the reasons for
… are understood…, I will start with points for… to make this clear tj the
reader.
·
In the third paragraph
give points against the topic – remember to acknowledge the opposite view and
state your opinion.
·
In the final paragraph
restate both points of view before giving your own opinion on the subject.
·
Use linking expressions
to guide your reader through your essay.
Too
much surveillance is bad for democracy
Over
the past few years, especially after recent terrorist attacks, public safety
has become an important issue. It is undoubtedly true that the use of public
video surveillance (CCTV) is a popular security method, but it is also true to
say that it is not without problems. This essay will take a closer look at some
of the pros and cons of video surveillance.
I will
start with points for video surveillance. Firstly, the use of CCTV leads to the
arrest of robbers at banks and cash machines and stops bar fights and
shoplifters. Secondly, with CCTV on the streets it is claimed that people are
afraid of committing crime and so do not do it.
While
it is true to say that CCTV does affect our behaviour, I think that there are
at least three disadvantages to video surveillance. First, video surveillance
may not be effective – it is not been proved that it reduces crime. Secondly,
it is expensive – the money could be used for other things – such as improving
education and stopping the causes of crime. Thirdly, CCTV takes away our
individual freedom and many people are starting to wonder just who is watching
us and why.
While
reasons for using video surveillance systems are understood, they are not the
only solution to public crime and disorder. My own view is that although it
seems like a quick solution to crime, in fact we will be giving away our
individual freedom in the not too distant future.
There
are few people today who could exist without their mobile phones. Nevertheless,
the invention of the mobile phone also has its drawbacks that people tend to
forget about.
There
is no denying that mobile phones have a number of advantages. Parents with
teenagers give their children more freedom if they take their phones with them
when they go out. In addition, the mobile is useful for teenagers for getting
home as all they have to do is dial their parents’ number and the family taxis
will arrive at the arranged time free of charge.
However,
not all people know how to use a mobile phone with sufficient respect, and
trying to sleep on public transport has become impossible. Family visits have
also lost out as younger members spend the afternoon texting friends or playing
games when they would have been interacting with the rest of the family.
On
balance, it seems that mobile phones have as many disadvantages as positive
aspects. However, in some situations they are indispensable. If you have a car
accident on a lonely road in the middle of the night, it’s clear that the
quickest way to solve the problem is by making a phone call. In this way I, for
one, am happier with my mobile phone in my bag, than without it, and I would
recommend every driver to carry a phone with them at all times.
Discursive essays
·
Write an interesting
introduction outlining the general areas you’re going to cover in your essay.
·
Allocate one paragraph
to each general area.
·
Include examples to
illustrate your points.
·
Use linking expressions
to connect points, where necessary.
·
The final paragraph
should be a conclusion summing up your opinion in different words and including
a final thought on the issue.
There
is a saying that “travel broadens the mind” and it is certainly true that you
can learn a lot from visiting other countries. In my opinion, travelling helps
you to improve your language skills, increase your awareness of the world and
become more independent.
Travelling
allows you to practise your foreign language skills in real situations, rather
than just a classroom. For example, you will almost certainly need to buy
tickets, book accommodation and order food and drink. Moreover, you are likely
to find yourself meeting people and making conversation in a foreign language.
These encounters can sometimes lead to lasting friendships, too.
People
who have never left their hometown inevitably have quite a narrow view of the
world. In contrast, people who have travelled can base their opinions on a
wider range of experiences. Furthermore, travelling can raise your awareness of
important global issues. For instance, visiting the Amazonian rainforest will
probably make you more passionate about protecting it from destruction.
Travelling
puts you in situations which do not find in your normal everyday routine at home.
Learning how to cope with these is good experience, and makes you a stronger
and more independent person. For example, young people who backpack around Europe often have to learn how to live cheaply while they
are travelling.
In
conclusion, I would say that travelling is a very valuable experience. It
provides a form of education which you cannot get from books or in the
classroom.
Notes
(accepting or declining an invitation)
·
Start a note with Dear
or Hi and the person’s name.
·
Finish the note with
Love or Best wishes and your name.
·
We often use
abbreviations when we write notes.
·
We don’t usually divide
the text into paragraphs.
·
We can use colloquial
words and phrases.
Dear
Simon,
I got
your note. Great to hear from you. Thanks very much for the invitation to the
barbecue in your garden. I’d love to come. I’m really looking forward to it.
Love,
Samantha
P.S. Do
you want me to bring anything? I’ve got loads of good party music.
You’ve
received an e-mail from a friend of yours.
“I’ve
graduated from university. I need to choose a career and find a job. Any ideas?
Jack”
Write your
mail (120-140 words)
Answering the
questions
What are you
going to write?
Who is going
to read it?
What should
you write about? What style should you write in?
How many
words should you use? (120-140)
Matching
Match the
advice (1-5) to the justifications (a-e).
1.Make wise career decisions!
2.Learn as much information as
possible!
3.Learn about yourself!
4.Determine your values, interests and
abilities!
5.Choose the strongest values!
a read job descriptions, surf the net
b write a list
of what is important to you
c think
thoroughly and profoundly
d underline the strongest points in your
list
e do a test to find out more about yourself
Useful
language
Opening remarks
I’ve just got your letter and I think I can help
you
Here are some ideas how you could try to …
Thank you for your e-mail and of course I’d be
happy to help
I’m sorry to hear about … but I think I can help you.
Giving advice
The best thing would be to …
Another good idea is to …
Have you thought about …
If I were you / In your position, I would …
You should / shouldn’t …
Why don’t you …?
Closing remarks
I hope my advice helps.
It won’t be easy to … but don’t give up.
Let’s hope that things get better / that
everything turns out all right.
Let me know what happens.
Plan
Dear Jack,
(para 1) opening remarks, offer help
(paras 2-4) suggestions & justifications
(separate paragraphs)
(para 5) closing remarks
Best regards,
(your first name)
Cover letter phrases. How to Start a Cover Letter.
Start
a Cover Letter Phrases
§
I noticed with
interest your advertisement for …
§
I am writing in
response to your advertisement posted on…
§
I am very interested
in applying for the position of …
§
I am applying for
the position of ….., which was advertised in …..
§
I was interested to
see your advertisement for …
§
I was referred to
you by …./name/, who informed me of a …./position/
§
I have pleasure in
applying for the advertised position, as …
§
Please accept this
letter as my application for the position of…
Cover Letter Phrases: Reasons for Applying
for a Job
§
I would be well
suited to the position because …
§
My professional
skills appear to be well suited to your company’s requirements.
§
I have a lively
interest in … and would appreciate the opportunity to work with you.
§
As you can see from
my enclosed résumé, my experience and qualifications match this position’s
requirements.
§
I would be well
suited to the position because …
§
My strengths are …
§
I believe the
combination of my education and experiences have prepared me…
§
It is a challenging
position for which I believe I am well qualified.
§
This position
represents an opportunity to continue my committed career path…
Write
about Your Skills
§
I have a working
knowledge of …
§
I believe I possess
the right combination of …
§
I am an experienced
user of …
§
My professional
experiences are supplemented by…
§
My interest and
knowledge in this area was further enhanced by…
§
My particular area
of effectiveness is…
§
I have an excellent
command of …
Close
a Cover Letter Phrases
§
I would appreciate
the chance to meet with you to discuss …
§
I look forward to
our meeting.
§
If you are
interested, please contact me at …
§
I am eager to talk
with you about the contribution I could make to your firm.
§
I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss these and other qualifications with you.
§
Thanking you most
sincerely for your time and consideration.
§
I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss further details of the position with you personally.
§
Thank you for
considering me for this very important position.
§
I look forward with
enthusiasm to an opportunity for an interview.
Motivational
Cover Letter - Opening
Dear Sir,
Dear Sir,
Formal, male recipient, name unknown
Dear Madam,
Dear Madam,
Formal, female recipient, name unknown
Dear Sir / Madam,
Dear Sir / Madam,
Formal, recipient name and gender unknown
Dear Sirs,
Dear Sirs,
Formal, when addressing several unknown people or a whole department
To whom it may concern,
To whom it may concern,
Formal, recipient/s name and gender completely unknown
Dear Mr. Smith,
Dear Mr. Smith,
Formal, male recipient, name known
Dear Mrs. Smith,
Dear Mrs. Smith,
Formal, female recipient, married, name known
Dear Miss Smith,
Dear Miss Smith,
Formal, female recipient, single, name known
Dear Ms. Smith,
Dear Ms. Smith,
Formal, female recipient, name known, marital status unknown
Dear John Smith,
Dear John Smith,
Less formal, one has done business with the recipient before
I wish to apply for the post
of…which you advertised in…on… .
I wish to apply for the post of…which you advertised in…on… .
Standard formula for applying for a job whose advertisement you saw in a
newspaper or magazine
I am writing in response to
your advertisement posted on…
I am writing in response to your advertisement posted on…
Standard formula used when responding to an advertisement posted online
I refer to your advertisement
in…dated… .
I refer to your advertisement in…dated… .
Standard formula used to explain where you found the advertisement for a
job
I read your advertisement for
an experienced…in the…issue of…with great interest.
I read your advertisement for an experienced…in the…issue of…with great
interest.
Formula used when applying for a job having seen the advertisment in a
magazine or periodical
I have pleasure in applying
for the advertised position, as…
I have pleasure in applying for the advertised position, as…
Standard formula for applying for a job
I would like to apply for the
position of…
I would like to apply for the position of…
Standard formula for applying for a job
Currently I am working for…
and my responsibilities include…
Currently I am working for… and my responsibilities include…
Used as an opening sentence to describe your current occupational status
and what it involves
Motivational
Cover Letter - Reasoning
I am particularly interested
in this job, as…
I am particularly interested in this job, as…
Used to explain why you would like a certain job
I would like to work for you,
in order to…
I would like to work for you, in order to…
Used to explain why you would like a certain job
My strengths are…
My strengths are…
Used to show what your key attributes are
I would say that my only
weakness / weaknesses are… . But I am looking to improve in this / these
area/s.
I would say that my only weakness / weaknesses are… . But I am looking
to improve in this / these area/s.
Used to reflect upon your weaknesses, but show that you are determined
to improve in those areas
I would be well suited to the
position because…
I would be well suited to the position because…
Used to explain what makes you a good candidate for the job
Although I have no previous
experience in…, I have had…
Although I have no previous experience in…, I have had…
Used if you have never had the chance to work in a certain business
field, but can demonstrate qualities from other experiences you have had
My professional qualifications
/ skills appear to be well suited to your company's requirements.
My professional qualifications / skills appear to be well suited to
your company's requirements.
Used to explain what skills make you good candidate for the job
During my time as ..., I
improved / furthered / extended / my knowledge of…
During my time as ..., I improved / furthered / extended / my knowledge
of…
Used to demonstrate your experience in a certain field and ability to
aquire new skills
My area of expertise is…
My area of expertise is…
Used to show in which field of work your main attributes and experiences
are
Whilst working at… I became
highly competent in…
Whilst working at… I became highly competent in…
Used to demonstrate your experience in a certain field and ability to
aquire new skills
Even when working at high
speed, I do not neglect accuracy and would therefore be particularly suitable
for the demands of working as ….
Even when working at high speed, I do not neglect accuracy and would
therefore be particularly suitable for the demands of working as ….
Used to explain why you would be good at the job using the experience
gained from your previous employment history
Even under pressure I can
maintain high standards.
Even under pressure I can maintain high standards.
Used to show that you can work in a demanding business environment
And thus I would have the
opportunity to combine my interests with this placement.
And thus I would have the opportunity to combine my interests with this
placement.
Used to show that you have a personal interest in the job
I have a lively interest in …
and would appreciate the opportunity / chance to broaden my knowledge by working
with you.
I have a lively interest in … and would appreciate the opportunity /
chance to broaden my knowledge by working with you.
Used to show that you have a personal interest in the job
As you can see from my
enclosed résumé, my experience and qualifications match this position's
requirements.
As you can see from my enclosed résumé, my experience and
qualifications match this position's requirements.
Used to highlight your résumé and show how well the job would suit you
My current position as…for...has
provided me with the opportunity to work in a high-pressure, team environment,
where it is essential to be able to work closely with my colleagues in order to
meet deadlines.
My current position as…for...has provided me with the opportunity to
work in a high-pressure, team environment, where it is essential to be able to
work closely with my colleagues in order to meet deadlines.
Used to display what skills you have gained from you current job
In addition to my
responsibilities as..., I also developed…skills.
In addition to my responsibilities as..., I also developed…skills.
Used to show additional skills gained from your current job. Skills that
may not normally be associated with your occupational title
Motivational
Cover Letter - Skills
My native language is…, but I
can also speak…
My native language is…, but I can also speak…
Used to show your native language, and also other languages in which you
have fluency
I have an excellent command
of…
I have an excellent command of…
Used to show non-native languages that you can communicate to a high
level in
I have a working knowledge of…
I have a working knowledge of…
Used to show non-native languages that you can communicate to an
intermediate level in
I have …years experience of
working…
I have …years experience of working…
Used to show your experience in a certain business area
I am an experienced user of…
I am an experienced user of…
Used to show what computer software you can use
I believe I possess the right
combination of...and… .
I believe I possess the right combination of...and… .
Used to show how balanced your skills are
Excellent communication skills
Excellent communication skills
The ability to share information with and explain things to your
colleagues
Deductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning
The ability to understand and explain things quick and effectively
Logical thinking
Logical thinking
The ability to construct one's ideas in a precise, well thought-out
manner
Analytical skills
Analytical skills
The ability to assess things in detail
Good interpersonal skills
Good interpersonal skills
The ability to manage and communicate with colleagues effectively
Negotiation skills
Negotiation skills
The ability to do business deals with other companies effectively
Presentation skills
Presentation skills
The ability to communicate ideas effectively in front of a large group
Motivational
Cover Letter - Closing
I am highly motivated and look
forward to the varied work which a position in your company would offer me.
I am highly motivated and look forward to the varied work which a
position in your company would offer me.
Used when closing to reiterate one's desire to work for the company
I see new tasks / this
position as a welcome challenge, which I look forward to.
I see new tasks / this position as a welcome challenge, which I look
forward to.
Used when closing to reiterate one's desire to work for the company
I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss further details of the position with you personally.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further details of the
position with you personally.
Used when closing to hint at the possibility of an interview
Please find my résumé / CV
attached.
Please find my résumé / CV attached.
Standard formula used to tell the employer that your résumé / CV is
included with the cover letter
I can supply references
from…if required.
I can supply references from…if required.
Standard formula used to tell the employer that you are willing to
provide references
References can be requested
from…
References can be requested from…
Used to tell the employer that you are willing to provide references and
who they can contact for these
I am available for interview
on…
I am available for interview on…
Used to indicate when you are free for an interview
Thank you for your time and
consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to personally discuss why I am
particularly suited to this position. Please contact me via…
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the
opportunity to personally discuss why I am particularly suited to this
position. Please contact me via…
Used to give one's prefered contact details and to thank the employer
for reviewing your application
Yours faithfully,
Yours faithfully,
Formal, recipient name unknown
Yours sincerely,
Yours sincerely,
Formal, widely used, recipient known
Respectfully yours,
Respectfully yours,
Formal, not widely used, recipient name known
Kind/Best regards,
Kind/Best regards,
Informal, between business partners who are on first-name terms
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий
Примечание. Отправлять комментарии могут только участники этого блога.