Read the following film review and number the paragraphs (introduction, main body, conclusion) in the correct order. Write the whole review.

A

The story begins with Martin’s daughter announcing her imminent marriage. Reluctant to see his beloved daughter leave the family nest, he feels more like he’s losing a daughter than gaining a son-in-law.

B

Father of the Bride is essentially a funny, enjoyable film, suitable for old and young alike. For those of you who like a good chuckle, it’s well going to see.

C

Father of the Bride, directed by Charles Sayer, is a modern remake of the 1950’s film staring Spencer Tracy. This time the role of doting father is played by Steve Martin, and Diane Keaton plays his long-suffering wife.

D

As preparations for the big day get started, there follows a chain of comic events, helped along by the delighted Martin Short, superb as the wedding organizer for the occasion. Steve Martin gives just as admirable performance as Tracy did the original film, and brings his own unique brand of humour to the part.

 

V. Perform the following writing task 1:

Write a review of a film / book / TV programme based on the module and extra vocabulary. Remember the notes above how to write reviews.

PART 2

News reports

News reports are short pieces of writing about current events which are of interest to the public (e.g. natural disasters, accidents, political or sports events, social events etc). They are formal and impersonal in style and they present facts accurately, objectively and unemotionally. Therefore, they do not include feelings or chatty descriptions unless these are part of someone’s comments quoted in direct speech.

A news report should consist of:

· a short, eye-catching headline:

· an introduction which summarises the event, giving information about the time,

place and people involved;

· a main body consisting of two o more paragraphs in which the event is described in detail, including information about incidents and the people involved and

· a conclusion which includes people’s comments on the event, action{s) to be taken and /or future developments.

News reports are found in newspapers, magazines, etc. You normally use past tenses, the passive and appropriate reporting verbs in this type of writing.

 

A headline is a short summary of what the report is about. To write a headline:

· use the present simple for recent events:

e.g. FACTORY EXPLOSION DAMAGES TOWN (=has damaged/damaged)

· use to-infinitive to describe a future event:

e.g. LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAM TO FLY TO ITALY FOR CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE (= is going to fly)

· use to be + past participle when using the passive voice to describe a future event:

e.g. TEACHERS’ ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD IN AUGUST (= is going to be held)

· use abbreviations like UK, USA, UNESCO

e.g. UK RESCUES HOSTAGES IN SIERRA LEONE

· omit full stops or commas, articles, pronouns, auxiliary verbs and words easily understood from context:

e.g. SEVEN INJURED IN TRAIN CRASH (= Seven people were injured in a train crash.)

· omit the verb “to be” when using the passive to describe a past event:

e.g. YOUNG GIRL SAVED BY RESCUE WORKERS (= was saved)

WRITING ASSIGNMENT

I. Perform the following pre-writing tasks:

Pre-writing task 1

Write a news report, using the notes below. (100-150 words)

 

TRAPPED IN THE FRENCH ALPS
Who?	26-year-old university student, Jeremy Atkins, from Bristol
What?	seriously injured / climbing mountain
Where?	French Alps
Details of event:	Jeremy on skiing holiday with friends / decides not to ski / goes climbing alone / not return that evening / friends worry / contact authorities / rescue team managed to find him / take to hospital
Action taken	Mountain Rescue Service released a statement to the press warning people not to climb alone

Pre-writing task 2

Read the text and rewrite it giving the highlighted sentences in the Passive voice.

QUAKE HITS SANTA MARIA

An earthquake struck the town of Santa Maria in Peru early yesterday morning. The quake measured 7,5 on the Richter scale and is one of the worst earthquakes to have struck the area in over fifty years. The authorities have reported fifty people missing.

The quake struck at 5 am local time, and lasted for about half a minute. Most buildings collapsed, ten people have died and hundreds are still buried under debris. Other countries are now sending emergency medical supplies to the town. Volunteers are building shelters and Red Cross doctors are treating the injured. Ambulances have taken others to a hospital in a nearby city.

The government will give money to the town to help pay for the rebuilding of the houses which the earthquake has destroyed. Local people are still trying to get over the shock. “It was horrible!’ one resident said. ”I’ll never forget it!”

 

Pre-writing task 3