I stumbled across this amazing and exhaustive list of phrases for advanced writing. I don’t know who made it but a big thank you to whoever it was! It’s gold dust!

You can download it here:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!439&authkey=!AHr7Ja0Lshhl2Y0

CAE – WRITING AND VOCABULARY

1)  FORMAL WRITING (Reports and proposals)

Making recommendations and concluding

Style

–Do not use contractions.

-Use passive forms whenever possible.

-Use relative clauses to join ideas: The period during which he lived was full of uncertainty.

-Use these formal words:  like à such as   /   kids à children

a lot (of)à many / a large number of  + countable noun

a lot (of)à much / a great amount of / a great deal of + uncountable

a lot (intensity)à very much / significantly / dramatically

– Avoid using the word things / something,  etc. Use a more specific word (problems, situation, solutions,

  subjects, and so on).

2)  SEMI-FORMAL WRITING

Adressing  the reader

-Have you ever wondered (what the college would be like if)…? If the answer is (yes)…, you…

–If you want a different kind of experience,… / As you know,…

-Doesn’t it just make everyone feel (positive about…)?

-If you have a few hours to spare,…is worth seeing.

Accuracy

-Never omit the subject pronoun: Many people

believe IT is important to…    I believe IT is a good  idea

  study…

– Do not use unnecessary subject pronouns: This is a problem which  it  is essential to solve.

-Make sure the subject and the verb agree: Attracting tourists involves improving local facilities.

  (SINGULAR SUBJECTà attracting tourists + SINGULAR VERBà involves)

Attitude clauses and phrases

Generally speaking,…

Annoyingly,…  Naturally,…  Strangely,… Surprisingly,… Evidently,…

Indeed,… In fact,… Admittedly,… Presumably,…

.  .   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  .   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   .  .  .  .  .  .  .

RELATED WORDS AND PHRASES

Agreement

-A great number of people share the view that tourism will have a negative impact on the island.

-Today there is general / widespread agreement that pollution from cars and planes is threatening the

future of our planet.

-It is now widely accepted that the universe began with the so-called ‘big bang’.

Disagreement

–Opinions differ about the proper relationship between the mass media and society.

–There is considerable disagreement among experts about the usefulness of these tests.

–There has been a great deal of controversy over abortion in the US.

Advantages and disadvantages

-Regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.

-Despite a few problems with the design, the car’s advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages.

–The major drawback of this method is that it can be very time-consuming.

–The downside of running your own business is that you are responsible if anything goes wrong.

Cause

–lead to: The research could lead to a cure for many serious illnesses.

–result in: The fire resulted in damage to their property.

–be responsible for: He was responsible for the accident.

–bring about:The war brought about enormous social change.

–give rise to: Poor performance in exams can give rise to depression and even thoughts of suicide.

–trigger:to make something suddenly start to happen, especially a bad situation such as a crisis or a war, or

a medical condition: Certain foods can trigger allergies.

–contribute to: Passive smoking could contribute to the development of respiratory diseases among

nonsmokers.

–factor: Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing any product.

Effect

–impact on: His work has had an enormous impact on the study of genetics.

–influence on:  In his book, he examines the influence of the media on our society.

–affect: (v) The disease affects women more than men.

–influence: (v) She has influenced him a lot.

–implications:  The results of the study could have important implications for future educational policy.

Emphasizing

-I would like to stress that the research is still at an early stage.

–It should be noted that there are a number of alternative methods available.

–It is worth bearing in mind that 90% of the scientists researching herbicides in the US are employed by

  chemical companies.

-Factors such as temperature and acidity play a crucial role in determining how well the process works.

-These insects play a vital part in the food chain.

–It is essential that the work is carried out as soon as possible.

-The climate is much colder, especially in the far north.

Problems

–issue: Issue is used especially about problems that affect a lot of people in society:  International terrorism

  is the biggest issue (=the most important issue) facing the world today. Previous governments failed to

  address (=try to deal with) social issues such as unemployment and homelessness.

–challenge: something difficult that you must do or deal with, which needs a lot of skill, effort, and

  determination: She said she was looking forward to the challenge of starting up a new business on her

  own.

–difficulty:  The company has managed to overcome (=deal with) its recent financial difficulties.

  Many people experience difficulty in sleeping at some time in their lives.

– trouble:  a problem or several problems that make something difficult, spoil your plans etc:  Students of

  English often have trouble with phrasal verbs.  The company ran into trouble (=started to have problems)

  when it tried to expand too quickly.

–setback:  something that happens which stops you making progress or which makes things worse than

  they were before:  Despite some early setbacks, his campaign for the presidency was successful.

–obstacle:  Criminal gangs are the biggest obstacle to democratic reform.

–dilemma:  The doctors were faced with a moral dilemma.

–vicious circle:  Some developing countries get caught in a vicious circle. They cannot afford to pay their

  debt repayments, and so the debts get even bigger.

–complication

Increase

–increase by (percent):  Last year, the number of burglaries increased by 15 percent.

–go up: Last month unemployment went up from 1.6 million to just over 1.7 million.

–grow:  The volume of traffic on our roads continues to grow.

–expand:  After two years of no growth, the economy started to expand again in 2003.

–double/triple/quadruple: Since 1950, the number of people dying from cancer has almost doubled.

-growth: (n) There has been a huge growth in sales of big 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Decrease

–decrease by (percent):  The average rainfall has decreased by around 30 percent.

–go down: The percentage of fat in our diets has gone down.

–fall: The number of tigers in the wild has fallen to just over 10,000.

–drop:  At night, the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees.

–decline: decline is used about numbers or amounts, and also about the level or standard of something:

In rural areas, the standard of living continued to decline.

ADMIRE

–respect / look up to

look up to: The children need someone they can look up to.

–think highly of:  Most of the students and staff think very highly of Dr. Smith.

–think highly of

have a high opinion of

have a high opinion of

–highly regarded/respected

highly regarded/respected: a highly respected surgeon

be an admirer of

ADVANCED

–sophisticated / high-tech (equipment) / state-of-the-art (technology)

SURPRISING  (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–amazing / unbelievable / incredible / astonishing / staggering

–come as a surprise / come as a shock / amaze / astonish

SURPRISED  (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–amazed / astonished / speechless / be taken aback (He was taken aback by the news)

EXCITING  (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–thrilling / gripping / exhilarating / action-packed

BORING 

–dull / tedious / monotonous / uninspiring

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE     (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–attractive / good-looking / gorgeous / striking / stunning

BEAUTIFUL PLACES     (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–breathtaking / stunning / awe-inspiring / striking / spectacular

–spotless: very clean

UGLY PLACES / PEOPLE      (Avoid using “colourful” vocabulary in formal writing!)

–unattractive / unpleasant / unsightly / hideous (=extremely ugly)

–filthy: very dirty

IN BAD CONDITION  (PLACES)

-in bad condition / dilapidated / run-down

NEW

–latest / brand-new / innovative (idea or system)

OLD

–old-fashioned / outdated / obsolete

VERY

–absolutely  / extremely / highly / incredibly / remarkably

GOOD PERFORMANCE / PIECE OF WORK

–excellent / outstanding / impressive / exceptional

GOOD FOR A PARTICULAR JOB, PURPOSE, ETC

–suitable / right / proper / appropriate / be suited to

WRONG INFORMATION / NUMBERS

–incorrect / inaccurate / misleading

NOT REASONABLE / NECESSARY

–unjustified / unreasonable / without good reason

RELAX

–unwind / wind down: Set in spectacular countryside, the Shiga Hotel is the perfect place to unwind.

–make someone feel at ease

–relaxed / feel at ease / laid-back (not easily worried or annoyed) /

NERVOUS

–tense / uneasy / anxious / be under stress

PUBLIC SERVICES

–facilities: The facilities at the hotel were excellent — tennis courts, swimming pool, several bars and a good

restaurant.

–amenities: things such as shops, parks, or restaurants that make living or working in a place more pleasant

I prefer this part of the city because there are plenty of good amenities.

COMPARISONS

–a great deal / far / much + comparative (cheaper / more economical than)

–a bit / slightly / barely + comparative (cheaper / more economical than)

–by far / easily the + superlative (This is easily the best solution we can think of)

VERY MUCH / NOT VERY MUCH

–dramatically / significantly / slightly

And

–As well (as) / in addition to:   Over 600 people will lose their jobs, in addition to the 400 people who left

the company last year.

–In addition: A fifth of the world’s population lives on less than $1 a day. In addition, over 100 million

children are living on the streets.

–Furthermore / Moreover:  used at the beginning of a sentence when adding an important fact that is

connected with what you have just said:  The drug has strong side effects. Furthermore, it can be

addictive.

If

–as long as / on condition that / provided that

Or

–alternatively: You can go up into the mountains. Alternatively, you can stroll around one of Switzerland’s

delightful cities where the old mixes with the new.

–on THE one hand … on the other (hand)

Because

–As  / since:  As it was a hot day, they decided to leave all the windows open.  Since it is difficult to predict

how the climate will change, it is not possible to say which countries will suffer the most.

–thanks to

–due to/owing to + NOUN   

The delay was due to a problem with the ship’s engines.

–due to/owing to + THE FACT THAT + subject + verb

The men did most of the work in the fields. This was partly due to the fact that the men were stronger.

But/although

–While / whereas / by contrast

–However:  However is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by

commas: Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village,

however, were less lucky. Or it comes at the beginning of a sentence: He began his academic career as a

mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.

–Nevertheless: Nevertheless is usually used at the beginning of a sentence, or at the end.

–in spite of/despite + NOUN   

Despite his lack of formal education, he became one of the world’s leading mathematicians.

–in spite of/despite + verb + ING  

This was a dinosaur that weighed only 10 tons, in spite of being some 28 metres long.

–in spite of/despite + THE FACT THAT + subject + verb

Many people are worried that cellphones may be dangerous to health, despite the fact that most of the

research suggests that there is little risk.

This is a lesson plan designed to prepare students to tackle formal letter of complaint tasks that can come up in both parts of the CAE writing paper.

Here is the link to the first handout which contains an example of a formal letter of complaint on page 2. Page 3 has the task the students will complete, which is referred to in the prezi.

Here is the link to the prezi, and here is the handout that goes with it.

Enjoy! Please leave feedback if you use it in class.

This is a lesson plan designed to introduce students to the proposal writing task featured in the CAE writing paper. Below are links to the prezi, the handout, the task and a model answer.

Proposal Task – referred to in the prezi as page 189

Prezi

Proposal Handout

This is a lesson plan to help prepare students for part 1 of the CPE writing exam, in which students are required to write a formal essay which summarises and evaluates two other texts.

Here is my step-by-step guide to approaching the task:

Download the class handout here:

CPE writing essay 2nd plan

Step 1 – Text analysis

• Read both texts and decide if they are complementary or contrasting.
• Underline the two key content points in each text.

Step 2 – Paraphrasing and summarising

• Brainstorm different ways to paraphrase and summarise the key points.
• What impressive structures can you use? Inversions, passives, collocations, expressions.

Step 3 – Evaluate and react

• Decide which points you agree and disagree with.
• Brainstorm your own thoughts and experiences on the subject.

Summarise, evaluate, react.

Introduction

Present the topic of discussion and ask questions the essay will answer.

Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.

Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………

The trend nowadays is towards (gerund)

How has the public’s opinion on this issue shifted over the last few years?

Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that …………….

This raises the issue of whether or not……………..

This issue strikes a chord with the vast majority of the general public.

What impact, if any, have these shifts/changes/developments had on the general public’s psyche?

How are we to gauge the effect of such shifts/changes/developments?

Finish your introduction with the following sentence:

Both (1) extracts (2) discuss the nature of these (3) notions, but from different (4) viewpoints.

synonyms for text – extract passage

discuss/evaluate/explore

notions/concepts/ideas

viewpoints/perspectives/points of view

Paragraph 1 – Text 1

The first (1)text (2)argues that………

(1)extract/passage

(2)suggests/puts forward the idea that/asserts

Try and sum up the first point neatly with an inversion:

Seldom does the airplane make the top 5, let alone the top spot when the lists of the so-called most influential inventions are drawn up.

Paragraph structure:

Stating opinion

Stating your opinion

As I see it,

It seems to me that ………… I would also say that ….

I am convinced that ……………

I am inclined to believe that ………………

There is no doubt in my mind that ………………

One of the drawbacks of ……. is ……….

However, one of the benefits is that …………

EMPHASIZING

–I would like to stress that the research is still at an early stage.

–It should be noted that there are a number of alternative methods available.

–It is worth bearing in mind that 90% of the scientists researching herbicides in the US are employed by chemical companies.

CAUSE

-lead to: The research could lead to a cure for many serious illnesses.

-result in: The fire resulted in damage to their property.

-be responsible for: He was responsible for the accident.

-bring about: The war brought about enormous social change.

-give rise to: Poor performance in exams can give rise to depression and even thoughts of suicide.

-trigger: to make something suddenly start to happen, especially a bad situation such as a crisis or a war, or a medical condition: Certain foods can trigger allergies.

-contribute to: Passive smoking could contribute to the development of respiratory diseases among nonsmokers.

-factor: Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing any product.

Describing causes

One factor which has led to ………… is …………..

One of the factors which has brought this about is ………

The problem often stems from ………………..

The situation has been exacerbated by …………….

………….. has only made the situation worse.

One consequence of ……………. is …………….

Concluding

All in all it seems to me that ………..

The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that …………………..

All things considered, ………….

On balance, I tend to believe that …………

The world would surely be a better place to live in if …………..

If people stopped ….ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a ……………

The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ……………….

This is a handout with as much language and advice possible for approaching the CPE writing part 2 report tasks. I made it for my December candidates, fingers crossed they actually read it!

You can download the handout here: CPE Report

CPE Report

A quick post of different ways to say “for example” that I found at https://www.englishforums.com/English/AnotherWayToSayForExample/znhzk/post.htm

“For instance…”
“This can be seen when…”
“… is one example of …”
“…as illustrated by…”
“…as seen in …”
“…which is made apparent when…”
these include…
for instance…
particularly…
especially…
this is illustrated…
note well….
for instance
As an example
such as
e.g.(meaning “exempli gratia”)
“by way of illustration”,
“in particular”,
“as a case in point”,
“namely”,
“an example being…”

Here are some materials to help students prepare for the Cambridge CPE exam.

Cambridge CPE Handbook

Download the latest version of the CPE handbook here:

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/168194-cambridge-english-proficiency-teachers-handbook.pdf

It contains explanations of each part of the exam and practice tests with answers.

Quizlet sets:

Here are loads of different quizlet sets on different parts of the exam:

http://quizlet.com/20934139/cpe-use-of-english-2-open-cloze-flash-cards/

http://quizlet.com/15560940/cae-cpe-inversion-transformations-flash-cards/

http://quizlet.com/56144162/cpe-describing-feelings-flash-cards/

http://quizlet.com/16987300/cae-cpe-use-of-english-practice-part-5-flash-cards/

http://quizlet.com/2150978/cpe-idioms-flash-cards/

Join this class for more:

http://quizlet.com/join/gkF6yKCg8

Recommended websites:

These websites have great materials for self-study:

http://www.flo-joe.com/cpe/students/

http://www.examenglish.com/cpe/ – old exam format but still useful.

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/how-to-prepare/

Writing Handouts

Here are a selection of documents to help prepare students for the writing paper:

CPE Writing part 1 (2)

CAE CPE Writing part 2 plan handout

cae-writing-useful-language-1

CPE Report

CPE Review

CPE speaking writing phrases

CPE writing essay 2nd plan

CPE Writing Part 1 walkthrough

Letter of Complaint tim

Narrative Letter

Paragraph Structure

Writing Expressions

Prezis

Here are links to various prezis on types of writing and grammar points:

Relative clauses: 

http://prezi.com/inqmfkuikbbt/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Inversion: 

http://prezi.com/wxy3-yvm3osw/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Inversion 2: 

http://prezi.com/mhabu89gv8-7/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Conditionals: 

http://prezi.com/r8peruvmq8nf/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Academic Writing: 

http://prezi.com/x1qhxvkwahez/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Report: 

http://prezi.com/cc55ukdsa3rk/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Planning Writing:

http://prezi.com/vmxjibrjz3lt/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Narrative/Descriptive writing: 

http://prezi.com/zvhgk3raimei/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Letter of Complaint: 

http://prezi.com/dxsaxacxoquv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Book review: 

http://prezi.com/tvjva9mynbsj/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Proposal: 

http://prezi.com/faz_7zanfvvb/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Article: 

http://prezi.com/nwmmfijnmrlv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Letter of application: 

http://prezi.com/dmwaid3cj4ql/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Speaking Materials:

Agreeingand disagreeing

CPE Speaking part 1

CPE long turn examples

Speaking Long Turn (1)

CAE Speaking Part 2 speculation

CAE Speaking Part 2

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

Photo Credit: http://ozgekaraoglu.edublogs.org/2015/04/01/how-to-get-a-good-essay-written-by-writers/

This is a lesson plan to help students approach and complete the new formal essay task in the CAE writing paper.

You will need the handout and teacher’s key:

CAE Writing Part 1 handout

CAE Writing key

Task Type

The new CAE writing part 1 is a formal essay based on a talk/lecture that the student has recently attended. There are always 3 bullet points that the lecture discussed, of which the candidate must only address two. There are also some quotes from other attendees/surveyed people that can be used. The final part of the task will include a question that the essay MUST answer.

Credit: Spotlight on Advanced – Cengage Learning and National Geographic.

Planning

Make enough copies of the 2nd page of the hand out for one between two. Cut the hand out up, give the slips of paper with the different planning steps to the students and have them put them in order. My suggested order is as follows:

1. Read task carefully. Underline most important parts; focus on the question that your essay MUST
2. Brainstorm ideas based on the 3 bullet points.
3. Choose the 2 bullet point you have the most ideas about.
4. Brainstorm ways to express your ideas and the quotes in the task using advanced grammar:

• Inversions: Not only is/do…..but also… Rarely/seldom do people….
• Double comparatives: The cheaper the…., the more popular…
• Participle clauses: Being a keen shopper myself,… Having bought many products online,….
• Advanced linkers: Despite the fact that…., ….. due to the fact that = because

5. Plan your introduction:

• An interesting way to introduce the topic.
• Formal questions that the essay will answer.

6. Plan your conclusion: Focus on answering the question you underlined in step 1.
7. Write
8. Reread carefully checking for:

• Repetition of words/structures.
• Contractions
• Boring/informal vocabulary.
• Also Furthermore/moreover. Because due/owing to the fact that. Although In spite of the fact that. However nonetheless/nevertheless.
• Have you answered the question completely?

Have students complete step 1 in pairs:

Have students complete step 2 as a CAE speaking part 3 task. Draw a spider diagram on the board. In the middle write: What influences where/how people shop? On the 3 spokes write the three bullet points: Convenience, cost and enjoyment. Briefly recap some language for speaking tasks and have students discuss the topic for 3 minutes.

Hold a plenary session and board all the students ideas in note form. Then put them in pairs to complete the next step: Brainstorming impressive grammar structures to use.

When shopping online not only do you avoid paying parking fees, but also crowds of people.

Having shopped both online and in stores, I would say that….

Linkers activity

Give out 1 copy of the third page of the handout to each student and have them complete it in pairs.

Pimp my paragraph

Either hand out the paragraph upgrade sheet out or project it on to the board. Students must upgrade the language in the paragraph to make it more impressive and more formal.

Introduction Phrases:

I got these great phrases from another handout I found on the internet:

More and more families are choosing to have only one child.

The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.

Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………

Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.

Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.

This raises the issue of whether ……………..

Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that …………….

I hope you find these activities useful in developing your students’ writing abilities, I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism in the comments section.

Image credit: Savvy in Second: Stoplight Paragraphs: Helping Structure Writing

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

This is worksheet to help students structure their paragraphs correctly when writing formal essays. I prepared it with CAE students preparing for writing part 1 in mind. Download the handout below:

Paragraph Structure

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

My students are doing a mock CAE writing exam tomorrow so I’ve made them this worksheet to revise for it. I’ve also made a kahoot quiz to test them on some of the language.

cae-essay-revision

CAE Essay Revision Key

On the first page there is a true/false quiz for students to complete in pairs, followed by two exercises on formal language and linkers.

The task

Answer the questions with your partner:

1. What is the word limit?
2. This is a formal writing task True/False
3. You can use contractions (Wouldn’t/don’t etc.) T/F
4. You have to write about all 3 bullet points in the task. T/F
5. An essay needs a title. T/F
6. You have to include the 3 opinions from the task. T/F
7. You can use the same language to express the opinions from the task. T/F
8. An essay has paragraph titles (Introduction/conclusion) T/F
9. An essay should be factual and objective T/F
10. In your conclusion you must state which of the bullet points is most important/has the biggest influence. T/F

Example

Put the missing words back into the essay.

Hardly a week goes by without another report of the recent increase in online shopping appearing in the papers. The decline of the high street shop is undoubtedly a major issue in this day and _____. However, which aspect of shopping has the biggest influence ____ where people shop?

The first area to take into _______ is convenience. It is undoubtedly the ______ that shopping online is much more convenient than shopping on the high street. A clear example of this is that you can shop from the comfort of your armchair without lifting a finger. In _________, the goods are delivered directly to your door whereas when you shop in physical shops you have to carry it home yourself.

Another _______ to consider is cost. There are ______ who argue that cost has the biggest _______ on where people decide to shop. This is _________ by the fact that during the sales many people buy things in shops they would not normally enter. __________, for some people the cost is not an issue, they buy what they want to buy no matter the price.

In ______ of the above, it is probably _____ to say that cost has the biggest impact on where people decide to shop due to the fact that most of the time, if you cannot afford something then you will not be able to buy it.

Formal Language

Match the formal words or phrases (1-10) that can replace the words/phrases in bold (a-j) .

Saw this shared on Facebook, looks good.

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

This is an updated version of my CAE/CPE report phrase list. Download it below:

Report Phrase Sheet

Report

Example Introduction

The aim of this report is to evaluate the current state of….. This report is based on the results of an extensive survey completed by (students at … school). It will present the results of the survey and go on to give recommendations regarding…

Image credit: www.forbes.com

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

This is a worksheet designed with C1 students in mind. It will help them construct passive sentences with reporting verbs, which are appropriate for many of the formal writing tasks in the CAE exam. Download the worksheet and key below:

Reporting with passives

Worksheet

We can use passive structures with infinitives in formal writing to report opinions and beliefs.

Present and Future – use an infinitive (to be, to affect)

Many people think Messi is the best player ever.

Messi is thought to be the best player ever.

Scientists know that pollen allergy affects a lot of people.

Pollen allergies are known to affect a lot of people.

Journalists expect that the president will give a speech at 2pm.

The president is expected to give a speech at 2pm.

Past – use a perfect infinitive (have been, have made, have done)

Experts think that Van Gogh painted the painting in 1888.

Van Gogh is thought to have painted the painting in 1888.

The police think he killed his wife.

He is thought to have killed his wife.

Verbs used in this way included: believe, consider, estimate, expect, know, report, say, think, understand and “to be rumoured”.

Practice:

Change the second sentence using the passive structure.

1. Experts say that 8 hours sleep is the perfect amount.

8 hours sleep ________________________________________________________________

2. They expect that 2000 people will attend the festival.

2000 people _________________________________________________________________

3. Police think that the stolen money is buried in the garden.

The stolen money _____________________________________________________________

4. There are rumours that Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are dating again.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez __________________________________________________

5. Experts estimate that 20 people died in the fire.

20 people_______________________________________________________________.

6. Journalists report that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have broken up.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian_________________________________________________.

7. Scientists believe that the big bang happened 13.7 billion years ago.

The big bang____________________________________________________________.

Key

1. 8 hours sleep is said to be the perfect amount.
2. 2000 people are expected to attend the festival.
3. The stolen money is thought to be buried in the garden.
4. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are rumoured to be dating again.
5. 20 people are estimated to have died in the fire.
6. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are reported to have broken up.
7. The big bang is believed to have happened 13.7 billion years ago

Creative Practice Exercise

After completing the worksheet have students write two sentences, 1 in the present and 1 in the past, about their partner in the style of a gossip magazine article:

“Jordi is rumoured to be dating Sandra.”

“Jordi is thought to have written Sara a poem.”

Have students read their sentences out to the class, then they vote on which is the juiciest piece of gossip.

Image credit: LitReactor

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

This is a lesson plan designed to help students tackle the CAE writing part 1 formal essay task. It walks students through structuring their essays correctly. Download the handout and Powerpoint below:

formal-writing

formal-writing-handout

Student Handout

Introduction

In this day and age a worrying percentage of children are showing signs of obesity. The past few years have seen a steep decline in the number of school-aged children taking part in team sports or getting regular exercise. What is the most effective way to tackle this problem and encourage children to be more active?

In this essay I am going to talk about the problem of children not getting enough exercise. I will start by talking about parental influence and then I will discuss the role schools can play.

Hardly a week goes by without another article on the topic of childhood obesity appearing in the media. This is clearly a growing issue which must be addressed urgently. There are a number of ways in which this problem could be tackled.

Language for introductions

• In this day and age…
• … is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion.
• … is a growing issue in today’s society
• We live in an age when many of us are…
• More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
• The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
• Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………
• Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
• Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.
• Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that ……..

Language for topic sentences

First Paragraph

• …. clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on…
• It is common knowledge that… plays a crucial role in…
• It is undoubtedly the case that…
• There is little doubt that…
• … is widely believed to contribute to…
• It is generally considered that…
• Recent research suggests that…
• Studies have shown that… has an impact/influence on…
• Few people would contest/dispute the fact that…

Second Paragraph

• Another factor to consider is…
• On the other hand/In contrast…
• It is often claimed that…
• All the evidence suggests that…

Language for supporting ideas

Language for introducing supporting ideas:

• For example,
• For instance,
• An obvious example of this is…
• A clear example of this is…
• This is illustrated by…
• As a case in point…

Paragraph Skeleton

It goes without saying that ______________________________________ A clear example of this is ___________________________________________ In addition,________________________________________ Nevertheless,_____________________________________________________________

Language for conclusions:

• In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
• As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc.
• … is the most effective way to… due to the fact that…

OR

• In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
• Despite the fact that… undoubtedly plays a role in… I firmly believe that… is more effective due to the fact that…

Credit to Cork English Teacher for some of the language from the handout.

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

I made this mindmap for CAE writing part 1 using the excellent text to mindmap tool, some browsers don’t trust the site but it’s perfectly safe. It’s a fantastic way to create mindmaps quickly and easily! Download the pdf below:

mindmap-cae-writing-part-1

Image credit: qvictorias.com

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

I’ve recently started teaching CPE again so I decided to make a phrase sheet for my students to help them tackle part 1 of the writing paper, the formal essay. Download it below:

CPE Writing Part 1 Phrase Sheet

Summarising Texts

• The first text/passage/extract outlines the benefits/drawbacks of…
• The second text argues/claims that…
• The first text advocates… +…ing (supports)
• The second text puts forward the idea that…
• It then goes on to espouse the viewpoint that… (say)
• The text sheds light on the issue/topic of…
• The text brings the topic of… to light.
• The writer of the first text is a firm believer in…
• The writer/author of the second text is highly critical of…
• Both writers seem to agree that…, where their ideas deviate however is on the topic of…
• The second text makes bold statements in support of…
• Not only does the first text state that…, but it also claims that…
• In addition to the aforementioned point, it also claims that…

Critical Examination

• One thing the writer fails to mention is…
• A glaring omission from the first text is…
• While the writer makes some valid arguments in favour of…, she ignores the fact that…
• One area which the writer seems to have overlooked is…
• While I am generally in agreement with the majority of the first writer’s points the obvious hole in their argument is…
• Were I to pick holes in the writer’s arguments, I would start by pointing out that…
• I feel it must also be pointed out that…
• When it comes to the topic of…, the text seems to be lacking somewhat
• One major weakness in the writer’s argument is that…
• The text neglects to mention that fact that…
• The writer seems to have gone overboard in their praise/criticism of…

Expressing Opinion

• I am of the opinion that…
• In my humble opinion…
• My thoughts on the matter are that…
• As far as I am concerned,
• As far as my opinions on the matter are concerned,…
• My initial reaction to the opinions outlined in the text was…
• I am a firm believer in…
• On the whole, I tend to agree with… due to the fact that…

This is a cheat sheet/reference grid explaining the different task types that students will be required to complete in part 2 of the Cambridge C1 Advanced writing paper. Download the handout below:

This is yet another designed to help students prepare for part one of the C1 Cambridge Advanced (CAE) writing exam. Some of the content has been rehashed from old posts but the approach is slightly different. Download the student handout below:

Give out the handout and draw students’ attention to the task on page one and the first version at the bottom of the page. Have them read the task, then the model answer, then answer questions 1-3 with their partner:

1. Which of the three areas (convenience, cost & enjoyment) does the writer focus on? cost and convenience
2. Which one do they decide has the biggest impact on where people choose to shop? cost
3. Give the essay a score out of 5 for:
   • Content (have they answered the question?) 4.5 – 5 – yes, question is fully answered
   • Range of language 2.5 – reads more like a B2 First essay
   • Appropriate style (formal/informal) 1.5 – too informal, not the right style: contractions, words like “stuff”, too personal (too much “I” and “we”), “first let’s look at”

Now have students look at question 4. If you’re pressed for time, you could skip this part. Have students brainstorm more formal and advanced ways of expressing the parts in bold in pairs or groups. Perhaps you could assign one paragraph to each group and have them report back in open class. Board their ideas.

Now have students flip the paper over. Version 2 essential expresses the same ideas but with more advanced language and a more appropriate register. Direct students to find the “fancy” equivalents of the underlined phrases from version 1 in version 2.

Set students the homework task by first encouraging them to discuss the topic:

Factors when deciding where to go on holiday:

• Weather
• Price
• Cultural activities

Encourage them to use the language from version 2 and the language on pages 2 and 3 in their compositions.

Version 1

Read version 1 and answer the questions:

1. Which of the three areas (convenience, cost & enjoyment) does the writer focus on?
2. Which one do they decide has the biggest impact on where people choose to shop?
3. Give the essay a score out of 5 for:
   • Content (have they answered the question?)
   • Range of language
   • Appropriate style (formal/informal)
4. Look at the sections in bold, how could you express the same ideas in a more impressive/formal way?

We’re always hearing in the news about how more and more people are buying things on the internet. It’s a big problem that fewer people are going shopping in physical shops nowadays. But, what makes people decide where to shop?

First, let’s look at convenience. It’s true that shopping online is much easier than shopping in physical shops. You can buy stuff on your computer and you can sit on your sofa, you don’t need to leave your house. Also, the stuff gets sent to your house. When you go to the physical shop you have to take it home yourself.

Now I’ll talk about cost. Some people think that cost is the most important thing people think about when they decide where to shop. For example, when the sales are on people buy things in shops they don’t normally go to. But some people don’t care about the price. It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive or not.

In conclusion, looking at the facts, I think that cost is the most important thing for most people because if you don’t have enough money, you can’t buy it.

Version 2

Find and underline the ways that the same ideas are expressed in this version.

Hardly a week goes by without another news report about the recent dramatic increase in online shopping. The decline of the high street shop is undoubtedly a major issue in this day and age. However, which aspect of shopping has the biggest influence on where people shop?

The first area to take into account is convenience. It is undoubtedly the case that shopping online is much more convenient than shopping on the high street. Not only can you make a purchase with the click of a button, but also you can do it from the comfort of your sofa without setting foot outside your door.  In addition, the goods are delivered directly to your door whereas when you shop in physical shops you have to carry it home yourself.

Another aspect to consider is cost. There are those who argue that cost has the biggest impact on where people decide to shop. This is illustrated by the fact that during the sales many people buy things in shops they would not normally enter. Nevertheless, for some people the cost is not an issue, they buy what they want to buy no matter the price.

In light of the above, weighing up all the evidence, it is probably true to say that cost does indeed have the biggest influence on where people decide to shop due to the fact that most of the time, if you cannot afford something then you will not be able to buy it.

(247 words)

Homework Task

Your class has had a class debate on the most important factors when it comes to deciding on a holiday destination.

Factors when deciding where to go on holiday:

• Weather
• Price
• Cultural activities

Some opinions expressed in the debate:

• “If it’s not a sunny place, then I’m not going. Why would I visit a cold, rainy city?”
• “I want my money to go further. For the price of a weekend in Paris, I could spend 2 weeks in Morocco.”
• “I can’t stand just lying on a beach, I need to get out and learn something about the places I’m visiting.”

Write an essay for your tutor, discussing two of the factors in your notes. You should explain which factor is the most important for most people, giving reasons to support your argument.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the debate but you should use your own words as far as possible. Write your essay in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

Language for introductions

• In this day and age…
• … is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion.
• … is a growing issue in today’s society
• We live in an age when many of us are…
• More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
• The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
• Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………
• Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
• Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.
• Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that ……..

Language for topic sentences

Second Paragraph

• …. clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on…
• It is common knowledge that… plays a crucial role in…
• It is undoubtedly the case that…
• There is little doubt that…
• … is widely believed to contribute to…
• It is generally considered that…
• Recent research suggests that…
• Studies have shown that… has an impact/influence on…
• Few people would contest/dispute the fact that…

Third Paragraph

• Another factor to consider is…
• On the other hand/In contrast…
• It is often claimed that…
• All the evidence suggests that…

Language for supporting ideas

Language for introducing supporting ideas:

• For example,
• For instance,
• An obvious example of this is…
• A clear example of this is…
• This is illustrated by…
• As a case in point…

Paragraph Skeleton

It goes without saying that …………………………………………………………………… A clear example of this is ………………………………………………………. In addition, ……………………………………………………………………. Nevertheless, …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Overall/in summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Language for conclusions:

• In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
• As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc.
• … is the most effective way to… due to the fact that…

OR

• In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
• Despite the fact that… undoubtedly plays a role in… I firmly believe that… is more effective due to the fact that…

This is yet another designed to help students prepare for part one of the C1 Cambridge Advanced (CAE) writing exam. Some of the content has been rehashed from old posts but the approach is slightly different. Download the student handout below:

Give out the handout and draw students’ attention to the task on page one and the first version at the bottom of the page. Have them read the task, then the model answer, then answer questions 1-3 with their partner:

1. Which of the three areas (convenience, cost & enjoyment) does the writer focus on? cost and convenience
2. Which one do they decide has the biggest impact on where people choose to shop? cost
3. Give the essay a score out of 5 for:
   • Content (have they answered the question?) 4.5 – 5 – yes, question is fully answered
   • Range of language 2.5 – reads more like a B2 First essay
   • Appropriate style (formal/informal) 1.5 – too informal, not the right style: contractions, words like “stuff”, too personal (too much “I” and “we”), “first let’s look at”

Now have students look at question 4. If you’re pressed for time, you could skip this part. Have students brainstorm more formal and advanced ways of expressing the parts in bold in pairs or groups. Perhaps you could assign one paragraph to each group and have them report back in open class. Board their ideas.

Now have students flip the paper over. Version 2 essential expresses the same ideas but with more advanced language and a more appropriate register. Direct students to find the “fancy” equivalents of the underlined phrases from version 1 in version 2.

Set students the homework task by first encouraging them to discuss the topic:

Factors when deciding where to go on holiday:

• Weather
• Price
• Cultural activities

Encourage them to use the language from version 2 and the language on pages 2 and 3 in their compositions.

Version 1

Read version 1 and answer the questions:

1. Which of the three areas (convenience, cost & enjoyment) does the writer focus on?
2. Which one do they decide has the biggest impact on where people choose to shop?
3. Give the essay a score out of 5 for:
   • Content (have they answered the question?)
   • Range of language
   • Appropriate style (formal/informal)
4. Look at the sections in bold, how could you express the same ideas in a more impressive/formal way?

We’re always hearing in the news about how more and more people are buying things on the internet. It’s a big problem that fewer people are going shopping in physical shops nowadays. But, what makes people decide where to shop?

First, let’s look at convenience. It’s true that shopping online is much easier than shopping in physical shops. You can buy stuff on your computer and you can sit on your sofa, you don’t need to leave your house. Also, the stuff gets sent to your house. When you go to the physical shop you have to take it home yourself.

Now I’ll talk about cost. Some people think that cost is the most important thing people think about when they decide where to shop. For example, when the sales are on people buy things in shops they don’t normally go to. But some people don’t care about the price. It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive or not.

In conclusion, looking at the facts, I think that cost is the most important thing for most people because if you don’t have enough money, you can’t buy it.

Version 2

Find and underline the ways that the same ideas are expressed in this version.

Hardly a week goes by without another news report about the recent dramatic increase in online shopping. The decline of the high street shop is undoubtedly a major issue in this day and age. However, which aspect of shopping has the biggest influence on where people shop?

The first area to take into account is convenience. It is undoubtedly the case that shopping online is much more convenient than shopping on the high street. Not only can you make a purchase with the click of a button, but also you can do it from the comfort of your sofa without setting foot outside your door.  In addition, the goods are delivered directly to your door whereas when you shop in physical shops you have to carry it home yourself.

Another aspect to consider is cost. There are those who argue that cost has the biggest impact on where people decide to shop. This is illustrated by the fact that during the sales many people buy things in shops they would not normally enter. Nevertheless, for some people the cost is not an issue, they buy what they want to buy no matter the price.

In light of the above, weighing up all the evidence, it is probably true to say that cost does indeed have the biggest influence on where people decide to shop due to the fact that most of the time, if you cannot afford something then you will not be able to buy it.

(247 words)

Homework Task

Your class has had a class debate on the most important factors when it comes to deciding on a holiday destination.

Factors when deciding where to go on holiday:

• Weather
• Price
• Cultural activities

Some opinions expressed in the debate:

• “If it’s not a sunny place, then I’m not going. Why would I visit a cold, rainy city?”
• “I want my money to go further. For the price of a weekend in Paris, I could spend 2 weeks in Morocco.”
• “I can’t stand just lying on a beach, I need to get out and learn something about the places I’m visiting.”

Write an essay for your tutor, discussing two of the factors in your notes. You should explain which factor is the most important for most people, giving reasons to support your argument.

You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the debate but you should use your own words as far as possible. Write your essay in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

Language for introductions

• In this day and age…
• … is a hotly-debated topic that often divides opinion.
• … is a growing issue in today’s society
• We live in an age when many of us are…
• More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
• The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
• Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ……………
• Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
• Hardly a week goes by without another report of …………….. appearing in the media.
• Although most people would generally agree that …………… few would deny that ……..

Language for topic sentences

Second Paragraph

• …. clearly/undoubtedly has an impact on…
• It is common knowledge that… plays a crucial role in…
• It is undoubtedly the case that…
• There is little doubt that…
• … is widely believed to contribute to…
• It is generally considered that…
• Recent research suggests that…
• Studies have shown that… has an impact/influence on…
• Few people would contest/dispute the fact that…

Third Paragraph

• Another factor to consider is…
• On the other hand/In contrast…
• It is often claimed that…
• All the evidence suggests that…

Language for supporting ideas

Language for introducing supporting ideas:

• For example,
• For instance,
• An obvious example of this is…
• A clear example of this is…
• This is illustrated by…
• As a case in point…

Paragraph Skeleton

It goes without saying that …………………………………………………………………… A clear example of this is ………………………………………………………. In addition, ……………………………………………………………………. Nevertheless, …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Overall/in summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Language for conclusions:

• In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
• As far as I am concerned, / in my opinion, / as I see it, etc.
• … is the most effective way to… due to the fact that…

OR

• In light of the above, / Taking all this into consideration/account,…
• Despite the fact that… undoubtedly plays a role in… I firmly believe that… is more effective due to the fact that…

This is a worksheet to help C2 proficiency students practise writing formal reports in preparation for part 2 of the writing paper. Students will brainstorm ideas to complete the task then complete some exercises to help them include advanced grammar and relevant vocabulary. Download the handout and key below: