Preliminary writing: article or story
Đã giới thiệu| English | Ý nghĩa |
|---|---|
| article/ˈɑːtɪkl/ | A piece of writing about a particular topic, often published in a newspaper, magazine or website. |
| linker/ˈlɪŋkə/ | A word or phrase that joins ideas, such as however or because. |
Two tasks, pick one
- Part 2 of B1 Writing gives a choice: an article 文章 ("Tell us about your favourite place to relax") or a story that must begin with a given sentence.
- You write about 100 words for one of them. Choose the task you have more ideas and language for.
Writing the article
- Talk to the reader: a title, a question to start ("Do you need a break from busy days?"), then your answer with reasons and details, and a short ending.
- Answer every question in the task, and give reasons: "My favourite place is the riverside path because it's quiet and green."
Which opening best engages the reader of an article about relaxing places?
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
A question to the reader draws them in.
Writing the story
- Start with the given sentence exactly. Then: what happened next → a problem or surprise → how it ended.
- Use past tenses, time linkers 连接词 (suddenly, then, finally) and one or two details that bring the scene to life.
Given first sentence: "When Sam opened the door, he couldn't believe his eyes." → … his small kitchen was full of balloons. His friends jumped out and shouted "Happy birthday!" He had forgotten it was his birthday. Finally, they all laughed and ate cake together.
You may change the first sentence of the story if your idea is better.
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
The story must begin with the given sentence.
I was walking home when, ____, I heard a strange noise. (one word, meaning “without warning”)
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
A time linker that creates surprise.
Put the story in order.
Độ khó 3/5 · 200 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Given sentence → surprise → reaction → ending.
Engage the reader
- Articles: questions, direct address ("you"), opinions. Stories: feelings, a short line of speech, a clear ending.
- Vary sentence beginnings and use a range of B1 words instead of repeating "nice" and "good".
Article feature or story feature?
Distinguish the features of the two Part 2 tasks.
Which sentence uses more varied B1 vocabulary?
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Specific, varied words.
Common mistakes
- Changing the given first sentence of the story.
- An article that lists ideas without reasons, or misses one of the task's questions.
Recap
- Choose the task you can develop best; about 100 words.
- Article: talk to the reader, answer every question with reasons. Story: keep the first sentence, problem → ending, past tenses and time linkers.
- linker: A word or phrase that joins ideas, such as however or because.
Write from a given opening
- The story must continue The door of the classroom was open, but nobody was inside.
- Do not replace that opening with a different memory. An article is the other choice and must answer its own prompts. About 100 words.
The story opening is The door of the classroom was open, but nobody was inside. What must the rest of the story do, and what would make the writing the wrong task?
A story develops the supplied opening. An article answers its topic. The choice does not mix the two instructions.
Which opening move fits the story task?
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
The given sentence starts the story. A different memory, or an article labelled as the story, misses the instruction.