St Sofia's Cathedral

"No city in the world is more beautiful than Kyiv," said Mykhail Bulgakov, one of the most mysterious writers and the author of "The Master and Margarita. "

The city has a unique landscape and is widely known for its architectural ensembles.

Kyiv churches make you think that you are not in XXI century, but hundreds years ago, you want to come closer to walls, to touch them and to feel the ancient times when our ancestors hadn't known what computers, cars and different modern things are.

St Sofia's Cathedral is one of the most beautiful buildings in Kyiv in all its austerity. The white facade contrasts very well to the dark green roof at the same time as they complete each other. The church is well known for its outstanding frescoes. It's hardly anywhere else in Europe to find a church with so many frescoes of XI century.

It was built to celebrate prince Yaroslav the Wise's victory over the Perchenegs, a tribe attacking Kiev. The entrance tower we pass through to get into the grounds were built in the 18th century, though. St Sofia was named after Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, the name of which means Holy Wisdom. And wisdom was gathered at St Sofia in Kiev as well since here was the first library and school in Kyiv State. Furthermore this place was for coronations and other royal ceremonies due to its position adjacent to the Royal Palace. And inside the church we find the sarcophagus to prince Yaroslav the Wise.

Today the St. Sofia Cathedral is a museum where you can see the unique ancient Rus mosaics, frescoes, unique graffiti made more than 1000 years ago. When you enter into the Cathedral you will be amazed by its grandeur and splendour.

It's definitely "a must" for every visitor and I also recommend it!

ACTIVITY

Write about the place in your area that is very popular because of its natural scenery (at least 100 words) using the following:

mention its location

say what attracts visitors to that place

describe how you feel about it.

Write an article of at least 100 words.

Description of a visit to a place

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
A wide variety of factual and opinion adjectives	Present Tenses to describe a place for a tourist brochure, Past Tenses to describe a visit to a place which happened some time ago, Conditionals to describe your dream house, ideal city, etc., Comparatives and Superlatives

When describing places your composition needs to be well organized.

Interesting Introduction
Paragraph 1 Give the name and location of the place you visited, the reason for writing the description, where you stayed and what the weather was like	Last… I/my family went (on holiday) to… …is a large town/city/a small seaside/village on the north/south (coast) of… …is located in the heart/middle of… … I/we stayed in a five-star/nice hotel/small guesthouse/bed and breakfast etc. in the centre of/on the outskirts of town. The weather was marvelous/fantastic/appalling (bad) /dreadful etc (the whole time/at first)
Main body
Paragraphs 2, 3 Describe what you saw, visited, where you ate and what was the nightlife there in separate paragraphs. Start a paragraph with a topic sentence which is the summary of the paragraph and includes the main idea of the paragraph	……a perfect holiday destination … has amazing /lots of tourist attractions There is a lot of…/are lots of sights to see I/we visited local museums/beautiful parks…and admired the stunning collection of… /magnificent palaces/churches/castles there. … saw a lot of…/the whole city Then we strolled aimlessly around… …got lost in the quiet back streets/lively central shopping area. … had dinner at traditional/Chinese/Japanese restaurant. …enjoyed delicious dishes such as… …couldn't find a place to have a snack. …shopped for souvenirs at street markets/shops. The nightlife was exciting/dull/boring There were a lot of clubs which were popular with young people. The streets were crowded/empty/quiet.
Conclusion
Paragraph 4 Feelings and final thoughts about the place/building plus recommendation	. is a lively and exciting city to visit with something for everyone, and is recommended to anyone seeking fun, variety and adventure. … has something to offer everyone. … is a fascinating place to visit. I had the time of my life. We couldn't wait to leave. It's really (not) worth visiting.

Sample Description of a Visit to a Place

Last July, it was my 18^th birthday. To celebrate, my parents and I visited England's capital, London, for a week. We stayed in a comfortable family-run hotel in the city centre. The weather was marvelous the whole time.

London has amazing tourist attractions. Up in the London Eye, we saw the whole city spread out clearly beneath us. Then we strolled aimlessly around the beautifully-kept gardens of Buckingham Palace. We also visited the National Gallery and admired the stunning collection of world-famous paintings there.

On my birthday itself, we had a special day out. my parents took me to Oxford Street to buy some trendy clothes, followed by lunch at a traditional restaurant by the riverside. In the evening we watched one of the West End's most amazing musicals, The Phantom of the Opera. It was superb.

London has something to offer everyone. We all had the time of our lives and were really sorry to leave!

ACTIVITY

You have recently visited a place of interest in your country. Write an article for a school paper describing:

the place you have been to

the tourist attractions that are in the place

the sights and the places you have visited and are going to see

whether the place is worth visiting and why.

Describing Events (Carnivals/Festivals/Ceremonies)

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
A wide variety of descriptive adjectives	Present Tenses to describe annual events (festivals, carnivals), Past Tenses to describe an event which happened some time ago, Passive to describe the preparations or activities which take place

When describing events you should give accurate information in well-structured paragraphs.

Interesting Introduction
Paragraph 1 Set the scene: name, place, time and the reason it takes place	It is held in… every… This (three-day) festival takes place every… It is a brilliant festival.
Main body
Paragraph 2 Detailed information concerning the preparations (food, decorations)	Preparations start weeks/ months before the festival. People clean their houses put up decorations make floats/puppets practice their dance steps prepare their costumes carve pumpkins buy presents etc.
Para 3 Description of the actual event/activities (costumes, music, dancing, other activities) graph 3	People line the streets to watch parades/floats wear fancy-dress costumes light candles play games watch marching bands set off fireworks make speeches have barbecues/parties visit friends/relatives sing and dance in the streets take part in contests eat a traditional meal give each other presents send cards/flowers etc.
Conclusion
Paragraph 4 Feelings and final thoughts about the event plus recommendation	Everyone feels happy/excited/thrilled/joyful It's fun for everyone. Everyone has/had a great/wonderful time. I'm sure everyone will remember it for a long time. I'll never forget it. It was a day full of surprises. I felt sad it was over but now I'm looking forward to next year's festival.

Sample Description of an Event

Valentine's Day

Many countries celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14^th. This modern-day holiday is a celebration of love which gets its name from a Roman priest, Valentine, who secretly performed wedding ceremonies for Christian couples in the 3^rd century.

Weeks before the fourteenth of February, shop windows are decorated with red paper hearts, red streamers and boxes of chocolates. Heart-shaped cakes and sweets are baked and gifts such as perfume and jewellery are promoted by department stores. Red roses are ordered from florists, dinner reservations are made and presents are bought in preparation for Valentine's Day. Even cards and small gifts are made by young children at schools.

On Valentine's Day, many people wear something red, since it is considered to be the colour of love. Gifts, wrapped in shiny paper and red ribbons, are exchanged, women receive bouquets of flowers and people express their feelings to their loved ones. In the evening, many couples choose to dine at romantic restaurants while others enjoy spending time together at home.

Valentine's Day is a time to let people know how much you love and appreciate them. It is a day that makes everyone feel romantic and happy.

ACTIVITY 1

A travel magazine is running a competition for the best description of a festival in your country. Write a description using the following:

mention its name, place, time and reason

give more detailed information about preparations

describe the scene, the atmosphere and the activities which take place

describe how you feel about it.

Write an article using 120-180 words.

ACTIVITY 2

Your pen-friend would like to know how the Ukrainians celebrate New Year. Write a letter in which:

write where you are planning to celebrate this holiday;

which dishes are associated with holiday in your family

how you'll be dressed this year

what presents you are preparing for your family/friends.

Write a letter of at least 100 words. Do not write your own name, any dates, addresses or other personal information. Start your letter in an appropriate way.

Narratives

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
A wide variety of factual and opinion adjectives, time words (before, until, then, next, finally), verbs	Past Simple to describe the main events, Past Continuous to set the scene, Past Perfect to talk about the events which happened before the main events, Direct and Reported Speech to make the story lively, Comparatives and Superlatives, Adverbs

Short and attractive headline/title announcing the topic
Introduction
Paragraph 1 Set the scene: Who - Where - When - What -	…felt tired as she had been working (on her computer) all morning. It was (snowing heavily) when… (woke up).
Main body
Paragraphs 2, 3, 4 Development (describe incidents leading up to the main event and the event itself in detail)	At first, we didn't notice… The (party) had only just started when… The next thing…knew, …was… Just at that moment…
Conclusion
Paragraph 5 End the story (refer to moods, consequences, people's reactions, feelings, comments)	The young man near the door… We walked down… To our/their/my surprise/horror … Imagine our/my disappointment/surprise when. I've never felt so relieved/scared/embarrassed in my whole life. It was the most embarrassing/exciting/amazing moment I've ever experienced.

To make the story more interesting you can use a variety of verbs and adjectives:

say
state	to formally say or write a piece of information or your opinion
answer/ reply	to say something to someone as a reply when they have asked you
ask	to speak or write to someone in order to get an answer, information or a solution
whisper	to speak or say something very quietly
explain	to tell someone about something in a way that is clear and easy to understand
scream	to make a loud high noise because you are hurt, frightened, excited etc
shout	to say something very loudly
promise	to tell someone that you will definitely do or provide something
claim	to state that something is true
wonder	to think about something that you are not sure about
suggest	to tell someone your ideas about what they should do, where they should go etc
look, see
glimpse	to see someone or something for a moment/ catch sight of
stare/gaze at	to look at someone or something for a long time without moving your eyes, for example because you are surprised, angry
notice	see, hear, feel someone/something
watch	to look at someone or something for a period of time, paying attention to what is happening
glance	to quickly look at someone/something
very good
wonderful/great	making you feel very happy
great	very large in amount or degree, sound, smell, taste, feel etc
fantastic	attractive, enjoyable, extremely large (huge), imaginary, strange, magical
terrific	making you feel excited and very happy
excellent	of very high quality (great is less formal than excellent)
brilliant	very bright or strong light/colour, extremely clever or skillful, very successful, excellent
amazing	very good, especially in an unexpected way, so surprising you can hardly believe it
marvellous	extremely good, enjoyable, impressive (wonderful)
very bad
terrible	extremely severe in a way that causes harm or damage
awful	very bad
disastrous	ending in failure
dreadful	extremely unpleasant
horrible	used, for example, about things you see, taste or smell, or about the weather
rubbish	not skillful at a particular activity
very big
huge	extremely large in size, amount or degree
enormous
very small
tiny	used about objects, numbers or amounts
minute	extremely difficult to see or notice

Sample Story

The Dream

One night, thirteen-year-old Lisa Levington had a strange dream. In the dream, her brother Rob, who was travelling round the world at the time, came to see her. `Hi Lisa,' he said. 'I've got a message for you to give to Mum and Dad. '

Rob explained that he had been in a serious accident in Brazil and was unconscious in hospital. He asked Lisa to tell their parents not to worry. 'I'll be all right,' he promised.

The next morning, while Lisa was telling her parents about the dream, the phone rang. It was Rob's best friend, Colin. `I'm afraid I've got some terrible news,' said Colin. `Rob's been in an accident. '

For six days they waited for news. Mr and Mrs Levington were so upset, but Lisa kept reminding them about her dream. That evening Colin called. 'Great news! ' he said. 'Rob's awake. The doctor says he's going to be fine. '

`I knew it! ' shouted Lisa with joy, and she always believed in her dreams from that day on.

ACTIVITY 1

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

It was a cool night and Kate

1) ______________ (lie) awake in bed. Her sister, Lucy,

2) ______________ (sleep) peacefully on the other side of the room. She

3) ____________ (come) home late and

4) _________ (be) tired. Kate

5) ____________ (not know) what

6) ___________ (wake her up), but she

7) ______ (feel) something was wrong. Suddenly, she

8) ____________ (smell) a strange burning smell. She

9) ______ (sit up) in bed. "Lucy!" she

10) _______ (say). "What is it? ” Lucy

11) ___________ (ask), as she

12) __________ (open) her eyes. "Can you smell smoke? '

13) _______ (ask) Kate. Lucy

14) ____________ (sniff) the air. "Yes,” she said. "Oh no! The house

15) ____ (be) on fire! ”

The two girls

16) __________ (be) very frightened. They

17) _________ (jump out) of bed and

18) _____ (run) onto the landing. Flames

19) ________________ (slowly climb up) the stairs. "You wake Mum and dad,” said Kate. "I have to call the fire brigade. ”

When the fire brigade

20) _________ (arrive), the whole family

21) _____________ (stand) by an upstairs window. The firefighters

22) __________ (climb up) a ladder and

23) ____________ (carry them down) to safety. Then, they

24) ____________ (put out) the fire with long hoses.

As soon as the fire

25) _____ (be) finally out, one of the firefighters

26) __________ (come over) to Kate and Lucy. "You

27) ______ (be) very brave,” he said. "You

28) ________ (act) very quickly. Well done!" Everybody

29) ___________ (smile). They

30) _______ (be) relieved. That the nightmare

31) ______ (be) over.

Read the story and underline:

· words/phrases which describe the weather

· adjectives which describe feelings

· words which link actions/events

· words/phrases which describe the atmosphere

ACTIVITY 2

Think about a time when something unexpected happened. Write a narrative in which you tell about an unexpected event that happened to you or someone you know. Be sure to include specific details so that a reader can follow your story.

News Report

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Impersonal formal style Accurate facts only	Passive Voice, Direct / Reported Speech and appropriate reporting verbs, Past Simple, Past Continuous, Present/Past Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect

Short and attractive headline/title announcing the topic
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
Introduction	Summarizing the described events: Who - What - Where - When -	A hurricane hit… yesterday morning, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to buildings… Two people were seriously injured in… Two people were killed and one person was seriously injured in a car crash… There was a large house fire early this morning…
Paragraphs 1,2,3,4,5	Developing the topic and including the information answering the questions WHY and HOW the event took place	Description of Events The accident happened when… …started/began/approached/reached… Points of View and Aspects of the Problem Firstly,… Secondly,… Thirdly,… Finally,… Addition to the Problem Furthermore,… Moreover,… What is more,… In addition to this… Not only… but… as well Apart from this/that… Reasons and Details … because…/owing to the fact that… The reason why… is that… What I like/dislike about… is… As a result of this… Emphasizing Connecting Different Ideas However, … …but…/at the same time… On the other hand,… In spite of the fact that…/Despite the fact that,… Result As a result of this, … What this means is people now expect…
Conclusion	Reactions or comments of ordinary people, officials, etc., and possible future actions concerning the event.	This is one of the worst natural disasters to hit the area… Transport authorities announced that… To sum up, the situation is…

Sample News Report

Gas Leak Results in Tragedy

In the early hours of Saturday morning the West Cross Shopping Centre, Wolverhampton, was devastated by a gas explosion. Fortunately, nobody was killed in the blast, but fourteen people were injured, two of them seriously.

Eight hours before the blast occurred, shop assistant, Heather Fowles had called the Gas Board, as she had noticed the smell of gas, but the Gas Board workers did not detect any leak.

"The explosion was like a flash of lightning,” said cleaner, Iris Adams, one of the less seriously injured victims. She states that she saw her boss, John Wilson, being lifted into the air and thrown against a wall by the blast. Mrs Asams and Mr Wilson were trapped under the rubble for more than one hour before fire-fighters managed to rescue them.

Police inspector, David Chamberlan revealed that several other complaints had been made about the smell of gas. The inquiry continues today.

ACTIVITY 1

Read the news report. Choose from (A-E) the one which best fits each space (1-5).

Powerful earthquakes hit Japan

A series of powerful earthquakes struck north-east Japan on Friday afternoon, triggering warnings of tsunami 1_____and shaking buildings in Tokyo.

The first earthquake struck at 2: 46pm local time and measured magnitude-8.8., 2______. Within 30 minutes the same region was rocked by two more big quakes of slightly lower intensity, Japanese news reports said.

The first quake, 3 ___, struck at a depth of six miles about 80 miles of the eastern coast, according to Japan's meteorological agency.

The Pacific tsunami warning centre in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Hawaii.

All flights in Japan were grounded immediately after the quake while officials checked for runway damage. Strong tremors were felt in Tokyo about 30 minutes after the quake. Newsreaders in the capital wore helmets as they gave updates, while office workers rushed out of buildings on to the street.

Television showed a building on fire in the Odaiba district of Tokyo,4______ if the blaze was connected to the earthquake.

Other footage showed water levels rising quickly in the coastal town of Miyako in Iwate prefecture on Japan's north-east Pacific coast. Public broadcaster NHK showed cars, trucks, houses and buildings being swept away by tsunami in Onahama city in Fukushima prefecture.

TV news presenters repeatedly warned people on the Pacific coast 5__.

A according to the US geological survey

B to head for higher ground

C although it was not immediately clear

D Japan's biggest for seven years

E as high as 10 metres

ACTIVITY 2

You work as a journalist. Write a news report about the earthquake in Japan.

Book Review

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
A wide variety of factual and opinion adjectives	Present Tenses, Passive Voice, Comparatives and Superlatives
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
Introduction	State briefly all the background information concerning a book. (the title, the type, the author, the theme, main characters, etc.)	This fascinating/well-written /original book is… It is a spy/adventure/fantasy/sci-fi story. The book/novel was written by… The main characters in this story are…
First/second/third main paragraphs	Give main points of the plot, presented in chronological order, general comments on the plot	The story begins/is about… The book reaches a tragic/dramatic culmination when… The book tells the story of… /is based on… The book is set in/takes place in…during… The plot is…/ has an unexpected twist It has a tragic/surprising end.
Conclusion	Give a general assessment and/or a recommendation supported by relevant reasons	I find the story great/interesting/exciting/terrific/sad/awful/funny… My first impression was… but later… I would highly/strongly/definitely/ wouldn't recommend it because… It is (not) worth seeing… You should definitely read/see… Don't miss it, it will change the way you see…

Sample Book Review

Ender's Game

One of my favourite books of all time is Ender's Game by the American author Orson Scott Card.

It is the first novel in a series of books, which all take place in the same imaginary universe.

Ender's Game is science fiction story about a talented boy, Ender, who was taken to a military training school at a very early age. Ender spends his days training and practicing, but he is never told about the purpose of his preparation. After a difficult start, he begins enjoying his training, and soon becomes the best among his fellow trainees. What he does not realize is that he is being prepared for war against an alien race.

The story is written from the boy's perspective, who cannot quite understand what is happening around him. The reader identifies with the protagonist, and when the final twist comes (which I do not want to give away), we live through the shock of it together with Ender.

The book raises important questions of innocence, adults' responsibilities towards children and about the nature of special talent.

Card's powerful story-telling makes Ender's Game a real page-turner, and I personally found it very difficult to put down.

It is an all-time science fiction classic, which I would definitely recommend to fans of the genre.

ACTIVITY

Write a short description of the book you have just read.

Write a review of a book you enjoyed using at least 100 words.

Give information about:

the title, the author and the type of the book

when and where the story takes place

who the main characters of the story are

explain why you find the book interesting.

Film Review

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Formal/semi-formal A wide variety of factual and opinion adjectives	Present /Past Tenses (you can write a review either in the past tense or in the present tense. The important thing is to use the same tense throughout your review), Passive Voice, Comparatives and Superlatives
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
Introduction	State briefly all the background information concerning a film, (the title, the type, the author or director, the theme, main characters, etc.)	This realistic/spectacular/ magnificent film is… The film stars… It is a comedy/action/historical/ science fiction/war/western/ romantic/disaster/horror film starring …/ with … as the most important actor/actress in it.
First/second/ third main paragraphs	Give an outline of the plot (you should not under any circumstances reveal the end). Include an evaluation of comments of various features such as the direction, acting, cast, main characters, plot, sound effects, screen play, special effects, music, etc, or to put it briefly, all the good and bad points of the film, book, etc.	The story begins/is about… The film reaches a tragic/dramatic culmination when… The /film tells the story of… /is based on… The film is set in/takes place in… The film was directed by… The plot is original, interesting and frightening / has an unexpected twist The script is dull/clever/exciting/fast moving It has a tragic/surprising end. The film shows… struggle of…against… love among… complex relations between… the fate of… The plot focuses on the problem…/the nature of…relationship It is rather long/boring/confusing The cast is excellent/weak/ The film has a… cast (The actor) … has starred in many fine films, but in this film he… The way he/she acts shows that… In my opinion he/she should/shouldn't have… The acting is real/true to life/excellent/first class. The special effects are also amazing, especially the ship itself, which seems so real. The wonderful music is very romantic. However, because of the unrealistic, silly love story, the dialogue is rather poor.
Conclusion	Give a general assessment and/or a recommendation supported by relevant reasons	I would highly/strongly/definitely/ wouldn't recommend it because… It is (not) worth seeing… You should definitely see… Don't miss it, it will change the way you see…

Useful adjectives and adverbs

wonderful fantastic great slow terrible

interesting original unusual strange boring

exciting romantic beautiful predictable violent

unbelievable imaginative moving unrealistic (too) dull

Sample Film Review

Free Willy

`Free Willy', directed by Simon Wincer, is a fascinating and moving adventure film.

It is set on the west coast of North America. The film is about the relationship between a boy and a whale, called Willy. Jason James Richter plays Jesse, a young street child who finds out the meaning of love and friendship.

Jesse first meets Willy in the sea park where the whale is kept. They become good friends as they have both been separated from their families. As the story develops Jesse becomes so fond of Willy that he decides to try and free him.

All the actors, especially Lori Petty and Michael Madsen are excellent. The film is filled with suspense and emotion. The scenes involving Jesse and Willy, teach us how close animals and human beings can be to each other.

This is a wonderful film for the whole family. Don't miss it as it will change the way you see life and relationships forever.

ACTIVITY

Write a letter to your pen-friend describing a film you enjoyed. Write at least 100 words and follow the plan:

Introduction

Para 1: greeting; a few words about the purpose of your writing.

Main body

Para 2: title, type and actors of the film.

Para 3: summary of the plot; acting; special effects.

Conclusion

Para 4: your overall opinion; closing remarks; your signature.

2.3 Discursive Essays

"For and Against" Essay

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Formal impersonal style, no short forms or strong personal expressions, addressing the reader directly, linking words	Present Tenses, Passive Voice
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
Introduction	Introduce the subject	It has often been suggested that… There is no doubt that However,… Have you ever thought/seen/read about…/wondered whether…?
First/second main paragraphs	Present arguments in favour of …, give reasons, justify points and give examples	On the one hand,… Firstly,… To begin with,… Secondly,… For example,… Because of this,… In addition (to this),… Moreover,… The main advantage of… Another benefit/argument in favour of… This is because… This means that… As a result…
Second/third main paragraphs	Present arguments against …, give reasons, justify points and give examples	On the other hand,… However,… In contrast,… In addition,… As a result,… Because of this,… For this reason… Another argument against… A serious drawback/disadvantage of… This is because… This means that… As a result…
Conclusion	Come to a conclusion	In conclusion,… I believe that… To sum up,… To summarise,… In summary…

Sample "For and Against" Essay

Shopping centres have improved the way we shop

Shopping centres have changed the way we shop - but is this really an improvement?

One positive aspect of shopping centres is convenience: we can find everything from groceries to electronics, from cosmetics to clothes, under the same roof.

Furthermore, shopping centres offer entertainment facilities, like cinemas or bowling alleys, with an enormous range of things to buy or to do.

In addition to this, they are places where you can meet people and socialise in cafes and restaurants. They have become the focus of social life for many teenagers.

However, smaller local shops which used to offer a friendlier, more personal service are closing down because they cannot keep up with the competition.

Another disadvantage of shopping centres is that they offer bland, uniform products all over the world - local character is disappearing. In order to supply a large number of customers efficiently, mass-produced goods replace custom-made products. To summarise, on the one hand, they offer a more comfortable shopping experience, but on the other hand, they make us all the same: customers in a commercialised world where the most important things are things you can buy.

In my view, shopping centres are useful, but we should not allow them to change the world we live in.

ACTIVITY 1

Your teacher has asked you to write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of living in cities.

Write an essay of between 120 and 180 words in an appropriate style.

ACTIVITY 2

Your physical education teacher asked you to write an essay discussing pros and cons of team sports.

Write:

whether you and your friends play sports; what sports you play

whether you like playing in a team or you prefer exercising on your own

what the advantages and disadvantages of playing sports in a team are

give advice on how to develop skills working in a team.

Write an essay of at least 100 words.

Opinion Essay

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Clear expressing of opinion, linking words	Present Tenses, Passive Voice
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
Introduction	State the topic and your opinion clearly	It has often been suggested that… There is no doubt that… However,… I believe… In my opinion… I think. In my view… I strongly believe… I feel that…
First main paragraph	Present the first viewpoint, give reasons	On the one hand,… In the first place,… Firstly,… To begin with,… Secondly, … Finally,… For example,… Because of this,…
Second main paragraph	Present the second viewpoint, give reasons	In addition (to this),… Furthermore, As a result,… Because of this,… For this reason… What is more… …not only…but also… Moreover,… Therefore,
Fourth main paragraph	Give the opposing viewpoint and reasons	Contrary to what most people believe… As opposed to the above ideas… Some people argue that… On the other hand,… Nevertheless,…
Conclusion	Restate your opinion and come to a conclusion	In conclusion,… All in all, I strongly believe that… I believe that… To sum up,… To summarize,… In summary…

Sample Opinion Essay

Are computers a necessity?

Computers play an important role in the lives of most of us today, whether we realize it or not. Some people, however, are beginning to ask if we really need them. In my opinion, computers have become a necessary part of modern life. In the first place, computers can save a lot of storage space. Storing information on computer disks is one of the most efficient ways of keeping data. One computer disk can hold the same amount of information as several books. Furthermore, computers save everyone a lot of valuable time. Stored information can be found at the touch of a button, whereas searching for it manually takes much longer. Therefore, our everyday lives are made easier - from going to the bank to doing the shopping. Nevertheless, there are those who claim that computers are unnecessary and make our lives more complicated. They argue that in the past we managed very well using other methods and that we have become too dependent on computers. However, they fail to consider that the time saved by using computers for repetitive tasks enables us to use our own time more creatively and productively. All in all, I strongly believe that computers are a useful tool. They have changed our lives for the better and there is no reason why we should not make them work to our advantage.

ACTIVITY 1

Your teacher has asked you to write an essay on the topic:

Is school the best preparation for your working life?

ACTIVITY 2

Your class has been studying the history of transport. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay explaining whether you agree or disagree with the following statement:

The invention of the car changed the world.

Write an essay of between 120 and 180 words in an appropriate style.

Essay Providing Solutions to Problems

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Formal style	Present Tenses, Passive Voice
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
Introduction	Introduce the subject	It has often been suggested that… There is no doubt that… However,…
Two/three main paragraphs	Present separate suggestions and their possible results	One way of solving the problem is to… On the one hand,… Firstly, … In the first place,… To begin with,… As a result… By doing this… In this way… Another helpful suggestion would be to… We/people should… It would be a good idea to… Secondly,… For example,… In addition (to this),… Moreover,… Because of this,… For this reason… Then,… If (people) …, the (situation) will/would…
Conclusion	Come to a conclusion	In conclusion,… I believe that… To sum up,… To summarise,… All in all,…

Sample Essay Providing Solutions

People should be encouraged to use public transport more

There is no doubt that traffic adds to pollution. Public transport offers a possible solution to the problem, since many people can be transported in one vehicle. The government has a responsibility to encourage the public to use buses and the underground more. However, there are a number of changes which need to be considered.

In the first place, public transport should be made free. The government should raise taxes to pay for the service. If it was free, most people would decide to leave their cars at home and travel by bus or train.

What is more, the service must be clean and reliable. People need to know that they can get to work on time. They also need to know that their journey will be comfortable.

To sum up, I would argue that a clean, reliable service which was free would encourage many people to use public transport. The government should take action on this to prevent environmental damage.

ACTIVITY

Your teacher wants your class to write about a problem that affects your local community. You have chosen the topic of litter on the streets. Write an essay (120-180 words) suggesting ways that individuals can help to fight this problem and mentioning the possible results.

2.4 Repotrs

Assessment Report

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Formal style	Present /Past Tenses, Passive Voice
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
First line	Say who the report is for (first name or Mr/Mrs/Ms + surname)	To:
Second line	Say who wrote the report	From:
Third line	Say what the report is about	Subject:
First main paragraph	Introduction (heading)	The aim/purpose of this report is to… As requested, I have researched/interviewed/ visited/examined/ looked at… This report was written… The results/findings are presented below
Second/third main paragraphs	Summarise each point under suitable headings, giving both positive and negative points	In fact… Actually… As a matter of fact… On the whole… Although…Yet… However,… Nevertheless,… In spite of the fact that…
Conclusion	Give a general assessment and recommendation	In conclusion,… To sum up,… To summarize,… In summary… Taking everything into account… I would recommend/suggest that… We should/could also consider…

Sample Assessment Report

To: Mrs Peters

From: Amy Baxter

Subject: New Location for `Cards and Gifts'

Introduction

As requested, I have visited several possible new locations for `Cards and Gifts'. My findings are outlined below.

24 High Street

Although this shop is in the town centre, it may not be an ideal new location for `Cards and Gifts' as there is another gift shop next door. However, the shop is very large, and I discovered that the rent is only $ 500 per month. This is very reasonable for the centre.

18 Cartwright Avenue

This shop is not as large as 24 High Street, but it is larger than our current location. The building is in very good condition and is only five minutes' walk from the centre. The rent is $450 per month.

67 Fisher Lane

The shop is extremely small and in very poor condition.

Recommendation

Of the three shops I visited, I would recommend 18 Cartwright Avenue. It is large enough and near the centre. The rent is not expensive and there are no other gift shops nearby.

ACTIVITY

Your company has asked you to visit a hotel where they are considering holding a conference. Write your report for the company.

Survey Report

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Impersonal style, facts and generalizations	Present Tenses, Reported Speech
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
First line	Say who the report is for (first name or Mr/Mrs/Ms + surname)	To:
Second line	Say who wrote the report	From:
Third line	Say what the report is about	Subject:
First main paragraph	Introduction (heading)	The aim/purpose of this report is to… As requested, I have researched /interviewed/ visited/examined/ looked at… This report was written… The results/findings are presented below
Second/third main paragraphs	Summarise each point under suitable headings, giving both positive and negative points	In fact… Actually… As a matter of fact… On the whole… Although… Yet… However,… Nevertheless,… In spite of the fact that…
Conclusion	Give a general assessment and recommendation	In conclusion,… To sum up,… To summarise,… In summary… Taking everything into account… I would recommend/suggest that… We should/could also consider…

Sample Survey Report

To: Jane Peters. From: Alison Webster. Subject: Merdington Youth Club

Introduction

As requested, I have interviewed members of Merdington Youth Club to discover whether they are satisfied with the facilities. My findings are presented below.

The building

All twenty-eight members of the club felt that the building should be redecorated. Several of the older members said that they would be willing to help with the redecoration if the local council provided paint and brushes.

Club activities

On the whole, members were pleased with the range of club activities. However, many of the older teenagers would prefer the club to stay open later on Friday evenings. It currently closes at 9 pm. They suggest that there is a disco from 9 pm to 11 pm for club members aged 16-18.

Conclusion

Merdington Youth Club is a popular and well-run club. I would recommend, however, that the building is redecorated. This could be done by the members of the club to reduce the cost. We should also consider providing a Friday evening disco for older teenagers.

ACTIVITY

You work for Tapperton Council. Your manager has asked you to interview members of the Tapperton Sports Club to find out what they think about the facilities the club offers. Write your report for your manager.

Proposal Report

Points to consider

Language	Grammar
Impersonal style, facts and generalizations	Modals, Conditional 2
Part	Purpose	Useful expressions
First line	Say who the report is for (first name or Mr/Mrs/Ms + surname)	To:
Second line	Say who wrote the report	From:
Third line	Say what the report is about	Subject:
First main paragraph	Introduction (heading)	The aim/purpose of this report is to… This report was written…
Second/third main paragraphs	Summarise each point under suitable headings, giving both positive and negative points	In fact… Actually… As a matter of fact… On the whole… Although… Yet… However,… Nevertheless,… In spite of the fact that…
Conclusion	Give a general assessment and recommendation	In conclusion,… To sum up,… To summarise,… In summary… Taking everything into account… I would recommend/suggest that… We should/could also consider…

Sample Proposal Report

To: Elizabeth Jones, Owner, Bookworms Bookshop

From: Sarah Thompson, Shop assistant

Subject: Attracting young customers

Date: 4^th May, 20…

A Purpose

The purpose of this report is to suggest ways to attract more young customers to the bookshop.

B Types of Books

Most of the books currently available are quite academic and therefore appeal to older customers. In order to encourage more young people to buy books, the shop should offer magazines and books on topics such as music, fas...