A blog comment

You have decided to comment on this blog post. In your blog comment you should: 
• comment on Andrea's point of view 
• state your own opinion 

Write only between 50 and 60 words!

The last day to upload your comment is Wednesday 27th November.

Writing a cover letter or email / application letter or email

                                                                 Click here to see an old post.

     Another post with an example here.

How to write an opinion essay

Click here and read the first three points. You'll find ideas about the writing process and useful language you can use.

Here you have a clear outline for this kind of writing activity.

Life-changing experiences

Write a post about a life-changing experience (100-120 words). Try to use "used to", "would", "get/be used to", "no longer" or "any more" and a "result phrase".
I'll put a tick next to it when I correct it.
You can upload it until 28th February.

News reports

Click here to see old posts about the same topics. 

Improve your writing

This is the key to the photocopy I gave you.

SYNONYMS
Jump- Leap / Use- Employ / Hide- Conceal (formal) / Finish- Complete / Break- Smash / Hate- Loathe / Stop- Cease (formal) / Look- Glance / Choose- Select / Put- Place / Cry- Weep (formal) / Find- Locate / Kill- Slay (literary) / Think- Ponder (formal) / Help- Assist (formal) / Show- Display / Watch- Observe (formal)

SAY / TELL
Whispered / Shouted / Declared (say sth officially and publicly) / Recommended / Replied / Groaned (to make a long deep sound because you're annoyed, upset or in pain or with pleasure) / Insisted / Informed / Mentioned / Announced / Responded /  Stated (say sth formally in a careful and clear way) / Notified / Muttered (say sth in a quiet way because you're angry or annoyed) / Revealed / Asserted / Added / Remarked (to comment) / Exclaimed / Suggested / Answered / Sighed

GO
Wandered- Casually / Shot- Quickly / Slid- Secretively / Hurried- Quickly / Marched- confidently / Jumped- Abruptly / Strolled- Casually / Burst- Abruptly / Sneaked- Secretively / Rushed- Quickly / Crept- Secretively

ADJECTIVES
Packed: very crowded / Deafening: very loud or noisy / Ancient: very old / Fascinating: very interesting / Exhausted: very tired / Excruciating: very painful / Flawless: Absolutely perfect / Stunning: very impressive or beautiful / Spotless: very clean / Filthy: very dirty / Petrified: very frightened / Boiling: very hot / Freezing: very cold / Brilliant: very clever / Furious: very angry / Starving: very hungry / Tiny: very small

WRITING

Have a look at some samples and instructions on how to write different kinds of writing activities.

Writing reference 1

Writing reference 2

Advantages and disadvantages

Click here to see an example.

Have a look at this old post with more examples and instructions on how to write this kind of activities.

Covering email for job application

Writing a covering email to accompany your CV

If your CV is attached to the email, then use the main body of the email as your covering letter. Tell the employer how you meet their key requirements so that you can immediately make a good impression and entice them to open the attachment and look at your CV in more detail.

• In the subject line of the email, list the vacancy title, reference number and where you saw or heard about the vacancy
• Use the body of the email to convince the recruiter (qualifications, experience, skills) that you are the right person for the job
• Send the CV as an attachment clearly labelled with your name
• Spell-check before sending the email

Here's an example:

Web Content Manager Cover E-mail

Subject Line of Email Message: Web Content Manager - Your Name

Email Message:

Dear contact person,

I am writing to express my interest in the Web Content Manager position listed on Monster.com on 23th October.

As you will see from my CV, I hold a degree in journalism and I am currently finishing a course in web related marketing and development at Oxford University. I have fairly good knowledge of HTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and MS-FrontPage.

At the moment I am working as a self-employed content developer for different companies. I am good at understanding the objectives of the different organizations and their target audience. My responsibilities range from developing unique ideas, editing and proofreading the articles before publishing them to managing social media. Much of my experience is in the business world and I am used to creating web content based on analytical reports, press releases or survey reports always presenting them in a lucid, simple and easy to understand language.

My experience has taught me how to build strong relationships with all departments at an organization. I can also work with web engineers to resolve technical issues and implement design and functional enhancements. I am a hard-working and responsible person with excellent communication skills and I would like the opportunity to develop those skills in more of a team environment. For these reasons I am very interested in working for your company.

I would be pleased to discuss this email and my enclosed CV. Thank you for your consideration.

  

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Name and surname

Email: firstlast@gmail.com
Mobile phone: 555-124-1245

Formal letters of complaint

Click here to read some instructions and see some examples of complaint letters.

More instructions here.

An opinion essay

Click here to see the instructions we saw in class.


Here there's more information and here you'll find some examples and exercises.

Reports

Click here to read about the two basic kinds of reports and how to write them. There is an example of the one in which you are supposed to give some information and a summary at the end. The other kind is the one you have to write for homework. 

Click here to see another example that has been analysed. 

Ready Meal essay

Click here to see what to use in your writing activity.

A for and against essay

Click here to read some instructions on how to write one of these essays.

Here you have a model.

Linking words

Linking words I: examples and exercises.   

Linking words II and the environment.




Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4



Exercise 1
Exercise 2

Film Reviews

Click here to see an example and some tips on writing film reviews.

Click here to learn vocabulary related to film reviews.

Book Reviews

Click here to read some tips.

Click here to learn some useful expressions.

Listen to some book reviews.

Clothes Adverts- Group 18M

Click here to go to the padlet and post your ads.

Clothing ads - padlet group 18J

Click here to get to the padlet.

CVs and COVER LETTERS / EMAILS

Listen to an interview with a recruitment expert, who talks about his experience of reading CVs and offers some good advice on writing them.

Click here to read some advice and examples to write a cover letter or email.

Click here to do an exercise with an example of a cover letter.