Writing your own blog entry

Hello!

One of the type of text we need to do until the course finishes is the blog entry. This is a personal, informal and engaging sort of composition, in which bloggers have the opportunity to express their interests, concerns and hobbies.

This makes the blog entry a very personal writing, but that doesn't mean that it's going to be random, or unorganized. Every text must have its order and coherence so as to readers feel interested in reading. Next you'll find the slides with some basic information necessary to write your own entry and the instructions for that task. But before let me remind you that a blog necessarily has to include:

• An engaging title, also approriate to the topic (in this case, some advice about the place you visited during your last trip).
• A brief introduction as to why you are writing about this.
• Divided paragraphs for each of the ideas: make sure you include safety details, means of getting around, sightseeing, shopping and gastronomy.
• Conclusion, evaluating if the place is worth the while, to what kind of traveller you'd recommend it, and any other piece of information you find appropriate.
• Also,  remember to include at the end some comment referring to your readers, as you want them to post comments and leave feedback about your text.

Blog entry from Míriam

So, try to complete this task as early as possible, and maybe a good example can be posted here for all of us to learn from it and enjoy ;)

Keep up with the good work!

How to write an informal e-mail

Here we are again to look at a new type of text. This time we're dealing with informal e-mails (also useful for letters). This task should be easier, because language is informal and we're not restricted by structures and phrases typical of other more formal texts, such as our last letter of application. Even so, don't be careless, as even if it is informal, the nicer the language (vocabulary, grammar, expressions...), the better.

In the following slides you'll find some tips, useful language, and also a sample e-mail that you can use as an inspiration for your own.

Informal e-mails from Míriam

Letter of Application

Hi everyone!

In this post you'll find two resources for your letter of application. The first one, as follows, is the slides document with the guidelines and a sample text.

Letter of Application

The second resource is an online lesson from the BBC Learning English, to practice further the structures, and useful language.

And remember that the task is due for this week! 

Writing an article

Well, as you know, you must write an article before Christmas holidays, and in this post you'll find the necessary information to do it.

First of all, you have available the contents in How to write an article. That's the document we saw together in class.

Secondly, you'll need to use a wide variety of linkers to make your text nice and more entertaining for the reader. At the end of this post, you'll find more resources related to that, but next, you have basic linkers you are going to use a lot, extracted from El blog para preparar el "writing" de la EOI.

Structuring your composition

As you know, you need your text to be structured, clear, with the different ideas adequately organized and separated. For this, dividing the text into paragraphs is a must. And also, you'll need to connect these paragraphs to establish connections.

a) Introduction

b) First paragraph

At first sight: "A primera vista"
First of all: "Antes que nada"
In the first place: "En primer lugar"
To start with: "Para empezar"

c) Second paragraph

In the second place: "En segundo lugar"
Second
Secondly
Third
Thirdly

d) Conclusion

Finally,
In conclusion,

To conclude,
Lastly,

Last, but not least: "Por último, pero no menos importante".

Linkers depending on their use

Linkers can connect paragraphs or sentences. They are needed to make the text more fluid, so it is enjoyable to read. They've got several uses, and you'll find them divided according to that:

Adding information

and eventually: "y finalmente,"
apart from + noun: "aparte de + sustantivo"
besides: do not confuse it with beside (meaning next to). Besides means "además".
in addition to + noun: "además de + sustantivo"
in addition: "además"
moreover,
furthermore
also 
on top of that: "además de todo eso"
what's more: "es más"
another point is that + subject + verb:  "habría que añadir que..."

Expressing similarity

Similarly: "Igualmente, de forma similar"
Likewise: "Asimismo, del mismo modo"
In the same way: "Del mismo modo"
In the same manner: "De la misma manera"
In a similar way: "De forma similar"

Establishing contrast between ideas

however: "sin embargo"
instead of: "en vez de"
neverthelesss: "no obstante"
on the contrary: "por el contrario"
whereas / while: "mientras que..."
though / although: "aunque". Use although/though at the beginning of a sentence.
On the one hand... On the other hand: "Por una parte... Por otra parte"

Explaining a cause/reason

because of + noun: "A causa de + sustantivo" (The children couldn't play outdoors because of the rain).
due to + noun: "Debido a + sustantivo" (The flight was delayed due to the rain).
due to the fact that + sentence: "Debido a que + oración" (The flight was delayed due to the fact that it was raining.)
for this/that reason: "Por esta/esa razón"

Explaining results

as a result,
consequently,
therefore, "Por lo tanto"

Expressing an idea with different words

in other words, "en otras palabras,"
in short, "en resumen,"
that is (to say), "es decir,"

Explaining facts

actually: "En realidad"
as a matter of fact: "De hecho"
in fact: "De hecho"
really: "En realidad"

Expressing personal opinion

as far as I’m concerned, "por lo que a mí respecta"
from my point of view
I agree / disagree with
In my opinion
In my view 
I think / feel (that)
It is true that 
Personally,
To be honest,
To tell the truth, 

Modifying what is being said

above all,  "sobre todo"
at least, "al menos"
basically,
especially
essentially
in general 
By and large, "Por lo general,"
Generally speaking, En general,
in particular
more or less
on the whole, "en general"
to a certain extent, "hasta cierto punto"

Giving examples

and so on, "etcétera"
and so on and so forth, "etcétera, y así sucesivamente"
for example,
for instance,
such as 

Summing up

All in all, "En conjunto, resumiendo"
In brief, "En resumen"
In conclusion,
In short, "En resumen"
On the whole, "En general"
To sum up, "Para resumir"

Arranging the composition in sequence

after that
all of a sudden: "de repente"
finally
first of all
in the end
in the meantime, "mientras tanto"
meanwhile: "mientras tanto"
next
suddenly
then
while

You can also check these resources:

• BBC Linking words.
• BBC Linking words 2.
• Linkers.

How to complain properly

In this post you will find several documents regarding formal complaints and letters of complaint. Some of them were used at class, but others (documents, activities and listening exercises) are new, so check them to have further practice.

• Structure of a complaint letter. In this document you'll find several kinds of letters, but for now we're interested in the letter of complaint.
• Formal letters. This is a nice document which summarizes the basics to write a formal letter (no contractions, opening, ending, etc.). In other words, it shows tips.
• Complaining and apologizing. This is the lesson we used in class, and the answer keys are on the last page. You can also check the listening track.
• Complaining as a customer. This is just a short file summarizing the basic information taught on a lesson by the BBC Learning English, which I include next.
• Traveller's tales. In this lesson from the BBC Learning English you'll find further information about complaining. You can listen to a conversation (and read the transcript later), checking the tips for complaining and do an activity at the end.