(Exit

Writing Paper: Part 2

Task type: Letter to an editor
Question
You have recently read the following magazine article.

Is it the end of the printed book as

we know it?
According to internet experts, the book is dead.
What they are predicting is that by 2020 90%
of everything we read will be in electronic
form. So the form of the book that has been
around for 1300 years will become extinct...

Write a letter to the editor of 'Future Net' giving your views (220-260 words).

Answer
Click on the underlined words or phrases for comments. The numbers in brackets offer
suggestions. General feedback appears below the essay.

Name: Olatz
School: Opening
27th of October 2000
Dear Sir.
I am really interested in the article you wrote last week about {***} {1} death of
printted books with the appearance of new technologies such as {***} {2}internet.
From my point of view in the last ten years computers have become such an
important power that
humans can neither {3} control them, {4} indeed, machines are becoming more
powerful than humans minds and this might set off a dissater in this world.
Reading books has not only been an excellent entertainment and pleassure for
lots of people during {5} years and years but it has been our bigger educative {6}
instrument since we have had to learn history{***} geography and biology, for
instance reading our school notebooks.
If books dissappeared we would have computers in all schools instead {***} {7} the
traditional books, that would be slightly more comfortable since we would have all
the information in internet.
Although tere is not much to do to deal with the problem of book's death {8}, I
encourage everybody to sort out to this problem and to go on reading books in
order not to make them dissapear.
I look forward you to taking my advivise into account as you are an important
person and you have a
{9}
yours faithfully
OLATZ

Feedback
This is a good attempt to discuss some of the issues in the question. You
have written just over 200 words, so you have scope the develop the
question (of whether or not the printed book has a future) a little more, by
considering the advantages and disadvantages of reading books in
electronic format.
The layout and organisation of the letter is appropriate.
In terms of language I'd advise you to concentrate on spelling, although
your grammatical control is very good.
Good luck in the exam!
Fiona Joseph
29.11.00

(Exit)

Writing Paper: Part 2

Task type: Letter to an editor
Question
You have recently read the following magazine article.
Is it the end of the printed book as we know
it?
According to internet experts, the book is dead. What
they are predicting is that by 2020 90% of everything we
read will be in electronic form. So the form of the book
that has been around for 1300 years will become
extinct...
Write a letter to the editor of 'Future Net' giving your views (220-260 words).

Answer
Click on the underlined words or phrases for comments. The numbers in brackets offer
suggestions. General feedback appears below the essay.

Name: Elena Borzova

Dear Sir,
I am writing with the reference to the article in the January edition of "Future Net",
which predicts that in the foreseeable future electronic books will replace printed
ones. Obviously, {***} {1}electronic book is no longer the stuff of science fiction.
{***}E-book boom is under way. I am concerned with {2} this matter and feel
involved in this digital revolution.
Undoubtedly, {***}electronic book provides several advantages over {***}traditional
book. Firstly, {***} {3}book in digital format offers today's readers additional
opportunities such as a keyword search, {***} {4} retrival of information. Another
advantage is that doing index look-ups on {***} {5}digital book is {***}very fast
process so {***}e-book is likely to become a perfect reference tool. Besides, ebook has one more advantage{6}, especially to distance learners or people living
in outlying areas without access to large libraries, which lies in e-book availability
by dial up access{7}.
Indeed {8}, {***}e-book has some disadvantages and its concept is still foreign to
the general public. Firstly, computer software is needed for reading e-books.
Moreover, there are some difficulties in reading on {***} {9}screen with poor
resolution, a problem not expected to be solved in the near future. The poor
resolution hurts eyes and makes online reading less enjoyable compared to
traditional books.
The importance of printed books must not be overlooked, particularly when it
comes to reading for pleasure. Book lovers like holding a nicely bound book,
flipping pages, enjoy its touch and smell. Most readers like putting hardbacks on
bookshelves and watch {***} {10}personal library growing. So, printed books have
enormous advantages. But on the other hand,we should keep in mind the problem
of deforestation since many forests are being cut down for the paper industry.
Will {***}e-book mean the end of printed books? Personally, I am convinced that
the bound books have a future. So, let's don't {11} say goodbye to a hardcover{12}
yet. Even under the best circumstances, it will take years before you see e-books
on every street corner. Nobody knows if the majority will take to digitized reading.
As for me, I much prefer printed books over digital ones. If I want to read some
fiction, I'd rather curl up with a good old paperback. I don't share {13}opinion about
printed book's extinction{14}. In my opinion, traditional books will survive, just as
radio survived TV, and the film lived on after video. They will continue amuse,
influence and impress for centuries.{15} {***} {16}
I am dedicated reader of your magazine and I hope you will take my views into
account in the future editions of your magazine.
Yours faithfully,

Elena Borzova

Feedback (1)
Well done, Elena. This letter discusses very fully the pros and cons of
traditional books versus e-books, and you weigh up the issues intelligently.
If you were answering such a question in the CAE exam you would need to
be careful not to write too much - this piece is nearly double the word limit
of a CAE writing task! (Not only might you be penalised for overwriting, you
might also lose valuable time that could have been spent on the second
task.) You are obviously very well-informed about the topic and this makes
your letter a pleasure to read. The letter is organised appropriately and
written in a suitable register for the editor - i.e. warm and friendly, without
being too formal or informal.
On the language side, you need review the rules for definite and indefinite
articles. I am sympathetic because it's terribly difficult if your first language
has no articles! On a positive note, your general (and technological
vocabulary) is excellent and I have highlighted phrases and sentences that
are particularly well put.
Thanks for sending this is. I enjoyed reading it!
Best wishes
Fiona Joseph
20.3.01

(Exit)

Writing Paper: Part 2

Task type: Letter to an editor
Question
You have recently read the following magazine article.
Is it the end of the printed book as we know
it?
According to internet experts, the book is dead. What
they are predicting is that by 2020 90% of everything we
read will be in electronic form. So the form of the book
that has been around for 1300 years will become
extinct...
Write a letter to the editor of 'Future Net' giving your views (220-260 words).

Answer

Click on the underlined words or phrases for comments. The numbers in brackets offer
suggestions. General feedback appears below the essay.

Name: Anna Zagorna

School: V LO im. Kanclerza Jana Zamoyskiego w Dabrowie Gorniczej
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you after reading the article about the influence of computers on
printed books. I want to share my opinion with you and all readers.{1}
The article says that according to the internet experts, books are dead and will
soon become extinct. The predictions for 2020 that you stated are very alarming.
Computers have become very common in recent years. Every month the number
of people using {***}internet{2} is increasing. Despite this fact I do not think that
printed books will be replaced with electronic ones.
The biggest pro of electronic form of what we read{3} is that we can modify (copy,
cut, paste, underline etc) the text whenever we want. Pages will never ever grow
yellow. Buying electronic books on cd-rom or downloading from {***}internet is (in
my country) cheaper (and easier, of course). They can consist of attractive
pictures and multimedial {4} presentations. You can easily print {***}selected piece
of {***}chapter or find a word you look {5} for. A funny pro I thought of is that your
pet will never eat your reading matters.{6}
However, after considering all these advantages, I am not even a little bit
convinced to using {7} electronic books. Reading from {***}computer monitor tires
your eyes very much and soon you can simply bore yourself {8} and lose heart.
You can only read when there is a computer near {9}, never on the bus or train.
What is more, a large amount{10} of people got used to {11} printed forms of
books, {12} it is even said that they {13} have souls, can feel and miss when they
have not been read for a long time. Although there are more advantages of{14}
using electronic books, personally I will never give up using and reading printed
versions. I partly agree with the writer of the article because one can never fully
foresee what {***} {15} is going to be in 20 years. In my opinion, only if {***} prices
of computers decrease and more and more people can afford using {16} the
internet, only then we can start thinking that the printed form of book will become
extinct. But we have nothing to worry about now{17}.
Yours faithfully,
Anna Zagorna

Feedback
This letter is well-organised, Anna. You balance the arguments for and
against e-books and the reader is left with a clear impression of your own
point of view. This is good to do in the type of task where you are asked to
give your opinion.
You have a nice style of writing and you express your feelings well. There
are some language errors (mainly missing articles, the odd preposition and
verb tense) but this essay also demonstrates a good range of vocabulary. (I
have highlighted the phrases I particularly liked!) The register is (mostly)
consistently on the formal side, which is appropriate for the task.
Good luck for the December exam.
Best wishes
Fiona Joseph
5.9.01

(Exit)

Writing Paper: Part 2

Task type: Letter to an editor
Question
You are reading your favourite newspaper and you come across a letter which attacks
the education system in your country (or a country that you know well).
...What a pity our school system is so out-ofdate. I would suggest that some major
educational reforms are needed in this new
century!
Yours sincerely
Prof Collins

To give YOUR view contact the editor by

writing to...
Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper giving your response to Prof. Collins'
letter (220-260 words)

Answer
Click on the underlined words or phrases for comments. The numbers in brackets offer

suggestions. General feedback appears below the essay.

Name: Augusto Yassuo Teoi

School: EPI-English Proficiency Institute
Dear Prof. Collins,
I am writing to express my agreement with the criticisms that you spread{1} in the
news concerning our school system's hindrance. {2}
As you suitably mentioned, in the new century, named for {3} the researchers as
the information era {4}, we'd better have our children well prepared to face the
future job market, otherwise the globalized competitors will knock them down.{5}
Nevertheless, I have already realized that, as it is an ordinary concern in the
population's opinion, drawing the politics' {6} attention to solve this problem might
be an excellent short cut to raise funds to acquire some schools primary
necessities.
Regarding the reforms that you've suggested, I would say that not only the schools
are {7} poorly prepared but our teachers do not have the necessary tact to interact
with the students. Maybe a recycling compulsory course{8} should {9} be a good
way to take them out {10} from their desktop. It should probably cost less than
renewing the hole team and indemnify all of them{11}.
I would be grateful if you could look into my suggestion. In case of further
comments, I am available for a conversation.{12}
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully{13}
Augusto Yassuo Teoi

Feedback
Augusto, this is a good attempt at quite a difficult task. The layout of your
letter and the opening and closing phrases are good. Your style of writing
is very fluent, although on occasions your phraseology is a bit awkward
(e.g. 'recyling compulsory course' and 'should' substituted for 'would').
The reader would have a basic understanding of your views but at
approximately 190 words you have plenty of scope to develop your
arguments further. The word limit in the exam is about 250 at CAE level so
you should aim to get as close to the target as you can.
Good luck!
Best wishes
Fiona Joseph
1.10.01

(Exit)

Writing Paper: Part 2

Task type: Letter to an editor
Question
You are reading your favourite newspaper and you come across a letter which attacks
the education system in your country (or a country that you know well).
...What a pity our school system is so out-ofdate. I would suggest that some major
educational reforms are needed in this new
century!
Yours sincerely
Prof Collins

To give YOUR view contact the editor by

writing to...
Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper giving your response to Prof. Collins'
letter (220-260 words)

Answer
Click on the underlined words or phrases for comments. The numbers in brackets offer
suggestions. General feedback appears below the essay.

Name: PALLA SABRINA

THE BRITISH COUNCIL-NAPLES (ITALY)
Dear Sir,
I am writing this letter in response to Prof .Collins' letter, published on {1} your
newspaper one week ago{2}. In his letter, Prof. Collins expressed his concern
about our school system, defined by him as "out-of-date", and suggesting, at the
same time, the urgent need for a necessary educational reform. I wish to take this
opportunity to express my personal opinion, which is only partly agree with {3}
Prof. Collins' view. According to Prof. Collins, the process of school modernization
should pass through three main features: the need for better teachers, practical
skills learning and more investiments in school equipment.
As for the first point, it seems to me that the real problem is not the need for
"better" teachers but, on the contrary, the need for a new way of teaching. In my
opinion,what is really "out-of-date" is the traditional methodological approach,
which is still too much linked to a mnemonic and abstract learning and too little
concerned about real social contest {4}.
Strictly connected to this problem is the need for the students to achieve a
professional competence. This means that the school reform should consider the
importance to create {5} and support professional training courses, stages and
temporary direct working experiences {6} in a real working contest{7}. As for the
third point, I completely agree with Prof.Collins' view about the need for major
investiments in school equipment. They should mainly consist in {8} the purchase
of computers, of techincal equipment in order to create modern scientific and
linguistic laboratories as well as new and updated libraries.
I wish to close my letter with a doubt which might require further reflections on this
delicate subject. {9} My personal doubt is about the risk of giving birth to a school
system too little sensitive towards students' personality{10} and too little
concerned about their emotive sphere {11}.
Yours faithfully,
S.P.

Feedback
I really liked the way that you tackled this question. The organisation of the
letter is appropriate and the register is suitably formal. You complete the
task in full, with sound arguments in favour or against the professor's
viewpoint.
Your language shows flair (e.g. 'this delicate subject') and you are not
afraid to take risks with your choice of vocabulary. I have been a little
'picky' with some of your word choices, but this is because your level is
very good and I know you will not mind! There are a couple of prepositions
that are incorrectly used - this is a very tricky area even for advanced
students - but all in all, this is a nice answer.
Good luck in June!
Best wishes
Fiona Joseph
20.3.02

(Exit)

Writing Paper: Part 2

Task type: A report
Question
You work in the sales department of a large company. You have been asked to reply to
this memo from the company's Personnel Officer:

INTERNAL MEMO
From: Personnel Officer
To: Sales Department
Owing to recent changes within the company
we are experiencing some problems with
staff motivation. Please write a report giving
your opinion of the following suggestions
for improving staff morale:
1 A party for the whole department.
2 A weekend away for the most successful
sales team.
3 A monetary prize for the best salesperson.
I would appreciate any other suggestions.

Write the report to the Personnel Officer. (220-260 words)

Answer
Click on the underlined words or phrases for comments. The numbers in brackets offer
suggestions. General feedback appears below the essay.

Priscila Ciancaglini, Brazil

Self-study CAE student
Report to The Personnel Officer
From : Priscila Ciancaglini - Sales Department Manager
Subject: Staff Motivation
Date: April 15, 2002{1}
Staff motivation has always been a much discussed subject, which has resulted in
many articles and books, published by experienced and Famous specialists in the
Human Resource field.
Since I do not fit in this category, I can only bring to this report my own
experiences with my staff of salesmen .{2}I'll start by discussing the suggestions
you have send me in your MEMO:
1. A party for the whole department.
I don't think it would be wise to give a party now that the company is facing
economical {3} problems and that the bonus {***} {4} to our sales people has been
cut to {5} half due to that. What would we be celebrating? One of the reasons that
our worker's motivation is down is that cut.
2. A weekend away for the most successful sales team.
That suggestion sounds nice: it would cause impact rewarding team work {6}
and showing the whole company that working together is the way to overcome
critical moments. That we are all in the same boat, and we should row together to
keep moving forward. {7}
3. A monetary prize for the best salesperson.
In my opinion, money is something that is rapidly spent and the source will soon
be forgotten. Motivation should be something that endures time{8} and should be
nurtured by the company throughout the year ! {9}
Besides that, it does not incentive {10} team work, which is what is really important
for the companies {11} future, in order to achieve sustained growth.
I would keep your second suggestion and add a few things, like having a
ceremony in the company, with all employees present, with appraisal given by the
highest administration levels{12} to motivate the rest of our personnel to try the
same!
I would also include their family in the weekend, to show our winners that we

Feedback
This is a nice report, Priscila, which addresses all of the ideas in the task
and comes up with an original suggestion as well - this is a good thing to
do!
The organisation of the report is fine and, apart from the opening sentences,
what you write is relevant to the task. There are some errors in word
formation (economic/economical; incentive/encourage;
companies/company's) but on the plus side you are not afraid to take risks
with the language.
One area to watch would be in terms of register, i.e. the level of formality. A
report should be fairly formal and I have made some suggestions in places
where you have seemed a little informal. "...feel free to call me or stop by my
office...' would be perfect in an email, for example, but looks out of place in a
report.
Best of luck in the Writing Paper, especially if you're going for the June
exam. I'm sure you'll do well.
Best wishes
Fiona Joseph
17.04.02