MODULE 1 - INTRODUCTION
1. What you are going to learn
2. What the results will be
3. Get a tour of the course
4. Find out what task 1 is
a) What is writing task 1?
i. In task 1, you will be given a chart, graph, table, diagram or map and asked to write a short report on main features.
ii. You have 20 minutes to complete
iii. You must write at least 150 words. 150-200 is ideal.
5. 5-step approach for tackling task 1
a) Question analysis
i. Question types
ii. Understand and analyse data
b) Identifying main features
i. Every question asks you to do this
ii. Not expected to report everything
iii. Picking the main features quickly is crucial to success
c) Introduction
i. Paraphrase question
ii. One sentence
d) Overview
i. Most important part of the report
ii. Not a conclusion
iii. Pick out most important information and report it generally
iv. No data
e) Details paragraphs
i. Two separate paragraphs
ii. Show the examiner that you accurately describe the data in detail
iii. Grammar and vocabulary are important here
OVERALL PROGRESSION IS:
1. Introduce the graph
2. Talk about it generally
3. Talk about it in detail
MODULE 2 - QUESTION TYPES AND MARKING CRITERIA
STRUCTURE OF ALL TASK 1 QUESTIONS
There will always be given 3 things:
Question statement
Always changes
Instructions
Never changes
Data source
7 TYPES OF QUESTIONS
Line graph
Bar chart
Pie chart
Table
Multiple graph/charts/tables
Process diagram
Map(s)
MARKING CRITERIA
DOS AND DON’TS:
Task achievement Dos:
Identify key features
Report key features generally in overview
Report key features with specific data in details paragraphs
Write over 150 words
Task achievement Don’ts:
Write about everything you see
Report data in the overview
Use inaccurate data
Include opinion
Write a conclusion
Coherence and cohesion dos:
Have a clear structure
Organize information logically
Use linking words appropriately and accurately
Use referencing(it, they,this…)
Coherence and cohesion don’ts:
Write one long answer
Try to get marks by using lots of linking words
Overuse linking words
try to find comparisons that is not there
Vocabulary dos:
Use a range of vocabulary
Use vocabulary for describing data accurately and appropriately
Use appropriate collocations
Think accuracy first
Vocabulary don’ts:
Misspell words
Use words or phrases you don’t know 100%
Repeat words from the question or data source
Take risks with synonyms
Try to show off vocabulary
Grammar dos:
Use appropriate structures
Use the correct tense
Use structures accurately
Use accurate punctuation
Think accuracy first
Grammar don’ts:
Make careless mistakes
Try to use as many different structures as possible
MODULE 3
Two main purposes(purposes help to identify key features):
Show trends over time
Compare and contrast data. (comparing things that are similar, contrasting things that are different)
MODULE 4 - Planning, structure and identifying key features
Why plan?
It saves you time
If you know what to write, it saves you time
Task 1 is a thinking task and a writing task
You will make fewer mistakes
You won’t get stuck
Four stages of planning:
Understand the graph
What type of graph is it?
What does the title say?
What does it tell on X axes and on Y axes?
What is measurement?
What are the items and is there a key?
How many items are there? If there is more than one graph
Is it over time or not?
What tenses will you have to use?
What is the purpose?
Structure always states the same thing which means we can use the same structure over and over again:
1. Introduction
a) Paraphrase the question
2. Overview
a) Pick up 2-4 key features and report them generally
b) No data
3. Details 1
a) Describe in much more detail
4. Details 2
Identify key features
The biggest mistakes students make is overcomplicating things
They are often the most obvious things
Identify any comparisons
Add information to a structure
MODULE 5
INTRODUCTIONS:
A sentence only
All you have to do is to paraphrase the question statement
Synonyms
There are 2 types of synonyms:
Direct - woman/lady(use)
Loose - phone/gadget(not use)
Different word forms
Verb
Noun
Adjective
Adverb
Changing the tense
Examples
Britain - england, wales and scotland
OVERVIEW:
Identify 2-4 key features
It is the most obvious thing. Look at the big picture
Think about the purpose:
If over time, it will be a general trend
If not over time, more likely to be the biggest/smallest and comparisons
2 sentences only
No data or details
GOLDER RULES:
START WITH OVERALL
NO DATA
REPORT KEY FEATURES
FOUR OR LESS ELEMENTS
2 SENTENCES
MODULE 6 - how to write an effective details paragraph
What is the difference between overview and details paragraphs?
Overview is just main ideas described generally
Details paragraphs describes these main ideas in more detail:
Important changes, numbers, differences, comparisons.
GOLDEN RULES:
DO NOT DESCRIBE EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF DATA
MAKE SURE DATA IS ACCURATE
MAKE SURE YOU ACTUALLY MENTION DATA
GROUP DATA LOGICALLY
MAKE COMPARISONS WHEN RELEVANT
MODULE 7 - line graphs and bar charts
First:
Type -
Over time-
Title -
X and Y axis -
Categories -
Purpose -
Second:
Identify key features
Planning like this:
Grammar and vocabulary
Think about what the question is asking you to do:
Describe a general trend
You have to do this for graphs over time
Two main structures are
Noun phrase
Verb phrase
Describe change in detail
Compare two pieces of data
Process
Understand the process:
Where it begins and ends
Is it linear or cyclical
Natural or man-made
For details paragraphs, you will have to split the stages logically.
You will then write out the details. You have to think about:
Sequencing
Showing purpose
Think about why each state occurs
Passive or active voice
You do use passive for processes that are man-made but for natural processes, you use active voice.