0% found this document useful (0 votes)
89 views6 pages

English Writing Practice: Email Task

The document outlines a training test for writing skills, specifically focusing on responding to an email from a friend named Jude about a beach trip. It includes tasks such as understanding the email's content, matching parts of the email with their purposes, and practicing grammar and vocabulary related to making suggestions. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of including specific notes in the response and provides guidelines for writing an article or story.

Uploaded by

marcoaliaga169
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
89 views6 pages

English Writing Practice: Email Task

The document outlines a training test for writing skills, specifically focusing on responding to an email from a friend named Jude about a beach trip. It includes tasks such as understanding the email's content, matching parts of the email with their purposes, and practicing grammar and vocabulary related to making suggestions. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of including specific notes in the response and provides guidelines for writing an article or story.

Uploaded by

marcoaliaga169
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Training Test 1 Writing Part 1

In this part you:


• read an email with four notes attached
• write an answer to the email, using ali the notes

FOCUS: UNDERSTANDING THE TASK


1 In pairs, look at the Part 1 exam task on page 30 and answer the questions.
1 Who has written to you? Jude, your Englísh-speaking friend.
2 What is the email about?
3 Find the four notes. What do they say?
4 What kind of text are you going to write?
5 How many words must you write?
2 Match 1-7 in Jude's email with purposes a-g.
1 Do you like ... a finishing email and signing name
2 See you soon, Jude b asking for information
3 Can your parents ... e starting an email
4 What activities ... d saying what the email is about
5 Hi e asking for suggestions
6 We want to set off... f asking if something is possible
7 ... coming to the beach with me... g giving information
3 Look at the notes in the email. In pairs, talk about the language •
you could use. The notes pointing to
parts of the email tell you
1 Me too!
what you must write
2 No, because ... about.
3 Explain which is better
4 Suggest ...

Always put the beginning, e.g.


Hi Jude, the ending, e.g. See
you soon, and your own name on
separate lines.

• You must include ali


the notes in your
answer.

Training Test l Writing Part l


GRA MMAR: PREPOSITIONS OF TIME


Circle the correct preposition in each sentence.
1 We arrived at / on midday last Friday. In Part 1, you may need
to write times, days or
2 \1y sister often goes out in/ atthe evening.
dates. lf so, use the right
3 Our school year finishes on / in June. prepositions!
~ My grandparents are coming on / in Thursday.
5 The last bus is on / at 4.30.
6 At / In winter it gets very cold here.
, My birthday is in/ on 29th May. in January, in summer, in the
8 •~y dad usually plays football at / in the morning, in the afternoon, in the
weekend. evening, at the weekend, ot night,
at 5 p.m. on Monday, on 22'"' May

OCABULARV: MAKING SUGGESTIONS


5 Complete the suggestions with words from the
box.

-iow about Let's Whydon'twe

1 go to the zoo on Saturday?


2 -······················ taking Sam to the beach for her birthday?
3 _ go to the cinema this evening.
t. take the train. lt's quicker than the bus.
Write a suggestion for each statement. The pictures will help you.
l m so hungry! 2 l'm so hot! 3 We're bored!
t-low about getting some
food?

~ t's raining! 5 1 don't know which bus


to take!
ng Part 1 Training Test 1 -
Exam Practice Test 1 Writing Part 1
You must answer this question.
Write your answer in about 100 words on the answer sheet.

Question 1
Read this email from your English-speaking friend Jude and the notes you have
made.

EMAIL
l&ritN
This task is a/woys in an emoil
format so you must start the
From: ._ J _u_d_e
I ~ emoil with on appropriate
greeting, e.g. Dear(name), Hi
Subject: 1 Saturday trip to the beach /name), andan oppropriate
ending, e.q. Bye, See you soon.
Hi, Best wishes, Al/ the best,.

l'm so glad you're coming to the beach with me and


my tamil this Saturday! We want to set off from home
by


Me too! 1 O a.m. Can our parents give you a lift to my house?
No, y mum's going to prepare sorne food so we can
because .. As you will notice in this
have a barbecue when we're there. We can bring example writing task,
. meat or vegetarían food - which would you prefer? there are lines that go to
certain parts of the text.
Tell What activities should we do when we're at the
Pay special attention
Jude beach? See you soon, to where the lines are
Jude pointing and the notes at
the other end of the lines
(Me too!/ No, because ... I
Explain which is better /
Su99est ... ). The notes
Suggest ...
are telling you what you
need
to write about.

Write your email to Jude using all the notes.

• When you have written


your email, re-read it and
tick(✓) the notes to check
you have included them all.

Exam Practice Test 1 Writing Part 1


- . . aining Test 1 Writing Part 2 R b
You usually need to give your own
opinión when you write an article.
""1 this part you:
• choose to write either an article ora story
• write a text of about 100 words

fOCUS: UNDERSTANDING THE TASK


In pairs, look at this exam task and answer questions 1-4. You don't need to write the article .

.Vrite your answer in about 100 words on the answer sheet.


rou see this notice on an English-language website for young people.
1 What do you have to write?

Write an article telling us whether the 2 Who is asking you to wríte?


internet is the best place to look for 3 What is the topíc?
information. Do you think only young 4 How many words must you
people use the internet? What other
wríte?
ways are there to research new
thíngs?
The best artícle will be published on
our website.

\ .rite your article.

R>CUS: STUDYING AN EXAMPLE ANSWER


-n pairs, read Paulo's answer and answer questions 1-4. (The numbers refer to Exercise 3.)
l Has he answered ali parts of the question correctly?
2 How does he give examples?
3 How does he give his opinions?
4 How could he improve his answer?

In my opinion, the internet is probably the best place to 1 look for information, but I
don't believe only2 youn~ people use it. For instance, my dad laves cooking and he's
always
3
lookin'3 for new recipes so he can 4 ª2Q1:; different things, such as lndian mea Is. Also, my
mum is keen on gardening and she 5 uses the internet ali the time to get 6 information
on tapies like new plants.

Although the internet is very useful, we can also 7 research new things in a library or ask
at school. In my experience, teachers are always 8 ~ to help their students learn
more.


íl>CABULARY: USING DIFFERENT
WORDS Wheyou write your article

rneanings from the box.


3 Replace the underlined words in Paulo's answer with words with try to use your own words,
similar cent just repeat the words
teenagers in the question.
make find out about willing
goes online try to find details searching for
•·rg Part 2 Training Test 1 -

Common questions

Powered by AI

Checking written responses against initial notes before final submission is crucial for ensuring that all prompts and guidelines provided in the task are addressed completely and accurately. This practice can help in identifying any missed elements or errors in the draft response, allowing for corrections that align with the exam's requirements. It ensures compliance with task specifications, particularly in structured exams where each response component contributes to the evaluation criteria. This methodical approach minimizes the risk of omitting necessary information and enhances the overall quality and coherence of the response, reflecting attention to detail and thorough understanding of the task .

Prepositions of time, such as 'at', 'on', and 'in', are used to give a precise context to statements regarding timeframes. Sentences like 'We arrived at midday last Friday' and 'The last bus is at 4.30' exemplify the correct use of 'at' for specific times. 'On' is used for days and dates, as shown in 'Our school year finishes on June' and 'My birthday is on 29th May', which indicate precise days. 'In' is used for longer periods like months, seasons, or parts of the day, visible in 'my sister often goes out in the evening' and 'In winter it gets very cold here'. The correct application of these prepositions ensures precision and clarity in expressing temporal relationships in written communication .

Suggestions can be effectively communicated in a conversational writing task by employing tentative and inclusive language patterns, as demonstrated in examples like 'How about taking Sam to the beach for her birthday?' and 'Why don't we go to the cinema this evening?' These questions propose ideas while implicitly inviting confirmation or alternative inputs, thus leaving room for open dialogue. Using phrases like 'Let's' or providing a reason for the suggestion ('take the train. It's quicker than the bus.') adds credence and friendliness to suggestions, encouraging receptivity and further discussion. This approach helps in creating a balanced narrative where the writer's proposals are framed as collaborative and not overly directive, suitable for conversational contexts .

The task format for writing an email assists in meeting exam requirements by providing a structured approach, which includes specific prompts indicated by notes ('Me too!', 'No, because ...') that guide the content of the response. This format ensures that candidates address all relevant points: confirming availability, responding to logistical queries, and proposing plans. Additionally, the form guidelines, such as starting with a proper greeting and ending appropriately, help ensure the response is cohesive and adheres to formal expectations. This alignment with the task requirements promotes clarity and completeness in the response .

Jude's email exemplifies an interactive style by directly addressing the recipient with personal queries and invitations for input, such as asking whether the recipient requires a lift and requesting food preferences. The question, 'What activities should we do when we're at the beach?' invites the recipient to suggest options, fostering a collaborative conversation. This form of communication prompts the recipient to engage actively by providing information and opinions, making the interaction dynamic. Thus, the structure encourages not just passive reading but active thinking and participation, creating a more engaging and reciprocal form of communication .

Incorporating vocabulary variation in writing responses, as highlighted in Paulo's example, enhances the richness and engagement of the text. Replacing simple verbs or phrases with more descriptive synonyms (e.g., using 'search for' instead of 'look for') adds depth to the essay, demonstrating a wider command of language. This variation not only makes the text more interesting for readers but also allows the writer to convey precise meanings and nuances. Using varied vocabulary can reflect the writer's understanding of context nuances, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of communication. This can particularly impress in exam settings, where demonstrating language proficiency can influence scores positively .

The rationale behind advising writers to use initial greeting and closing expressions in their emails is to foster a tone of respect and professionalism, creating a prioritized structure. Greetings like 'Hi' or 'Dear' and closings such as 'See you soon' or 'Best wishes' bookend the communication, marking it formally as beginning and complete. This mannerism reflects cultural norms of communication etiquette, which are generally expected in academic and professional environments. These conventions help set the tone of the correspondence, making it clear and respectful, affirming the writer's consideration and understanding of politeness in communications .

The strengths of using the internet for research include the convenience and breadth of information available, as exemplified by personal anecdotes such as finding recipes and gardening tips. It allows for quick access to information, which is beneficial for various interests like cooking and gardening . However, the internet may not always provide the most reliable information, which is a noted weakness. In contrast, other methods such as using libraries or consulting teachers are highlighted for their reliability and potential to offer expert guidance, enhancing the depth of understanding . Balancing both methods can offer comprehensive research opportunities by combining convenience with credibility.

To effectively transform the email notes into a cohesive response, employ strategies such as contextual integration and elaboration. Each note (e.g., 'Me too!', 'No, because ...') must be expanded into full sentences that reflect natural communication. For example, 'Me too!' could be turned into 'I’m also very excited about going to the beach this Saturday!' The note 'No, because ...' can be elaborated by providing a rationale, such as 'I will bring my own transport as my parents have an appointment, so they can't give me a lift.' Cloaking these initially terse notes in full explanations not only fulfills the requirement of addressing each note but also enhances the clarity and readability of the response. Additionally, thoughtful transitions and a logical sequence aligned with the questions Jude poses ensure a logical flow that reads like a natural conversation .

The key components of Jude's email that guide the response structure include the greeting ('Hi'), the request for confirmation about the trip ('Can your parents give you a lift to my house?'), the inquiry on food preferences ('We can bring meat or vegetarian food - which would you prefer?'), a query about suggested activities at the beach, and the closing ('See you soon, Jude'). The response must address these components using the notes provided: 'Me too!', 'No, because ...', 'Explain which is better', and 'Suggest ...'. The email response must be structured to include these elements appropriately, starting with a greeting and ending with a closing.

You might also like