Writing Guide for FCE

WRITING GUIDE FCE

This guide contains main guidelines for each writing task

Type of writing An article

What style/format is it often written in? (What’s in it?)

- A catchy title - Descriptions, examples and anecdotes are often appropriate.

- The language should be lively and colourful.

A report

A letter

- There should be opinion and comment.

- Factual information, suggestions or recommendations are clearly organised.

- It may include headings.

- Letters may be narrative, factual etc. It depends on the question.

- Letters should have an opening salutation, clear paragraphing and closing phrasing.

An essay

A story

- You give your opinion by stating points in favour and against a certain topic.

- Use semi-formal language - Anecdotes - Use a wide range of vocabulary to show sequence so as to avoid unnecessary repetition - Use past tenses

A FORMAL LETTER ¨

A formal letter is always written in response to another letter, piece of communication or a situation that has arisen.

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There is often a prompt for a negative and/or interrogative sentence in your reply.

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Prompts may be in the form of notes, or in the exam question itself. Make sure that you take note of any such prompts.

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If you do not cover all the key points your letter will not receive a good grade, even if you use a wide, accurate range of language and vocabulary. In any exam, if you fail to mention a key issue, you will be heavily penalized or may automatically fail the essay task.

Useful formal language

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

TO COMPLAIN

• I am writing in reply to your letter dated ….

• I am writing in response to your advertisement for the position of … , which appeared in the newspaper today.

• I am writing in order to complain about • I was dissastified with • In the first place • My main criticism is • I’m afraid to say

TO REQUEST / GIVE INFOR

TO SUGGEST

• I am writing to • I am writing / inquire would like to suggest • I would like to know • A further possibility •Do you think you could tell me…?

• Would you mind telling me …?

• The first thing I would like to inform you of is …

If you begin your letter Dear Mr. Brown

If you end your letter Yours sincerely (BrE), Sincerely,

Dear Sir or Madam Yours faithfully (BrE), To Whom It May Concern with a comma after the opening greeting,

add a comma after the closing statement

A letter of application

OPENINGS

• Dear Sir/Madam • Dear Mr. Austin/Mrs. Smith

GIVING A REASON FOR WRITING

YOUR SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

YOUR QUALITIES

• I am writing in response to…/in connection with …

• I am an experienced • I have worked/helpe d for many years with…

• I have reached the (x) level of •I have passed

• I am hardworking and sensible • I am outgoing and sociable • I like working with people • I am calm and efficient

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

CLOSINGS

• I look forward to hearing from you • I would be grateful if you would consider me • Yours faithfully, • Yours sincerely,

Ordering ideas ¨

Try to group your ideas into logical paragraphs. Group paragraphs either chronologically or in order of importance.

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Use connectors to help structure this order.

USEFUL PHRASES ¨

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Chronological order: Examples: ü

When I first …, I was told that it would ...

ü

Once you arrive, you will need to…

Order of importance: Examples: ü ü

First of all, …

Secondly, …/Thirdly, … / Finally…

Ending the letter The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. You should state what you expect the other person to do next, and tell them how they can contact you.

USEFUL PHRASES ¨

State the next course of action: Examples: ü

I hope to hear from you in the near future.

ü

I would like to request a refund of the full amount.

ü

I will wait to hear from you before I take any further action.

ü

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Tell them how they can contact you: Example:

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ü

I can be contacted at the above address.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

ü

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Write a final greeting on a new line.

Sign your name on a new line and print your full name clearly on the line below. In American English, you might also add your telephone number after your name on a new line.

General comments

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Use high-level language and vocabulary in a formal letter. A good letter will make use of some of the formulaic phrases appropriate for the style.

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Use appropriate connectors.

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Do not repeat the exact phrases in the exam question.

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Change the part of speech of a word to avoid repetition.

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Use synonyms.

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Change the order of ideas.

AN E-MAIL OPENINGS

TO ADVISE & SUGGEST

TO REQUEST & GIVE INFO

CLOSINGS

• Dear John,

• Why don’t you

• By the way

• Hope to hear from

• John, hi

• If I were you

• Let me tell you

you soon

• It’s great to hear

• I recommend

about

• I have to go now

from you

• I suggest

• Could you let me

• Write soon

• I hope you’re well

• I think you should

know

• Bye,

• You could try

• I need to know

• Take care

• You ought to

• Did I tell you that

• Love,

• It might be a good

• Best wishes,

idea to

• Yours,

AN ARTICLE QUESTIONS TO OPEN YOUR ARTICLE WITH • Have you ever?

• Do you ever wonder…?

• Do you think that?

OPENINGS & CLOSINGS • Firstly, • First of all, • To begin with, • Secondly, • Apart from that, • So, • In conclusion, • To sum up, • To put it in a nutshell, • All in all,

GIVING EXAMPLES

• …such as …

• … like….

• for example, …

• for instance, …

• …particularly…

ENDINGS

• It seems to me that • What I think is • Personally, • In my view, …

• From my point of view,

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An article, in general, is a piece of writing for publication in a magazine, newspaper, brochre, etc. Its purpose may be to provide information, describe a place/event/experience, present an opinion or balanced argument, offer advice/suggestions, etc.

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Types of article include: v

news reports: brief. They describe important current events in a

formal impersonal style. v

reviews: written to describe, discuss and/or evaluate a film, book,

play, TV series, etc. ¨

It should include an eye-catching title or headline

A REPORT A report requires clear organization and presentation. The language is formal.

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Include a title, which summarizes the purpose of writing the report. It may be relevant to include some comments on how the information was gathered.

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Use subheadings.

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You should state purpose.

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It should be very objective, so try to keep your report factual.

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When writing the conclusion, make sure that your report has covered all the points that you were asked to cover and achieves that purpose. End with a final evaluation, recommendation or reference to further action that is necessary.

STATING THE PURPOSE

• The purpose/aim of this report is to describe/present • This report gives a description/presentation • This report is intended to

FORMAL LINKING WORDS • However, • In addition, • Furthermore, • Moreover, • As a result,

FINAL SUGGESTIONS/RECOMME NDATIONS • I would strongly recommend • My suggestion is • If these changes are introduced • I can recommend • In conclusion • In my opinion

A REVIEW THINGS YOU LIKED • excellent • perfect • wonderful • fabulous • out of this world • superb •

THINGS YOU DIDN’T LIKE • poor • dreadful • uninteresting • dull • nothing-to-writehome about •

COMPARING & CONTRASTING

RECOMMENDING

• …much better than…

• …not nearly as good as …

• It was disappointing compared to • It was surprisingly good • Although…, ….

• Despite + noun/ing

• 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 …

A STORY SAYING WHEN STH 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,

ADVERBS & ADJS

ENDING THE STORY

• It was amazing/incredible/w onderful/so unexpected • I felt so scared/worried/nervo us/frightened …incredibly scary…/absolutely overjoyed/completely miserable/totally overwhelmed

• When it was over • When I looked back • After all that happened • It had all been • At last

General comments ¨

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Use past perfect to show 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.

AN ESSAY SUPPORTING ONE POINT OF VIEW

EXPLAINING WHY

EXPRESSING CONTRAST

EXPLAINING SB ELSE’S OPINION

GIVING YOUR OPINION

CONCLUDIN G

• In the 1st place • Furthermore, • In addition, • Moreover, • A final point,

• Because of this, • For this reason, • As a result, • Therefore, • Due to,

• On the other hand, • In contrast, • However, • Nevertheless • Although…, • While…, ….

• According to …, …

• It is said that • Some people say/state/clai m/explain • Many people feel •Others think/believe/

• I agree that • I think /believe that • In my opinion • I am in favour of • It seems to me that • I am under the impression that

• Overall, • To sum up, • On the whole, • In conclusion, • All in all, To put it in a nutshell,