This year you are going to do a considerable amount of compositions in class, so that you can prepare yourself for writing in exam situation. This will be announced one week in advance. You will improve your writing skills writing your compositions and learning from your mistakes.

For the compositions you have to write as homework, please follow these guidelines: 

Please hand in your work in handwritten form and don't forget to leave enough space between the lines for correction comments.

Please respect the margins, as they canl be used to write comments.

You will know the topic of your composition one week in advance. Don't forget to hand in your compositions in time.  Sorry, but we cannot accept compositions sent by email.

Once your work is marked, it's advisable to copy the composition again, including all the changes your teacher has suggested.

STUDENTS' BLOGS

CABIN FEVER REMEDIES

Puctuation marks are always a big challenge. What's the difference between a colon and a semi-colon? How do we say "punto" in English? What's a slash? Is it the same as a virgule? When should we use a comma?  

To find the answer, click here.

Linking words and phrases

Connectors and useful expressions 

Exercises to practice

Practice the use of linking words with an article about nuclear waste. Click here. Now rewrite the article using richer linking words.

Writing storm. Practice the use of linking words writing short texts.

Formal and informal English

To practice the vocabulary of formal letters click here

Register transfer 1

Register transfer 2

Register transfer 3

A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time.

To learn about collocations, click here.

When writing your compositions, I advise you to use a dictionary of collocations.

1. How to write a blog post

4. Students' blog posts

Look at some of the work done by your classmates.

5. PTEC: Topics related to blogs

Click here

6. Task

You own a blog that is followed mainly by your friends, family, colleagues and some other people you met on social media. You have decided to write about an object you have. Describe it, explain the history behind it: how you got it and why it is so special for you. Mention also if you would like someone else to have it one day and why. Write about 225-250 words.

BEFORE DOING THE EXERCISE

Do the exercises 3,4,5 in the photocopy to practice how to describe a person and check them with the key:

Describing people

Describing people. KEY

Useful vocabulary to describe people's clothes:

https://eslchestnut.com/2011/07/09/describing-people-and-clothes

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/words-used-to-describe-clothes

Vocabulary to describe ethnic groups in the UK:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_ethnicity_in_the_United_Kingdom

Now do the writing task: 

Read the information and do the exercises.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

In 2013 Channel Four started a investigative journalism scheme. These were the requierments: 

Read about the outcome of Lee's adventure

Advert model

General information: Read the information provided in the boxes. You can use the letter in exercise 5 as a model.

How to write a CV

CV Template

CV Dossier (printable version)

Read and listen to the articles in the dossier:

CV ideal length

How to write the perfect personal statement

What skills should I include on my cv?

Awsomne words to use on your cv

Ciche phrasees to avoid on you cv

Taking about your personal interests on you cv

Chosing your references

How to write a cover letter

Writing a report Write your report in 225-250 words.

Assessment reports

Report task

Write a police report based on a dialogue.

Here you can find some tips that will help you in your test.

To see some writing models and their corrections, click here

To see what we consider mistakes of a lower level, click here.

This is a list of typical mistakes. Have a look and try to correct them.

Now check them with the key.