CAE EXTRA: Lesson 11: Formal Writing Tips - An Essay Unit 3

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Part one - An essay

For the CAE exam you MUST answer the essay question

You need to write 220 - 260 words on a given subject in an appropriate style

Last week we looked at 

The importance of making a plan. 

Planning Is Important

“You can’t cook without a recipe.”

— Jamie Oliver, probably

6. Look at the plan for the essay

P42 in the Result book

LAYOUT TIPS:

INTRODUCTION

P1. - Campaigning             *it may be easier to start 

P2. - Fuel Prices                     with the negative topic first

CONCLUSION

What are we going to do today?

This week we will look at how to make your language more formal

Look at the model essay in  on page 43 in your book.

A lot of people have got a car now. 

 There has been a huge increase in car ownership in recent years.

Next week we will look at how to write a good introduction and a good conclusion

Formal and Informal English

Formal English: We use it when writing essays for school, cover letters to apply for jobs, or emails and letters at work.

Informal English: We use it with friends, children, and relatives.

Essay

• You need to give your opinion in an interesting way. CAE essays are often academic in tone, so practice of formal writing will be helpful.
• Don't use contractions in the CAE writing tasks (I'd/ I'm /wouldn't/ can't / We've/ Let's)
• Use more formal vocabulary
• inversions 

https:

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When do we use inversion?

We use inversion in several different situations in English. Inversion just means putting the verb before the subject. We usually do it in question forms:

Normal sentence: You are tired. (The subject is 'you'. It's before the verb 'are'.)

Question form: Are you tired? (The verb 'are' is before the subject 'you'. They have changed places. This is called inversion.)

Sometimes we use inversion in other cases, when we are not making a question.

When we use a negative adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of the sentence it can sound quite formal: 

Seldom have I seen such beautiful work.

('Seldom' is at the beginning, so we use inversion. This sentence emphasizes what beautiful work it is.)

I have seldom seen such beautiful work.

('Seldom' is in the normal place, so we don't use inversion. This is a normal sentence with no special emphasis.)

Here are some negative adverbs and adverb phrases that we often use with inversion:

Self study

Slide 17: Practice with the formal vocabulary using the link on the next slide: Scroll to the bottom to test yourself

Slide 18: online inversion exercises

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