Cambridge class 10 - Writing part 2 article/review/story

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Cambridge English - class 10

Today

Class work

• Article
• Review
• Story 

Individually

Writing part 2

Goals

• Understand and practise Writing part 2

Writing part 2

Article: An article is usually written for an English-language magazine or newsletter, and the reader is assumed to have similar interests to the writer. The main purpose is to interest and engage the reader, so there should be some opinion or comment.

Review: A review is usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website. The main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday, a product, a website etc.) and to give the reader a clear impression of what the item discussed is like. Description and explanation are key functions for this task, and a review will normally include a recommendation to the reader.

Story: A story is usually written for an English language magazine or website for teenagers. The main purpose is to engage the interest of the reader. Effective answers have a clear storyline which links coherently to the first sentence, successfully uses the prompts provided and demonstrates a sound grasp of narrative tenses.

Writing part 2

Article

step 1: read the assignment thoroughly

step 2: determine who you are writing for (usually informal) and what you have to include in your article 

step 3: think about how to organise your article: introduction, topic paragraphs, conclusion 

step 4: plan your article! 

Writing part 2

Article

Introduction: give your article an appropriate title, start with asking a personalized question, introduce the topic and give your opinion about it

Topic paragraphs: stick to the topic, include examples/anecdotes

Conclusion: summary of your article, give your opinion final time, end your article in an interesting way 

Example of an article assignment

Example assignment

The most useful thing I’ve ever learned

Have you ever learned something that completely changed your life? I can remember exactly how it was for me when I got interested in learning English and who helped me become the person I am today.

I had always been in love with English music and I put in some work by myself, but only when I ended up in the English class of Mr. Weiss I got completely hooked. His amazing style of teaching struck a chord and my skills skyrocketed in no time.

Feeling confident, I took the leap and moved to beautiful Australia where I was able to travel and even call it home for over seven years. And you know what?! I became an English teacher and now help people who are just like I used to be with the same passion as Mr. Weiss.

I really think that I wouldn’t be teaching English had it not been for Mr. Weiss and his inspirational lessons. So, looking back, I hope my experience inspires others to find ways to help the people around them as well.

Writing part 2

Reviews

step 1: read the assignment thoroughly

step 2: determine who you are writing for and what you have to include in your article. These are usually a description (What did the main character do?), a discussion (Why was it surprising?) and a recommendation (Would you recommend the book to other people?)

step 3: think about how to organise your article: introduction, topic paragraphs, conclusion 

step 4: plan your review! 

Writing part 2

Reviews

- Title and introduction 

- Description (What did the main character do?)

- Discussion (Why was it surprising?)

- Recommendation (Would you recommend the book to other people?)

Example assignment 

You have seen this announcement in an international magazine. 

Books reviews wanted

Have you read a book recently with a story that has held your attention? Write a review of the book, explaining what the story is about and whether the characters are convincing. Tell us whether or not you would recommend it both to younger and older readers.

The best reviews will be published in the magazine. 

Write your review in 140-190 words in an appropriate style. 

Example assignment

This is an unsual book, set on a farm. The characters, led by the pigs, are mainly animals, who get rid of the cruel, drunken owner and take over the farm. They set up a government of their own. 

The story isn't exciting but it's clever. At first, after the revolution the animals are equal but later the pigs become more powerful and start to change everything. By the end of the novel, the animals realise they have gone back to where they started. 

In one way, the story is obviously not a true story but in another way, it is meant to tell the story of communism from a satrical point of view. The characters are very convincing. Napoleon, the leader of the pigs, is strong and corrupt. Other animals are honest but weak. They all represent people and the events in Russia in the 1920s and 30s. 

Although I enjoyed this book, I can imagine older people who were brought up when communism was still strong in the world and have probably read a lot about the Russian Revolution, would enjoy it even more. 

www.rubenvalero.com

Writing part 2

Stories

step 1: read the assignment thoroughly

step 2: ask yourself these questions: What is the topic of my story? What exactly do I have to include in my story? Who is going to read my story? 

step 3: use the first sentence given to start your story with 

step 4: organise your story into a beginning, main part and ending

step 5: plan your story! 

Writing part 2

Stories

beginning: introduction to the main characters, information about the background of the plot 

main part: progression of the story, main events happen here, no conclusion yet

ending: wraps up the story, the story comes to a conclusion in an interesting way 

example assignment 

example assignment 

A day to forget – a day to remember

Jerry read the email and decided to go to the shopping centre immediately. He hadn’t slept well at all and was feeling quite nervous that morning and he didn’t want to let his grandma’s wish to buy some milk ruin his day.

He dragged himself into his old and dirty car and set off in the direction of Central Mall. Not even ten minutes later, he had a flat tire so he spent the next hour putting on the spare before he was able to continue his dreadful journey.

At the shopping centre, he walked absent-mindedly into a family and their son fell on his knee. “I’m sorry,” was the only thing he could say, but the boy’s little sister replied, “This is a gift for you,” with a smile and gave him a crumpled piece of paper. Jerry simply stuffed it in his jacket pocket and stormed off as quickly as he could.

Back at home, he just wanted to go to bed, when he dropped the girl’s paper on the floor. Jerry couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a scratch card with a win of €50,000! “Not such a bad day after all,” Jerry thought with a smile and he poured himself a steaming cup of coffee.

What to do?

• Click on each link in the following slides, do the exercises, make a printscreen of the work, and hand these in through Magister.me. 

• Choose one of the writing assignments from the next slide. So write either a review or a story and hand these in through Magister.me

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

www.englishrevealed.co.uk

End of the class

Today you have:

- practised writing part 2: reviews, stories and articles

Homework: finish 'What to do'

Next class: Listening part 1