WRITING TASK 1

Lesson focus  Directional languages

 Describing Maps

I. Overview – Describing 2 maps

This kind of question is normally about the changes that took place (one map in the past and
one in the present) or the future development of a particular area. The main features shown
in the 2 maps are therefore described in either Past Simple Tense, Present Simple Tense
or Future Simple Tense.

II. Languages for describing Maps

1. Directional Languages

Top left-hand corner Top Top right-hand corner

Left-hand side Middle/center Right-hand side

Bottom left-hand corner Bottom Bottom right-hand corner

Notes

- The difference between ‘to’ and ‘in/on/at’.

+) “B is to the west/left of A” => B is not a part of A. (Vietnam is to the east of Laos)

+) “B is in the south-west/on the bottom right-hand corner of A” => B is a part of A.

(Vietnam is in the south-east of Asia)

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2. Some other directional languages

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 3. Languages to describe changes

Item How it changed Meaning Examples

Built, constructed, erected Được xây lên A factory was constructed to the
east of the mine.

Renovated, reconstructed, Được xây lại The university library was

modernized completely renovated.

converted, transformed (into Được biến đổi The playground was converted
something) thành ... into a car park.

replaced (by something) Được thế chỗ bởi ... The garden was replaced by a
Buildings
large car park.

relocated (to somewhere) Được di dời tới ... The library was relocated to the
east of the university.

extended, expanded Được mở rộng The hotel was extended to a total

of 70 rooms.

demolished, knocked down Bị dỡ bỏ The house was demolished and

replaced by a garage.

cut-down, chopped down Bị chặt hạ The forest on the west of the

cleared (to make way for) Bị chặt hạ để dành island were cleared to make way

chỗ cho.. for a hotel.

Trees
/Forest planted Được trồng Many palms were planted around
the villa.

constructed, built, erected Được xây lên A bridge across the river was
erected.
Bridge, port,
extended, expanded, widened Được mở rộng The main road was widened to
road,
meet the rising demand.
railway,
reopened Được khôi phục The old railway alongside the
river has been reopened.

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III. Vocabulary Exercise
The following maps describe a place in 2005 and 2010.

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Exercise 1:

Use the phrases given in the block to describe the locations of some features in the first map.

1. The farm was ....................... of the map.

A. perpendicular to 2. The port was ....................... the factory.
B. surrounded by 3. The restaurant was ....................... the bus
C. in close proximity to stop.
D. directly opposite 4. The factory was ....................... a lot of
E. on the top right-hand corner trees.
F. to the south 5. The disused railway was .......................

G. halfway between the main road.

H. on the bottom right-hand 6. The filling station was ....................... of
corner the map.
7. The restaurant was ....................... the
filling station and the hotel.
Exercise 2:

Use the phrases given in the block to describe the changes of some features.

1. A warehouse was ....................... near the

A. chopped down port
B. constructed 2. The bus stop was ....................... a car
C. built (x2) park and ....................... a new place near
D. converted into the church.
E. reopened 3. The pine trees opposite the hotel
F. relocated to were ..................... to ..................... a hospital.
G. make way for 4. The disused railway was .......................

H. replaced by and a new railway station was

....................... .
5. The farm was ....................... a golf

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IV.Practice

The maps below show the center of a small town called Islip from 2005 to 2010.

2005

2010

Step 1: Analyze the maps

Step 2: Write the Introduction

The pictures  illustrate  how a small town of Islip  from 2005 to 2010.
maps  describe changed after some  between 2005 and
plans  demonstrate developments 2010
 a number of changes which  during a 10-year
took place in Islip town period starting from
 a small town of Islip before and 2005.
after the constructions of
several facilities

For example: “The two maps describe a number of changes which took place in Islip town
during a 10-year period starting from 2005”

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Step 3: Write the Overview

Point out the most noticeable changes.

“Overall, the most significant change was the construction of a new dual carriage way
that surrounded the entire area.”
“In general, while the northern side of the town witnessed dramatic changes, the
southern area almost remained the same.”

Step 4: Outline the report

Ways to outline the bodies

Body 1 Body 2

Map 1 Map 2

Inside Outside

North South
West East

 First paragraph: North side

The most notable change was the construction of a dual carriageway surrounding the town.
Besides, the central main road running from east to west was converted into a pedestrian
zone. The shops and the countryside on the north side of that road were also demolished to
make place for the bus station, shopping center, car park and new housing area.

 Second paragraph: Changes that took place from 2005-2010.

In the south of the pedestrian street, the shops remained at the same position. In addition,
the park was narrowed down to make room for new housing. Finally, the school also stayed
at the south west side of the map over 5-year period.

 Connect the written paragraphs to form a full report by adding some COHESIVE
DEVICES.

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 A. Self-practice Exercise 1

Plan A below shows a health centre in 2005. Plan B shows the same place in the present
day.

1. Analyze the maps

 Time: 2005 – Present Day => Past Simple Tense and Present Perfect Tense.
 Space: Changes took place both indoors and outdoors.
 First paragraph: Indoor
 Second paragraph: Outdoor
OR
 First paragraph: 2005
 Second paragraph: Present

2. Write the Introduction:

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3. Write the Overview:

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4. Outline the report

Translate the following paragraphs into English.

 First paragraph: 2005

Năm 2005, cổng chính nằm ở phía trước trung tâm y tế với 12 chỗ đậu xe ô tô bên ngoài.
Từ cổng chính, dọc hành lang có một số chỗ ngồi để khách hàng chờ tư vấn. Cuối hành
lang có quầy tiếp tân để khách hàng đăng ký. Ngoài ra, bên trái bàn làm việc có một văn
phòng và phòng tư vấn, bên phải bàn còn có hai phòng tư vấn nữa. Cuối cùng, một phòng
vật lý trị liệu cũng được xây phía sau bàn làm việc.

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Second paragraph: Present

Ngày nay, cách bố trí của trung tâm đã được sửa đổi. Cổng chính hiện được bố trí ở góc
trái trung tâm, có quầy lễ tân và khu vui chơi cho trẻ em. Trong khi đó, có một khu vực
chung rộng rãi ở giữa trung tâm dành cho khách hàng, nơi có ghế ngồi dọc theo bức tường.
Mặt khác, tất cả các phòng ban đầu và một phòng mới được bổ sung gọi là phòng điều
hành nhỏ hiện được phân bổ vào khu vực chung. Cuối cùng, quy mô bãi đỗ xe tăng gấp đôi
với 30 chỗ.

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B. Self-practice exercise 2

The maps below show the changes in the art gallery ground floor in 2005 and now.

Step 1: The introduction

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Step 2: The overview

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 Step 3: Describe the maps

 Detail 1: Entrance Hall; Exhibition Room 1-4.

In the center, the Reception Desk, which used to be

 Bàn lễ tân (Reception Desk) được chuyển về trung tâm sảnh lối vào (Entrance Hall).
 Con dốc dành cho xe lăn (Ramp for wheel chair) được thêm vào gần lối vào (Entrance)
 Phòng triển lãm số 1-3 giữ nguyên nhưng Phòng triển lãm số 4 (Exhibition Room 4) được chia
thành 2 khu vực mới: một nơi dành cho triển lãm tạm thời (Temporary Exhibitions) và một nơi
dành cho trẻ em (Chilren’s Area).

 Detail 2: Café => Gallery Shop; Lift; Gallery Office => Vending Machine.
 Quán Café ở phía sau bên tay trái được thay thế bằng một cửa hàng (Gallery Shop).
 Vì cửa hàng mới bé hơn quán café cũ nên có thêm chỗ cho thang máy (Lift) xây cạnh cầu
thang.
 Văn phòng (Gallery Office) bị đập bỏ và thế chỗ bởi máy bán hàng tự động (Vending Machine).

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