Part 2 writing: Review

Task Type: Review

Question
You have been asked to contribute to a local arts magazine on the following topic:

The book I would most like to see made into a film

Write about a book that you have read that you would like to see made into a film. Describe the book and discuss some of the problems or issues that a filmmaker would encounter in making a film from the book.

Write the book review for the editor of the arts magazine. (around 280 - 320 words)

Makeover: Jose

Read Jose's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready, click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

The book I would most like to see made into a film is Alexandre Dumas’ The Count Of Mount Christ famous novel. WO The plot of this fabulous novel begins when Edmundo Dantes – the main character- is unfairly imprisoned because of the betrayal of some friends. The story extends for at least three decades (circa 1815- around 1838). On the grounds that the book is set in France, Italy and some Mediterranean islands, searching for the locations could be an extremely time-consuming assignment. Due to the great deal of time in which the storyline unfolds, the filmmaker will also need a splendid make-up team to tackle the problem of the cast characterisation. In addition, taking into account the psychological complexity of Edmundo, the actor who portrays this character should be carefully-chosen P which might present something of challenge for the casting director. In terms of the extension WW of the book itself, the amount WW of pages surpasses easily the one thousand ones WW How might anyone summarise the content of the novel in a two-hour film? This is an absolutely crucial aspect to consider and the main reason why previous directors failed in the adaptation. Such a great work did the author do WW that many of the dialogues can be translated literally to the big screen without the necessity of outdating WW them. From my point of view, one of the more dramatic scenes would occur when Edmundo escapes from The Castle of If – his prison for around 13 years-, there is every likelihood that the director has WF to hire a stunt-man to shoot this scene.  Life is about transformation. The main character goes through completely different periods, namely naivety, depression, revenge and redemption. If the film manages to convey half of the fantastic metamorphosis of this character, it will be a blockbuster.

Another Essay Writing Task..

Read the two texts below:

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own idea in your answer.

Write your answer in 240-280 words

Movie Magic
It has often been claimed that people flock to the cinema primarily to escape from the boredom, or sometimes even the misery of their everyday lives. Remarkable technological advances have made the experience of watching a movie ever more magical and emotionally powerful, increasing the appeal and impact of the cinema for each new generation. Yet movies have a power that goes far beyond their capacity to transport us to another world, since they can influence audiences to change their attitudes or behaviour in significant ways, making them consider complex moral and social issues such as war, poverty, and prejudice.

Is the cinema in decline?
The inescapable truth is that the cinema, one of the greatest cultural achievements of the twentieth century, has reached a new low point in recent years. All but a few movies are, frankly, not worth anyone’s valuable time. Audiences are increasingly presented with childish comedies, predictable action films and disappointing sequels. There is also the absurd idea that a film with an inflated budget of millions is a substitute for a well-acted, imaginative and original film. Film studios now spend almost as much money on marketing their films as producing them, which tends to suggest their concern is with profit rather than quality.

CPE Letter writing task and model answer

Task Type: Letter of Complaint

Question
You recently took a self-catering holiday in a luxury apartment, but the standard of the accommodation was very poor. The holiday company that you booked with have offered you some vouchers as compensation, but you have decided you would prefer a cash refund instead. Write a letter to the company outlining the problems you experienced with the accommodation and the action you want them to take.

Write the letter to the company (around 280 - 320 words).

Makeover: Ilona

Read Ilona's answer to this question below. Try correcting the piece of writing yourself first: use the marking codes to think about what might be wrong (or what's good) about the piece of work. Then when you're ready, click the green buttons in the text for our feedback.

Dear Sir or Madam I am writing to complain about the bad WW standard of accommodation during my last holiday. I booked this self-catering holiday last year in WW your travel agency. When I returned from my two-week travel WW last week, I immediately visited the agency to complain about my bad WW experiences. Had I known that the accomodation would be so poor, I would have booked from the beginning a full-service holiday. Gd What I expected was a luxury apartment with a small oven. Not only was the room dirty and full of bugs, but the shower was broken and unusable. To make matters even worse, Gd there was no oven as I ordered it. PE Never before have I seen such a bad service at a self-catering holiday. You can imagine my anger when I had to eat out, smelling like a ... Not surprisingly, I booked another room,though without oven but clean PE and with a working shower. Therefore this room cost a lot more than the other one and I had togo out eating. WF  My purpose in visiting the agency was to ask for compensation. The young lady who served me offered some vouchers as compensation. She advised me to take my time with the answer. I have decided to ask your company for a cash refund. Would a refund /\ about 500 euros be too much to expect? I would like to ask you to have a look on my enclosed accounts. Seeing how much money I had to invest additionally will help you to decide what to do about the whole matter. At the very least, I would like you to inform me of the action you will take with regard to my extra invested money. PE Unless adequate action is taken, I shall have no other option but to publish this letter in the local newspaper. Gd

Feedback

This is a really good attempt at the question. You give a detailed description of what went wrong on the holiday and you firmly - but politely - state what compensation you want and what you will do if this is not forthcoming!
This letter shows excellent grammatical control and although there are a few language errors (mainly due to word choice or slightly awkward phraseology) there is nothing too serious. So, well done, Ilona.

Sample essay on stress

Here's a sample essay of the one that you wrote in class. Compare it with your own.

Both texts discuss the topic of stress at work. This essay aims to summarise and evaluate the impact of stress at work at both company and individual levels. Gd! 

The first text focuses on the consequences of stress at work from a company’s perspective. It stresses the financial impact, which at £26bn a year is enormous. It does mention that stressed employees have a direct, negative impact on /\company’s productivity, customer satisfaction and market perception. It is also said that employers must urgently take the necessary actions to increase their awareness of employees’ well-being and tackle seriously the topic of stress and mental illness at work. However, nothing is mentioned about how to do so. For instance, involving individuals in stress management workshops could efficiently address this issue.

The second text deals with the importance for individuals to talk when they suffer from stress. The main concern here is the well-being of individuals rather than the financial considerations of the first text. It is said to ask for help in WW talk with a family member or a trustworthy professional, which seems a - sensible advice. The text also made a point about the many ways to cope with stress once it has been diagnosed and that accepting help and support to go WW through a difficult time must not be seen as sign of weakness. I completely agree with that and think we all need at some point in our lives WO external support and recognising this can only make things easier.

To sum up, I think stress at work should be tackled at the root i.e. at an individual level first. To do so, effective training on how to deal with stress such as workshops could certainly help. Once a trustworthy atmosphere allowing people to speak up about stress at work is created, then come the time where PE companies reap the benefits of taking care of their employees.

See the answers to the errors here:

http://www.flo-joe.com/cpe/students/writing/makeover/makeover5.htm

Essay writing question

Task Type: Essay

Question
Read the two texts below.
Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible and include your own ideas in your answers.

The Financial Costs of Stress Research carried out by the Health and Safety Council estimates that stress and mental illness continues to be neglected by many businesses, both small and large. And the economic impact of this is huge, costing employers around £26bn a year. Stress at work can lead to a lack of concentration, fatigue and low motivation, all of which will cost the company in terms of low productivity, customer satisfaction and the very reputation of the company itself. Employers are being urged to become more "emotionally intelligent" and to improve the way they deal with stress and mental illness.

Speak up about Stress Many people find it difficult to talk about their feelings, particularly if we're feeling weak or vulnerable. However, when suffering from stress it’s vital you seek help. It's important to feel you can talk honestly with a close friend, a loved one, a work colleague or doctor about what’s going on. Stress is easily diagnosed and there is plenty you can do to successfully treat and manage stress. One of the most effective of these is to share your feelings with those you trust. Remember that accepting help and support is not a sign of weakness. Close relationships are vital to helping you get through this tough time.

Write the essay. (around 240 - 280 words)

Grammar check list:

Have you included?

·         An inversion (not only/no sooner/seldom)

·         An inverted conditional (Were we to…)

·         A participle clause (Being…/Having gone…)

·         A double comparative (The more we… the more)

·         A cleft sentence (What is most crucial is…)

·         Idioms

·         Phrasal verbs

Dani's new words

https://quizlet.com/103408003/new-words-flash-cards/

New words quizlet set

Speaking part 1 video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWGuG_IQp-A

Speaking part 1

Quizlet sets

https://quizlet.com/103408492/new-verb-phrases-flash-cards/

https://quizlet.com/103408686/new-phrases-flash-cards/