CAE Writing Overview Activity teachers notes

Description This overview activity asks students to complete a table by writing who the target reader might be, and what style / format each type of writing for CAE might have. Time required: Additional materials required: Aims: 45 minutes CAE Handbook (optional).

to equip students with the knowledge of the content of the CAE Writing paper.

Procedure 1. Divide students into groups or pairs. 2. Give a copy of the worksheet to everyone. 3. Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to answer the questions in Exercise 1. These basic questions will give them useful information about such things as timing, number of questions, how much to write and distribution of marks. The CAE Handbook will provide them with the answers. 4. Check the answers with the whole class and invite any further questions. 5. Tell the students that they are going to look at the Part 1 compulsory question. Once again they should work in pairs or small groups to answer the questions in Exercise 2 at the same time looking at the Part 1 writing task. 6. Check the answers with the whole class and invite any further questions. 7. Ask students to discuss who might read the type of writing listed on the worksheet (Exercise 3) in real life. They should then discuss what style / format each piece of writing is often written in. The first one has been completed as an example. Go through the example carefully so that students know whats expected of them. If time is short or students do not have enough experience of all of these types of writing, complete some other parts of the table with them as further examples. 8. Set an appropriate time limit. 9. Check the answers with the whole class.

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CAE Writing Overview Activity answer keys

Key to Students Worksheet Exercise 1 A Questions 1. Two 2. They must write their answers on the lined pages following each question. They may use the blank pages in the question booklet to make notes. Tell students the following, which does not appear in the Handbook: they should write within the grey borders to ensure that all of their answers can be seen when papers are scanned before marking. Point out that students need to write in pen, not pencil, so that their answers are visible when scanned. 3. No, each part carries equal marks. 4. In Part 1 there may be up to 150 words to read. This may include material taken from advertisements, extracts from letters, emails, postcards, diaries, short articles etc. In Part 2 each question explains a situation in no more than 80 words. 5. an article, a competition entry, a conribution to a longer piece, an essay, an infomration sheet, a letter, a proposal, a report, a review,

Exercise 1 B Questions 1. 1 hour 30 minutes 2. No, Part 1 is one compulsory task. However, in Part 2 you can choose. 3. Five: questions 2, 3, 4 and then question 5 is divided into a) and b) 4. In Part 1 they have to write 180 220 words and in Part 2 they have to write 220 260 words. 5 If they write significantly fewer words, it is likely that they have not successfully completed the task. Overlong pieces may involve irrelevancies, repetition of ideas, poor organisation and have a negative effect on the target reader.

Exercise 2 1.What did you do last summer? I worked for an international company that organises music festivals 2.Who is Jan? My friend 3.Why has Jan written to you? Hes wondering if the same job would be suitable for him. He tells you what he hopes to get from the job.
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4.What information are you going to use to base your reply to Jan on? The relevant information in Jans letter is: will he like the job? Will he get to hear plenty of music? Will he earn enough money for a holiday too? Will he be able to use his English? 5.How many words are you going to write? 180 - 220 6.What style is your letter to Jan going to be in? Informal because its a letter to a friend

Exercise 3 Type of writing An article Who usually reads it? A general reader of a magazine or newspaper What style/format is it often written in? (Whats in it?) An article is engaging (has a catchy title) and interests the reader. Descriptions, examples and anecdotes are often appropriate. The language should be lively and colourful. There should be opinion and comment. Factual information, suggestions or recommendations are clearly organised and may include headings Suggestions supported by factual information, in order to persuade the reader of a course of action. It should be clearly organised and may include headings Letters may be narrative, factual etc. It depends on the question. Letters should have an opening salutation, clear paragraphing and closing phrasing. Competition entries need to catch the judges attention and persuade the judge that the writers entry is best. Finishing with a good strong paragraph is helpful The style will depend on the longer document e.g. for a guidebook the style might be factual whereas for a holiday brochure it might be positive and persuasive

A report

Usually a superior, a boss or college Principal

A proposal

Usually a superior, a boss or college principal

A letter

The reader will be specified in the exam e.g. the editor of a newspaper, the director of an international company or a friend A judge or panel of judges

A competition entry

A contribution to a leaflet or brochure

Someone who is collecting information for a larger document e.g. a guidebook

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An information sheet

Whoever needs that information

An essay

A teacher

A review

Usually the reader of a magazine

Relevant points are expressed clearly and succinctly. The purpose should be clear and the info. should be clearly organised An essay should present an argument and give reasons for this. Paragraphing, using linkers and good opening and closing paragraphs are essential There should be a good description of the event etc and the writers personal opinion should be clear. There should also be a recommendation to the reader

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CAE Writing Overview Activity Students Worksheet

Exercise 1 Work in pairs; student A and student B. Student A ask your partner questions A. Student B ask your partner questions B. Use the CAE handbook to find the answers to the questions. A Questions 1 2 3 4 5 How many parts are there in the Writing paper? Where do we write the answers? Is each part worth different marks? How much and what do we have to read? What sort of things do we have to write?

B Questions 1 2 3 4 5 How much time do we have for the Writing paper? Do we have a choice in both parts? How many questions are there in Part 2? How many words do we have to write? Is it a problem if I write too many or too few words?

Exercise 2 Read through Part 1 of the Writing paper and discuss these questions with a partner. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) What did you do last summer? Who is Jan? Why has Jan written to you? What information are you going to use to base your reply to Jan on? How many words are you going to write? What style is your letter to Jan going to be in?

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Part 1 You must answer this question. Write your answer in 180 220 words in an appropriate style on the opposite page. 1 Last summer you had a job with an international company that organises music festivals. Your friend Jan has written to you asking about it. Read the extract from your friends letter and from your diary below. Then, using the information appropriately, write a letter to your friend saying whether or not you would recommend the job to your friend and giving your reasons. Do you think Id like the job? Most of all I want to hear plenty of music. Id like to make enough money for a holiday too. If I could use my English and get useful work experience, that would be great! Cheers, Janhrough

July 2 Boring office work! No chance to learn anything. I answer the phone and make coffee. July 10 Pay day! Things are improving! The moneys not bad. July 15 Did some translation and dealt with enquiries from English visitors. July 22 Another free visit to festival!

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Exercise 3 Discuss who might read the type of writing in real life. Then discuss what style / format each piece of writing is often written in. The first one has been completed as an example. Type of writing An article Who usually reads it? A general reader of a magazine or newspaper What style/format is it often written in? (Whats in it?) An article is engaging (has a catchy title) and interests the reader. Descriptions, examples and anecdotes are often appropriate. The language should be lively and colourful. There should be opinion and comment.

A report

A proposal

A letter

A competition entry

A contribution to a leaflet or brochure

An information sheet

An essay

A review

UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo

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