CAE Writing Basics

1.

CAE Writing Basics
www.englishvam.ru

2.

PLAN
1.Content
2. Communicative Achievement
2.1. Register
2.2. Punctuation
2.3. Paragraphing, Length, Rhythm.
3. Cohesion and Coherence

3.

CONTENT
ESSAY
1. Discuss TWO of the factors.
2. Explain why they influence young people’s
choice to live in big cities.
3. Identify one factor which is more
significant.
4. Prove that it is more significant.

4.

Example

5.

CONTENT
REPORT
1. Advantages of the resources
offered to students.
2. Disadvantages of the
resources offered to
students.
3. Recommendations how
these resources can be
improved.

6.

Example

7.

CONTENT
REVIEW
1. Description of an activity
holiday.
2. Evaluation to what extent it
met your expectations.
3. Recommendations and
mentioning to what kind of
people it would be beneficial.

8.

Example

9.

CONTENT
LETTER
1. Personal experience of using
technology for learning in your
country.
2. Advantages of using technology for
learning.
3. Disadvantages of using technology
for learning.

10.

Example

11.

CONTENT
PROPOSAL
1. Invitation to students to visit
the college.
2. Statement of how low the
visit should last.
3. Description of activities
included.
4. Explanation of the benefits of
the visit to students.

12.

Example

13.

Register
• Formal
Report
Proposal
Letter (to somebody you
don’t know or to whom
you’re in a subordinate
position)
Semi-formal
Essay
Letter (to smb
superior to you, older
than you but whom
you know quite well
or to a stranger of the
same age)
Review
Informal
Letter (to smb you know
well)

14.

Register

15.

Register

16.

Register

17.

Punctuation
The colon
• Colons are used to separate (a) two main clauses, or (b) a main clause
and a phrase, when the second clause or phrase provides an example, a
reason or an illustration of what is said in the first clause.
• In the direct speech, when it comes after the introduction.
• Examples:
I told him what he ought to do: he should tell her at once that he'd lost
his job.
I only like three sorts of fruit: apples, pears and bananas.
As Hemingway puts it: “It’s good to have an end to journey toward; but
it is the journey that matters in the end.”

18.

Punctuation
The semi-colon
• Semi-colons are used to separate two long main clauses, when they both have
the same subject, and/or are both part of a single topic or idea; they are
particularly used when the second clause starts with a conjunction.
• Semi-colons are also used as a kind of "super comma", in sentences which have
a number of commas, and where one or two breaks need more emphasis than
others.
• Examples:
I had seen lions and rhinoceros in the zoo, most recently at Whipsnade zoo,
which is near London; but I'd never before seen them in the wild in their
natural environment.
• The students, who'd been there for three days, were sleeping in tents; as for
the medical staff, they had a bungalow to sleep in.
• I'd been to England, Scotland, and Wales, which I particularly enjoyed; and also
to France, Spain, and Portugal.

19.

Punctuation
The comma
• Commas are principally used to separate clauses, to put words into relief in a
sentence, or to separate elements in a list.
• Commas are required at the end of quoted direct speech, when this is followed by
words like he said, they told us or said the President.
• Commas separate the word “please” at the beginning and the end of the sentence.
• Commas are put after the phrases of time and place.
• Examples :
1a. Elton John, who is a great pianist, is a campaigner for gay rights.
• 1b. Scotch Whisky, which has to be imported, is popular in Brazil
• 2. Peter was just getting out of bed, but his wife Mary was already washed dressed
and in the car.
• 3a. Would you please bring me three apples, two bananas, a pear, and a carrot.
• 3b. You can choose different colour-schemes, including black and white, pink and
purple, bright orange, and yellow and green.
• 4a. "I'm a hundred and one years old," the old man said.

20.

Punctuation
• Long dashes can be used, rather like brackets, to put part of a sentence
into parentheses.
Example:
• There are three large strange animals – no-one knows exactly what
they are – that are sometimes seen on the moor at night.

21.

Punctuation
• Exclamation marks
• Exclamation marks can replace full stops at the end of a sentence, to
express surprise. Do not over-use them, as this is bad style.
• Example:
• Nothing quite so exciting has ever been done before!

22.

PUNCTUATION
CLAUSES
• Commas separate only non-defining clauses. Defining clauses are not
separated by commas:
Example:
The man who is standing in front of you is our neighbor.
My father, who is an engineer, works in a new office.

23.

Punctuation
• When an introductory prepositional phrase is very short (less than four words),
the comma is usually optional. But if the phrase is longer than four words, use a
comma. Introductory clauses start with adverbs like after, although, as,
because, before, if, since, though, until, when, etc.
Example:
• Before the movie starts let’s get some popcorn.
• After riding his bike around the neighborhood twice, Rob was sweating
profusely.
In appositive phrases commas are necessary only after personal names.
Example:
Kate, an only child , demands a lot of attention.
The opera singer Maria Callas had myopia.

24.

Punctuation
Before “because” no comma must be used.
Example:
• Michael went to the forest because he loves walking among the trees.
You should put a comma before but only when but is connecting two independent
clauses.
Example:
I would go for a walk, but it’s raining outside. Or: I would go for a walk but for
the rain.
Grammar is boring, but it’s necessary.
This comma rule applies to all conjunctions, including or, and so.

25.

Paragraphing, Length, Rhythm

26.

Paragraphing, Length, Rhythm
Common cases of redundancy:
In order to – just “to…”
Forever and ever…just “forever”….
9:00 a.m. in the morning or 9:00 p.m. in the evening …- just
9:00 a.m.\p.m.
Major breakthrough ….just “breakthrough”…
Postpone until later… just “postpone”…
Unexpected surprise …. just “surprise”….
Still remains… just “remains”…
Redundant: The members of the Student Council will think
about the argument, and come up with a final decision
through a vote next week at an open meeting.
Fixed: The members of the Student Council will have a final
decision next week at an open meeting after a vote.

27.

Paragraphing, Length, Rhythm
• Use descriptive nouns and verbs whenever possible. (“Roses" or "tulips"
instead of "flowers;" "chuckled" or "guffawed" instead of "laughed").
• Avoid using "crutch words.” Certain words and phrases lend themselves
to being overused in writing, fiction or nonfiction.
(“Beautiful"/"Lovely"/"Attractive“; “Big"/"Huge," "Small/Little/Tiny“;
“Exciting"/"Thrilling“; “Fascinating"/"Interesting“, “Go"/"Went“; “Got“;
“Important”.)
• Avoid vague words. (Stuff, things, very).
• Avoid clichés.(“Easy as pie" or “as hard as stone“.) Instead use humour:
“easy as my granny’s duck soup”.
• Use stylistic devices (metaphors, epithets, similes, zeugma, oxymoron).

28.

Cohesion

29.

Coherence
The issue of global warming has become one of the most popular concerns
nowadays. For example, carbon dioxide gases pollute the environment.
The issue of global warming has become one of the most popular concerns
nowadays. Much as people try to solve this problem, there are a lot of factors
that aggravate the situation. For example, carbon dioxide gases continuously
pollute the environment.

30.

Thank you for attention!
Good bye