Understanding CPUnderstanding CPWriting TasksWriting Tasks

Dr Daniel BrintDr Daniel Brint

British Council Adult CentreBritish Council Adult Centre

CP tasks:CP tasks:

ReportReportProposalProposalArticleArticleEssayEssayReviewReviewLetterLetter

CP (compulsory question)CP (compulsory question)

ArticleArticleReportReportProposalProposalLetterLetterEssayEssay

How is a piece of writing marked?

General Impression mark

Content

Organization

Cohesion

Range of structures and vocabulary

Register and format

Target reader

Pass or fail?Pass or fail?

Although the writer does not always choose the Although the writer does not always choose the most natural word, most natural word, his meaning is always clear.his meaning is always clear.

PASSPASS The candidate makes some errors of vocabulary The candidate makes some errors of vocabulary

and spelling, there are also a couple of examples and spelling, there are also a couple of examples of the verb not agreeing with its subject and of of the verb not agreeing with its subject and of the wrong choice of preposition… the wrong choice of preposition… the content is the content is relevant and all aspects of the task are relevant and all aspects of the task are addressed.addressed.

PASSPASS

What makes a piece of writing What makes a piece of writing fail?fail?

Would only be partially informed…Would only be partially informed… Inappropriate informality…Inappropriate informality…Target reader would not be informed…Target reader would not be informed…Weak introduction and conclusion…Weak introduction and conclusion…

Creating a good effect on the target Creating a good effect on the target reader meansreader means

Completing the taskCompleting the taskUsing the correct formatUsing the correct formatUsing the right kind of languageUsing the right kind of languageNot making mistakes that confuse the Not making mistakes that confuse the

readerreader

Reports and ProposalsReports and Proposals

A PROPOSALA PROPOSAL ……persuade the reader of a course of actionpersuade the reader of a course of action. A . A

proposal should be clearly organized and may proposal should be clearly organized and may include headings.include headings.In a In a PROPOSALPROPOSAL you will probably need to you will probably need to

Give reasonsGive reasons Make polite recommendationsMake polite recommendations PersuadePersuade Compare ideasCompare ideas

ReportReport

A REPORTA REPORT give some factual information and make give some factual information and make

suggestions or recommendationssuggestions or recommendations. A report . A report should be clearly organized and may include should be clearly organized and may include headings.headings.

In a In a REPORTREPORT you will probably need to you will probably need to Summarize informationSummarize information Make suggestionsMake suggestions Make recommendationsMake recommendations

TipsTips

Use headingsUse headingsAvoid informal languageAvoid informal languageGive examples or explanations but Give examples or explanations but

don’t go too far off the point don’t go too far off the point

ARTICLESARTICLES

You read a report or proposal because You read a report or proposal because you have toyou have to

You read an article because you want You read an article because you want toto

Articles need to ENGAGE and Articles need to ENGAGE and INTERESTINTEREST

Making your article engaging and Making your article engaging and interestinginteresting

Check who you are writing for an why you are Check who you are writing for an why you are writingwriting

Have a clear idea of your audienceHave a clear idea of your audience Use opportunities for Use opportunities for descriptiondescription and and narration narration Use of adjectivesUse of adjectives Questions (Questions (Why should you visit this modern Why should you visit this modern

city?,city?, rather then rather then Visit this city because…)Visit this city because…) Expressions/proverbsExpressions/proverbs

TIPSTIPS

Aim for 3 paragraphsAim for 3 paragraphsThink carefully about your reader when Think carefully about your reader when

choosing a style/registerchoosing a style/registerUse a 1st person form if possibleUse a 1st person form if possible

ESSAYSESSAYS

Unlike articles, essays are not written Unlike articles, essays are not written to engage but to present clear, well-to engage but to present clear, well-organized ideas.organized ideas.

Your essay is probably written for your Your essay is probably written for your tutortutor

You may be asked to present You may be asked to present balancedbalanced or or one-sidedone-sided arguments arguments

An important SET BOOK taskAn important SET BOOK task

TIPSTIPS

Be sure to write an introduction and Be sure to write an introduction and conclusionconclusion

Use examples to support your ideasUse examples to support your ideas If your writing is one-sided, don’t If your writing is one-sided, don’t

contradict yourself!contradict yourself!Connect your ideas with linking words Connect your ideas with linking words

and back-reference words/expressionsand back-reference words/expressions

REVIEWREVIEW

usually written for an English-languageusually written for an English-language

magazine, newspaper or websitemagazine, newspaper or website

• DescriptionDescription• ExplanationExplanation• RecommendationRecommendation

TIPSTIPS

Write a 3 or 4 paragraph piece with Write a 3 or 4 paragraph piece with introduction and conclusionintroduction and conclusion

Avoid exaggeration – enthuse, criticize Avoid exaggeration – enthuse, criticize and recommend but in a balanced wayand recommend but in a balanced way

A strong first paragraph will get your A strong first paragraph will get your readers attentionreaders attention

LettersLetters

Respond to the situation outlinedRespond to the situation outlinedMust be appropriate for the specified Must be appropriate for the specified

target readertarget readeropening salutation, clear paragraphing opening salutation, clear paragraphing

and closingand closing phrasing are always phrasing are always important.important.

TipsTips

Letters often include personal aspects Letters often include personal aspects that mean you can use that mean you can use narrative/description – these make narrative/description – these make your writing more interesting.your writing more interesting.

If the letter is for informational/factual If the letter is for informational/factual purposes check you give clear purposes check you give clear informationinformation

Keep your register (more or less Keep your register (more or less formal) consistentformal) consistent