Writing Part 1

4 essentials for good answers

1. Answer the question
2. Plan
3. Use paragraphs
4. Revise your work
Make sure you answer the question exactly and no more. It is essential to plan your writing.
This should take at least 10 minutes to plan for each question. In a relatively short piece of
writing you will need 4 or 5 paragraphs. The first paragraph will be your introduction.
Paragraphs 2, 3 and perhaps 4, will contain the body of your answer, and the last paragraph
your concluding comments. Allow at least 5 minutes for each question to check your answer.
Look out for silly mistakes with tenses, word order, spellings etc.
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Useful phrases for letters
Informal Letters - Greetings:
 Dear Jim
 Hello Jim
 Hi Jim
Introductory sentences for letters:
 How's it going?
 How are you?
 How are things with you?
 How are things?
 Thank you for your letter
 It was good to receive your letter
An informal letter referring to good news:
 Glad to hear about
 I'm really glad to hear about
 I'm very happy to hear about
 I was very happy to read about
 Great news about your
An informal letter referring to bad news:
 I'm sorry to hear about
 I'm very sorry to hear about
 Sorry to read about
Goodbye sentences for letters:
 Well, time to go
 Well, it's time to go
 Well, got to go
 Write soon
 Make sure you write soon
 Love
 Lots of love
 All my love
 Will write again soon
Sample Questions – writing letters
1. You have joined a social site on the internet. Write a description of yourself to put on
your page.
Remember to include:
 your personal details, for example, name and age
 what you do or study
 things you like doing
You can write up to 100 words.
2. You receive a letter from your penfriend, Susan. Part of it says:Tell me all about the job
you did during the school holidays.Tell her about the following:
 where the job was
 what kind of work you did
 your workmates
 what you thought of it
 something unexpected that happened
 what you did
Write your letter in up to 100 words.

3. This is part of a letter you receive from an English penfriend.

I wanted to buy some shoes this afternoon but I had to go shopping for food in
the supermarket instead., which I detest. Do you like shopping? Are there any
good shops near you?
Write a letter answering your penfriend’s questions. Write up to 100 words.
4. You receive a letter from a Scottish friend. Part of it says,
At my school we have to wear a uniform. I hate wearing it. Tell me about the
clothes you like and don’t like wearing. What do you wear when you go out
with friends at night?
Write a letter to your penfriend in reply. Write about 100 words.
5. You receive a letter from your English penfriend, part of which says: I went riding my
horse yesterday and then watched a fabulous documentary about eagles. I love all
animals! How about you? Have you got a pet? Write a letter in about 100 words answering
your penfriend’s questions.
6. This is part of a letter you receive from an English friend. I am ill in hospital. I feel awful
and I’m really bored because I’m in bed all day. What can I do to make myself feel more
cheerful? Tell me about that time that you were in hospital.
Write your letter in about 100 words.
7. This is part of a letter you receive from an Welsh penfriend.
I’m coming to your area next month. Where can I go? I’m interested in sport,
beautiful countryside and anything else you recommend.
Write a letter in about 100 words telling your penfriend about places to visit
 Writing stories
Useful phrases
Time phrases:
 It all began  Shortly afterwards  Meanwhile  Not long afterwards  Some time later 
Later that day  A little later  Finally  In the end  Eventually
Phrases for dramatic effect:
 Suddenly  All of a sudden  Without warning  Just at that moment  Quite
unexpectedly
Direct speech:
 “…..”, said Fred  “…..”, shouted Fred  “…..”, screamed Fred  “…..”, whispered Fred 
“…..”, announced Fred.  ”…..”, thought Fred  “…..”, cried Fred  “…..”, promised Fred
Concluding stories:
 When it was all over  In the end  After everything that had happened
1. Your English teacher has asked you to write a story with the title:
A day in the city.
Write your story in about 100 words
2.Your teacher has asked you to write a story beginning with this sentence.
When the taxi arrived Susan was ready, dressed in her very best clothes. Write your story
in about 100 words
3. Your teacher has asked you to write a story beginning with this sentence.
It was 5 in the morning and there was a knock at the door.
Write your story in about 100 words.
4. Your teacher has asked you to write a story ending with this sentence.
I woke up and realised it had all been a bad dream.
Write your story in about 100 words.
5. Your teacher has asked you to write a story with the title.
A terrible day
Write your story in about 100 words