MODULE 11. Rules and freedom

Type of writing: Formal letters.

Writing task: Write a letter of application for a job.

Write a letter of complaint to a manager about the things you

found annoying while traveling.

MODULE 12. Dilemmas

Type of writing: Discursive essays.

Writing task: Write an essay providing solutions to problems “ If I were a

psychologist: how to find solutions to problems.”

MODULE 1 All about you

WRITING

Write a composition describing people (your best friend /a famous person) based on the module and extra vocabulary. Learn the notes below how to write descriptive essays.

 

WRITING NOTES:

A composition describing people

We can find descriptions of people in novels, articles, letters, witness statements, etc. When describing people your composition needs to be well-organised. Each paragraph starts a new topic. Paragraphs should be well developed and linked together with a variety of linking words (so, even if, although, but, as well as, not only, despite the fact, etc.)

Introduction

set the scene (name of the person, time/place you met him/her)

Main body

Para 1: physical appearance

Para 2: personality characteristics

Para 3: activities he/she takes part in (hobbies, interests)

Conclusion

comments/feelings about the person

 

Points to remember

· When describing people’s physical appearance you should give details in the following order: height/build/age, facial features, hair, clothes moving from the most general adjectives to the most specific ones, e.g. Julie is quite short and slim. She’s got a round face with beautiful almond-shaped eyes and a slightly upturned nose. She wears her long blond hair loose. She is often casually dressed in a T-shirt and jeans.

· When describing character and behaviour, support your idea with examples, e.g. Tom is very reserved. He never talks about his feelings. When you want to describe negative qualities, you should use mild language, e.g. He can be rude/ He is a bit rude/ He is sometimes rude not He is rude.

· Make your composition more interesting by using a wide range of adjectives.(fabulous, superb, gorgeous, stunning, sparkling)

· Use more complex sentences joined with connections, e.g. Although Julia is quite reserved, she is a kind person who will listen to your problems and try to help you.

· Use narrative techniques in your descriptive composition to gain your reader’s interest. For example, while giving the name of the person described, the time and place you saw or met him/her, you can set the scene by narrating the incident. Instead of saying: ” I met John at Jane’s birthday party last Saturday. He was tall, skinny with spiky hair” you can say: “As soon as I entered Jane’s flat last Saturday I noticed a strange mixture of people gathered to celebrate her birthday. It wasn’t long before my eyes fell on a tall, skinny man with spiky hair, His name was John.”

MODEL

Famous supermodel

Claudia Schiffer is a very successful German supermodel. She has appeared on the covers and fashion pages of all the major fashion magazines. Claudia now is in her mid-thirties, is a very beautiful woman. She is tall, slim with very long legs. Her most stunning feature, though, is her attractive heart-shaped face with her sparkling eyes and straight nose. She wears her shoulder-length blond hair loose. Claudia is not only a professional model but she is also a very successful businesswoman. She has her own

video and she is a partner in the new chain of “Fashion Cafés”. She is also very kind and generous and spends a lot of time working with various charity organizations, helping those in need. Claudia is sociable too, and likes going to parties, but she rarely stays out late. When Claudia is not modeling or doing charity work,she likes spending free time with her family. She also enjoys reading and watching old films. It is a pleasure to meet a famous model who remains down-to-earth and sincere in a world where fame and success can often harm people’s character. Claudia Schiffer believes that working hard is the only way to succeed in life.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT:

I. Activate words and collocations from your student’s book:

to be really into	to work full-time	to be exhausted
to be interested in	to have a full-time job	to participate in
to have enough time for	to be physically active	to have a shower
to be good at doing sth.	to be a regular Internet user	to have coffee
to chat on the phone	to be keen on doing sth.	to have dinner
to listen to music	to waste a lot of time at work	to play computer games
to do homework	to do exercises	to relax and do nothing
to do housework	to hang out with your friends	to text friends

II. Memorize extra vocabulary:

Physical appearance:

General appearance	beautiful, pretty, attractive, good-looking, pleasant-looking, handsome, elegant, stylish, gallant, plain-looking, ugly
Hair	long, middle-sized, short, shoulder-length, blond, black, brown, grey, red, fair, dark, dyed, straight, abundant, scanty/thin, silky, wavy, curly, spiky, going bald
Eyes	brown, grey, green, blue, hazel, slanting, sparkling, vivid, bulging, cross-eyed
Height	tall, quite tall, short, quite short, of middle height
Build / Figure	thin, slim, slender, fat, plump, stout, overweight, paunchy, broad-shouldered, well-built, graceful
Face	round, oval, square, puffy, wrinkled, freckled, pimpled, clean-shaven
Complexion	pale, dark, yellowish, peaches and cream
Nose	big, small, straight, flattish, snub, turned-up, aquiline, hooked
Skin	light brown, dark, very dark, olive, tanned
Lips	full, thin, sensual, compressed, rosy, painted
Other features	beard, moustache, wig, plaint/braid, eyes bags, glasses, lenses, high / narrow forehead, dimples in the cheeks, friendly smile, heavy/square jaw, double chin

Personal qualities:

Virtuous / good qualities:	Evil / bad qualities:
well-educated, clever, intelligent, witty, sharp-witted, broad-minded	uneducated, silly, slow-witted, weak-witted, empty-headed, shallow / narrow-minded
warm-hearted, kind-hearted affable, amiable, gentle, sweet, good-temped, good-natured,	hard-hearted, ill-natured, unkind, spiteful, evil, vicious, wicked, malicious, cruel
sociable, outgoing, easy-going, communicable	unsociable, sulky, sullen, reserved, secretive
hard-working, industrious	idle, lazy, disorganized
with good / fantastic sense of humour, funny, jolly	with no sense of humour, boring hard to communicate
loyal, devoted, faithful	disloyal, unfaithful, revengeful
sensible, agreeable	indifferent, insensible
patient, forbearing	absent-minded, forgetful
sincere, earnest, cordial	insincere
reliable, responsible	unreliable, irresponsible
purposeful, assertive, insistent	aimless, stubborn, obstinate
capable, talented, creative, imaginative	incapable, untalented
tactful, tolerant, considerate, thoughtful, merciful, sympathetic, careful, benevolent	tactless, intolerant, insolent, inconsiderate, unrestrained, impudent, blunt
ambitious, dignified	bossy, rude, harsh
brave, courageous, strong-willed	cowardly, weak-willed, awkward, clumsy
energetic, enthusiastic self-possessed, proud	lacking initiative, selfish, self-centred, conceited, pompous, haughty
timid, shy, modest, discreet, embarrassed, calm, quiet	indiscreet, moody, capricious, temperamental, perverse
decisive, determined, resolute	immature, childish
generous	greedy, mean, miserly
honest, just, respectable	deceitful, dishonest
sophisticated	jealous, envious
scrupulous	unscrupulous

II. Memorize extra vocabulary:

Idioms / Proverbs

A sound mind in a sound body.	Beauty lies in lover’s eyes.
A walking encyclopedia.	Carry off one’s age well.
An idle brain is the devil’s workshop	Character corresponds to sb’s appearance
Appearances are deceptive.	Cut the cost according the cloth.
As pretty as a picture	Go one’s own way.
In the prime of life.	Tastes differ.
Never judge by appearances.	Inner beauty is more important than physical one.

Famous words:

1. The only thing we have to fear on this planet is man.

C.Jung (Swiss psychologist).

2. Strength of character may be learned at work, but beauty of character is learned at home.

Henry Drummond (Scottish naturalist)

3. Clothes make the man. Mark Twain (US novelist)