C1.
1 Writing Reference
Unit 1
Writing a letter or email of complaint
A letter or email of complaint is a formal letter or email which should explain very clearly what went wrong
and how it affected you. The tone should be polite but firm and request some resolution to the problem(s)
you had.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Explain the purpose
I am writing to complain about the city break to Rome that we booked of the letter or email
through your travel agency and which turned out to be a huge and mention briefly
disappointment. what problem you
encountered.
Firstly, although the flight arrived on time, we had to wait an hour
before your representative arrived to take us to the hotel. To make
matters worse, we were then informed that there had been a problem List the reasons why you
with overbooking and we would be accommodated at an alternative are complaining.
hotel nearby. While it is true that this hotel was slightly more upmarket,
we had specifically asked for a quiet room away from the street. To
our dismay, the room allocated to us faced onto the street and was
extremely noisy with traffic rushing by for most of the night.
In addition to this, we had been assured by your agent that the
sightseeing tour and visits to the monuments would be in small
Add further reasons.
groups and with an official Italian city guide. However, this was not
the case. We were appalled to find ourselves herded around in a bus
with forty other tourists accompanied by a young English tour guide
whose knowledge of the city was seemingly less than ours.
State what action you
In view of all this, I think it would be appropriate to refund the full
expect the company to
cost of our stay. If this is not forthcoming, we shall consider taking take.
the matter further.
I trust this complaint will receive your immediate attention.
Yours faithfully,
Danielle Ferguson
Writing tips
• Explain
what happened and how it affected you. Focus on two or three events related to the
incident.
• Use passive structures when describing what happened to be more impersonal.
• Use appropriate expressions to express your displeasure and increase the impact.
• Use connectors to structure the text.
• Be clear about what action you want taken.
THAT’S ENGLISH!
C1.1 Writing Reference
Unit 2
Writing a review
When writing a review you will need to describe an art exhibition, book or film in detail, as well as
give your opinion and either recommend it or not. You do not need to use formal language. You can be
personal and direct.
The exhibition at the Royal Academy of the well-known Give the practical
Chinese artist and activist, Ai Weiwei, is proving immensely details about the
popular. It will only be on until the 13th of June, so it’s well event: name, where
it’s held, dates, etc.
worth booking your tickets now.
At first glance, the visitor is struck by the huge scale
and strangeness of some of the installation pieces. For Give a general
example, at the entrance there’s a small forest of trees, description of the
built with mismatched pieces of dead wood. The end show. Describe your
first impressions.
result is both dramatic and atmospheric. The rest of the
pieces, such as the three-dimensional maps of China or
the bicycle chandelier, are beautifully mounted in order to
make a powerful impact on the viewer.
Ai Weiwei’s work contrasts the contemporary world and
traditional Chinese art. It is always controversial and
thought-provoking. One such example is an ancient
Chinese urn that has the Coca-Cola logo painted on it. Describe some of the
There are exquisite pieces of furniture, which have been pieces in more detail.
transformed into new, purposeless objects, in order to Give your opinion.
make a personal, social or political statement. You will also
find massive pieces, including near life-size sculptures of Ai
Weiwei himself, made with microscopic precision, which
represent his life in prison. In my opinion, the highpoint
of the whole exhibition is a sea of metal rods built to
denounce the Chinese government and corruption.
In the conclusion,
This is certainly an exhibition I’d recommend. If you include a final
thought Ai Weiwei was a pretentious, overrated pseudo- evaluation and a
artist, this show will definitely change your mind. recommendation.
Writing tips
• Describe the event in detail. Avoid generalisations.
• Make your descriptions interesting by using a wide range of vocabulary.
• Use relative clauses and reduced relative clauses to give detailed information.
• Include emphatic language (adjectives, adverbs, etc.) to give your opinion and final
recommendation.
THAT’S ENGLISH!
C1.1 Writing Reference
Unit 6
Writing a proposal
A proposal is a text that is written to persuade a reader to follow a course of action. You need to divide
the proposal into clear sections. Your conclusion must be a suggestion based on the factual information
you have given.
PROPOSAL FOR BUILDING A
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Introduction
Introduction: The aim of this proposal is to suggest the creation Explain the purpose of
of a community garden in our town. the proposal.
Statement of need: There is an abandoned plot of land in
the town centre, which is currently full of drug dealers, petty Statement of need
criminals and rubbish. We suggest that this area should be Give reasons why the
transformed into a space where our citizens can meet, cooperate project is needed.
and learn by growing their own organic food. The garden would
also become a place in which to explore, relax and enjoy nature.
Project description: We propose that the Council should buy
the abandoned plot and transform it into a communal garden. Project description
Give details about
A fence should be put in place and the soil fertility should be what the project will
improved to make it suitable for planting. We also suggest involve.
building raised beds for plants, laying pathways, adding
benches and installing a decorative fountain.
Budget analysis: The estimated price of the plot is £300,000. Budget analysis
The construction work would cost £40,000 and the benches and Describe how much
fountain would be an additional £25,000, making a total cost of the project will cost.
£365,000.
Conclusion: The garden will offer our citizens the unique
opportunity to connect with nature, grow their own food and at Conclusion
the same time build a stronger community. Crime and littering Summarise the
will be reduced as the garden will provide the neighbourhood benefits of the
project.
with a pleasant meeting place.
Writing tips
• Divide
up the sections under clear headings: introduction, statement of need, project
description, budget analysis and conclusion.
• Be specific: explain the reasons for the project, the steps to be taken and the benefits in detail.
• Write a strong conclusion by mentioning all the future benefits of the project.
THAT’S ENGLISH!
C1.1 Writing Reference
Unit 7
Writing a reference letter
A reference letter is normally written by a previous employer about a person who has worked for them
and is applying for a new job. It is normally written in a formal register. It includes information about the
person’s skills and their personal qualities and usually a positive recommendation towards their hiring.
To whom it may concern,
Say who you are writing
I am writing to you with regard to Jess Morris, who has recently applied
about and the position
for a senior teaching post in your school. the person is applying for.
Jess has been a geography teacher in our school for the last five years.
During that time, he has taught general classes as well as GCSE and Say how long you have
A-Level classes. On joining the staff, he was a recently qualified teacher known the person and
and therefore inexperienced. Nevertheless, over these five years, Jess what role they have
performed.
has become one of our most valued and popular teachers, among both
pupils and staff.
Throughout his time at the school, he has shown himself to be an extremely
effective, motivational teacher, who is able to engage pupils of all ages Give detailed information
and achieve excellent results. His teaching is based on solid pedagogical about the person’s skills
principles but, at the same time, his methods are innovative and he is and achievements.
constantly challenging the students to strive for excellence. Apart from Include one or two
specific examples.
his subject teaching, he has been an active member of the Parent-Teacher
Association and has been involved in organising a variety of extracurricular
activities, such as a recent school trip to Egypt.
Jess has gained the respect of the whole school, not only as a professional Describe some of their
but also as a colleague. He is always supportive and willing to help out in personal qualities.
any situation. His cheery disposition and keen sense of humour make him
a popular presence in the staffroom.
Recommend the person
Despite my regret that Jess is moving to another city and school, I cannot without reservation.
but highly recommend him for a senior teaching post.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions. Offer to provide more
information, if required.
Kind regards,
Jenna McLeod
Writing tips
• Describe how the person has performed over the time you have known and worked with them.
• Highlight
the skills which are especially relevant to the new post and will make the person
stand out.
• Include
positive personality traits which imply that the person is able to carry out their duties
appropriately.
THAT’S ENGLISH!
C1.1 Writing Reference
Unit 8
Writing a discursive essay
A discursive essay presents a balanced and objective examination of a subject although it doesn’t
have to be absolutely neutral. You should present both sides of an argument based on facts, but may
draw personal conclusions. The style should be formal and impersonal.
ARE SUPERMARKETS BETTER TO SHOP IN THAN
LOCAL SHOPS?
Supermarkets offer convenience and choice at affordable prices,
In the introduction,
but are they truly a better option than local shops? In order to mention both sides of
answer this question, we need not only to take ‘convenience’ into the issue but don’t go
account, but also to examine the impact large supermarkets have into detail.
on the local economy and the environment.
Modern shoppers have busy lives and so they need convenience.
In response, supermarkets offer easy access, free parking and In one paragraph,
extended hours. They also allow the customer to buy products summarise the
which are not produced locally, and out-of-season produce, which arguments in favour of
would otherwise only be available at certain times of the year. In or against one side of
addition, supermarkets employ many people, both on site and the issue. Be factual
and objective.
from suppliers. What’s more, the infrastructure required for a
large supermarket in terms of roads and other services is very
beneficial for the surrounding area.
However, so that costs can be kept low and profits maximised,
In another paragraph,
supermarkets import food from very distant places, which has present the opposing
a high environmental impact. They also impose fixed prices on view. Remember
their producers, thus making it impossible for smaller farmers to to state facts, not
survive. Moreover, supermarkets often take business away from opinions.
the local network of small shops and suppliers, forcing those
shops to close and increasing unemployment.
Write a conclusion
To sum up, although it may seem more convenient and cheaper based on the facts
to do your shopping at a large supermarket, going to local shops mentioned in the
certainly helps protect the economy of your local area and is previous paragraphs.
more ecological. You can include your
opinions.
Writing tips
• Organise
your composition well: group similar ideas together in the same paragraph (e.g.
advantages / disadvantages).
•
Use connectors to structure your text and make it more formal.
•
Give objective data before you give any personal conclusions.
THAT’S ENGLISH!