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Avoiding Avoiding Avoiding Avoiding

mistakesmistakesmistakesmistakes

in writing tasksin writing tasksin writing tasksin writing tasks

ChecklistChecklistChecklistChecklist

Final exam and PAU preparation. 2nd BACH

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Have yo ever thought why you sometimes make certain mistakes?

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The following checklist will help you remember very important THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND

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1. READ CAREFULLY

Whether it is a text, a comprehension question (reading or listening), an exercise in a test, a composition topic…

FIRST

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2. BE CAREFUL WITH GRAMMARPay special attention to:

� Sentence structureAFFIRM.: SUBJECT + VERB + COMPLEMENTSINTERROGATIVE: MODAL/AUXILIARY + SUBJECT + VERB…NEG.: SUBJECT + AUX/MODAL+ NOT/N’T+ VERB

� NO VERB WITHOUT SUBJECT� Be careful with subordinate clauses. DON’T

MAKE THEM TOO LONG AND COMPLEX

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� Verbal tensesMake sure you have a good command of both their form and use.

TRY TO…

o Make a list from time to time tosee if you remember them.

o Write sentences using all differenttenses.

o Compare them with their Spanishequivalent:

Present Simple Presente indicativo

Past Perfecto Pretérito pluscuam.

When answering questions, DON’T FORGET TO USE THE SAME VERBAL TENSE IN YOUR ANSWER!

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� Agreement

SUBJECT –VERB People ARE

NOUN – POSSESSIVE Henry droveHIS car

NOUN – PRONOUN Susan arrivedyesterday. SHEbrought somepresents

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� Subject / Object pronounsPossessives (adjs. & prons.)

ppossessives

ppossessives

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� Other grammar

REMEMBERAdjectives don’t take plural

REVIEWTypical grammar topics:

� Verbs taking infinitive or gerund� Infinitive of purpose� Relative clauses� Passive voice� Reported speech� Conditional sentences� Connectors and subordinate clauses� Special structures, such as V+OBJ+INF

(TELL/ASK/ORDER… SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING) …

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3. BE CAREFUL WITH SPELLING

Pay special attention to:

� CAPITAL LETTERS: At the beginning of sentences, proper names, months, days of the week, nationalities, names of subjects, subject pronoun ‘I’

� ADJECTIVES ENDING IN –FUL: Only one L

� IRREGULAR PAST FORMS ENDING IN –OUGHT /AUGHT

� Words like writing / written, which, with� Double and simple consonants:

ocassion, business, beginning

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4. BE CAREFUL WITH VOCABULARY

� Use specific vocabulary related to the topic� Avoid repetitions by using synonyms� Choose the right grammatical category in

each case (noun, adjective, pronoun, adverb…)

TRY TO…

o Write sentences with new vocabulary you learn.

o Make your own lists of wordsrelated to different topics(physical description, crimes, holidays,…)

DON’T INVENT WORDS. Look them up

in a dictionary or find synonyms or ways of expressing the same idea with different words

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5. BE CAREFUL WITH PUNCTUATION

If you don’t punctuate your texts properly, reading and understanding will be seriouslyaffected.

6. BE CAREFUL WITH

COHERENCE AND COHESION

Organise and link your ideas. Use a variety of connectors

7. BE AWARE OF YOUR MOST COMMON MISTAKES

Check the writings you’ve done throughoutthe year and make a list.