Activate Writing B2

Alexandra Green YOUR WRITING THE B2 PSREELPLIANRGATION B2 Exams

Contents UNIT PAGE Introduction 4 5 1 Education 9 Formal email asking for information 13 2 Relationships 17 Article (personal anecdote) 21 25 3 Health Matters 29 Formal email of application 33 37 4 Around the Globe 41 Informal email giving advice 45 49 5 Technology Today 53 Essay (advantages and disadvantages) 57 61 6 Film, Celebrities and The Press 65 Review I 69 102 7 The Performing Arts 103 Review II 8 The World Around Us Essay (opinion) 9 Crime Informal email making suggestions 10 Fashion Article (opinion) 11 Property and Housing Formal letter (opinion) 12 The Sporting Life Story (begin with a given sentence) 13 Summer Employment Formal letter (for or against) 14 Natural Habitats Story (begin with a given sentence; prompts) 15 Behaviour Essay (opinion) 16 Consumerism Report Writing pages Self-Assessment Checklist ’Can do’ Statements 3

01 Education Formal email asking for information Activate Your Ideas A Read this statement and discuss as a class. Do most people agree or disagree? The best way to learn a foreign language is to go to the country where the language is spoken. B R ead these statements about going abroad to learn a foreign language and list them in order of importance. Then discuss in pairs. 1 a You develop your listening and speaking b You learn to be independent 2 skills in the most effective way. and build your confidence. 3 4 You familiarise yourself with the culture of You explore the country whose language you are learning. d a new country. c C Discuss these questions in pairs. • Have you ever thought about going to study abroad? • W ould you like to learn another language abroad? If so, which language and in which country? UNIT 1 5

Unit 1 D Your friend is thinking about enrolling in a crash course in Spanish. She has three options. Read the options and discuss them in pairs. Then decide which option is the best. IlLn0oet9ces:a0snlo0slnai–vsne1eg3Svu:pe0ara0gynefdoissarhcyohcnfooreooummlrsoenatth apcLOlqouemunasalrfoilnoninfreSietepSdohapfonSayupinosrahiunsprhiiensorlhewtwhstnseeeoaehnckohsw!merie.th, PLnTReaaaIitVlirovAnreT-SmESppLaaaEndnSiesSishcOhowNuteSirtashecahs er. E With your partner, write down three questions that your friend might ask about the Spanish course you have chosen. 1 2 3 Activate Your Skills A R ead this email asking for information about an English course and circle the correct words to complete it. Email Dear Mr Deverill, I am writing (1) in / to response to your advertisement regarding the summer English course in the British countryside. I am interested in attending the course, but I would like to ask for some additional information. (2) Firstly / At once, could you please tell me if the teachers are native speakers? (3) However / Also, I would be grateful if you could let me know how much the course costs. In addition, (4) due to / as I can only attend the course if it is during my summer holiday, kindly advise me on the starting date and the length of the course. (5) Finally / Plus, please tell me the exact location of the language school so that I can make travel arrangements. Thank you in advance. I look forward (6) for / to your reply. Yours sincerely, Nicky Costa 6

Writing B Read this writing plan and underline in the email the things that Nicky wants to find out. Writing plan Dear Mr + surname of person you are writing to Greeting Why you are writing / where you saw the advert Paragraph 1 Questions about the course (teachers; cost; date and length of course) Paragraph 2 Additional question (location) Paragraph 3 End your email politely Paragraph 4 Yours sincerely, Signing off Your first name and surname C In her email, Nicky uses indirect questions to ask for information. Circle the phrases she uses to begin her indirect questions. D Complete these indirect questions. Look at Nicky’s email again to help you. ? . 1 When does the course start? . Could you please . 2 Do I need any previous knowledge of the language? . Please let me know . 3 Are the teachers native speakers? I would like to know 4 How many students are there in each class? I would like to know 5 Who can I contact if I need more information? Kindly advise me 6 Is accommodation included in the price? I would be grateful E N ow look back at the questions you wrote in Activate Your Ideas E and rewrite them as indirect questions. 1 2 3 UNIT 1 7

Unit 1 Activate Your Writing ALERT! • When you know the name of the person you are writing to, use Dear Mr/Miss/Mrs + surname and Yours sincerely. • When you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, use Dear Sir/Madam and Yours faithfully. A Read this task and complete the writing plan that follows. Y ou have seen an advertisement for a summer adventure camp in Switzerland. You are interested in going to the camp. Write an email to the head of the camp asking for information about the location of the summer camp, the type of activities on offer and the price. Writing plan Dear (1) ; Greeting Why you are writing / (2) Paragraph 1 Q uestions about the camp (location; (3) Paragraph 2 (4) ) Additional question (your own idea) Paragraph 3 End your email politely Paragraph 4 Yours (5) Signing off Your first name and surname B Now write a formal email asking for information in response to the task in A. Use the writing plan to help you. Don’t forget to check your writing and complete this checklist when you have finished. My writing checklist In my formal email, I have the following: Greeting Four paragraphs: • Why I am writing / where I saw the advert • Questions given in task • An additional question • End my email politely Signing off Formal language: Indirect questions 8

16 Consumerism Report Activate Your Ideas A Write down the first five words that come to mind when you hear the word consumerism. Compare your words with your classmates’. 1 2 3 4 5 B R ead these statements about consumerism and discuss as a class. Which one(s) do most people agree with? There is a need for consumers to be Advertising is misleading. It makes us believe directed towards more responsible choices. we need to purchase new things all the time. If we were more aware of our carbon footprint, we would be less likely to over-consume. The authorities need to A change in the public’s mindset and lifestyle is adopt a more active role in apparent; the focus is now on sustainable choices consumer education. and socially-conscious behaviour. UNIT 16 65

Unit 16 C Read these statements about shopping in local shops and shopping malls and tick the one(s) you agree with. Then discuss in pairs. 1 Shopping in local shops has a more personal touch. 2 I like to help the local economy. Plus, the products in smaller shops are better quality. 3 There’s a greater selection of items at malls, so they suit all tastes. 4 Malls have more to offer than just shopping. There are food courts, cinemas and other entertainment. They’re much more fun! D D o you prefer shopping in department stores, shopping malls or small local shops? Give reasons for your answer. 66

Writing Activate Your Skills A Read this report about a shopping mall and complete it with the missing title and subheadings. (1) Introduction This report provides an overview of ReTuna, a shopping mall full of second-hand shops which is located approximately 110 km outside Stockholm. Students from Westside Secondary School visited it in order to assess the impact it has had on consumerism and whether it would work in their country. (2) The ReTuna Shopping Mall is located next to a recycling centre, and it was set up by the local government in 2015 to discourage consumers from buying everything new. The focus is on reusing resources since, in Sweden, more than 99% of household waste is recycled. It is believed that this shopping mall will assist in tackling rising consumerism. (3) The mall is appealing, and at first glance, one would not know that everything on sale is second-hand. There are a variety of shops, all selling items that have been donated by the public, such as toys, furniture, clothes and electronic devices. The mall also hosts events, workshops and lectures, as it has taken on the role of public educator. Conclusion This concept is revolutionary; it has changed consumers’ mindset and promotes sustainability. Although it may be difficult to set up in our country, it is definitely worth looking into. a The Location and Main Idea b The Mall in a Nutshell c Effectiveness of the World’s First Second-hand Shopping Mall B Read this writing plan and underline the aims of the report and the information which shows that those aims were achieved. Writing plan Title Give the report a clear title so the reader understands the subject of the report. Paragraph 1 Write an introduction giving details on the subject of the report and the aims of the report. Paragraph 2 Give information about the main idea behind the shopping mall. Paragraph 3 Give information about what is available at the shopping mall. Paragraph 4 Write a conclusion which shows that the aims were achieved. C Read the report again and circle T for true or F for false. In a report: T/F 1 I should use more colloquial language. T/F 2 I should emphasise my personal opinion. T/F 3 It is a good idea to use the passive voice. T/F 4 I focus on general opinion. T/F 5 It is wise to focus on a maximum of two points. UNIT 16 67

Unit 16 Activate Your Writing A Read this task and complete the writing plan that follows. Your class recently went on a trip to a large shopping mall in your area for a project on consumerism. Your teacher has asked you to write a report on the trip. In your report, you should say what the advantages and disadvantages are of shopping in the mall and give a conclusion. Here are two comments from other students in your class: The prices are more reasonable in malls. I prefer to support local shop owners. Writing plan Title Give the report a (1) so the reader understands the subject of the report. Paragraph 1 Write an introduction giving (2) on the subject of the report and the (3) of the report. Paragraph 2 Give information about one aspect of the (4) . Paragraph 3 Give information about (5) aspect of the shopping mall. Paragraph 4 Write a conclusion which shows that the aims were (6) . B Now write your own report in response to the task in A. Use the writing plan to help you. Don’t forget to check your writing and complete this checklist when you have finished. My writing checklist In my report, I have the following: A clear title Four paragraphs: • Introduction giving details on the subject and the aims of the report • Information about one aspect of the shopping mall • Information about another aspect of the shopping mall • Conclusion showing my aims were achieved Passive voice General, not personal, opinion 68

YOUR WRITING B2 Activate your Writing for B2 Exams has been specifically Exams written to help students consolidate their writing skills and progress from an intermediate level to a B2 level. Its thorough coverage of writing styles and formats will help students prepare for all B2 examinations. Activate your Writing for B2 Exams contains: • 16 task-based units. • model answers for students to analyse. • a special checklist to help them plan their writing. • ample writing practice in each unit. • carefully graded exercises to boost students’ confidence levels. Components of this series include: Activate your Writing Student’s Book Activate your Writing Teacher’s Book Also available: Activate your Grammar Cambridge FCE ESB B2 NOCN B2 & Vocabulary B2 Practice Tests 1 & 2 Practice Tests Practice Tests MSU-CELC B2 Michigan ECCE Practice Tests Practice Tests 1 & 2