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Writing Task 1 Notes

This document outlines a course on writing task 1, focusing on analyzing data from various formats like graphs and charts. It details a structured approach to writing, including key features, planning, and marking criteria, along with dos and don'ts for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar. The course emphasizes the importance of clear structure, identifying trends, and accurate data reporting.

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moneytoga8
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7 views

Writing Task 1 Notes

This document outlines a course on writing task 1, focusing on analyzing data from various formats like graphs and charts. It details a structured approach to writing, including key features, planning, and marking criteria, along with dos and don'ts for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar. The course emphasizes the importance of clear structure, identifying trends, and accurate data reporting.

Uploaded by

moneytoga8
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE 1 - INTRODUCTION

1. What you are going to learn


2. What the results will be
3. Get a tour of the course
4. Find out what task 1 is
a) What is writing task 1?
i. In task 1, you will be given a chart, graph, table, diagram or map and asked to write a short report on main features.
ii. You have 20 minutes to complete
iii. You must write at least 150 words. 150-200 is ideal.
5. 5-step approach for tackling task 1
a) Question analysis
i. Question types
ii. Understand and analyse data
b) Identifying main features
i. Every question asks you to do this
ii. Not expected to report everything
iii. Picking the main features quickly is crucial to success
c) Introduction
i. Paraphrase question
ii. One sentence
d) Overview
i. Most important part of the report
ii. Not a conclusion
iii. Pick out most important information and report it generally
iv. No data
e) Details paragraphs
i. Two separate paragraphs
ii. Show the examiner that you accurately describe the data in detail
iii. Grammar and vocabulary are important here
OVERALL PROGRESSION IS:
1. Introduce the graph
2. Talk about it generally
3. Talk about it in detail
MODULE 2 - QUESTION TYPES AND MARKING CRITERIA
 STRUCTURE OF ALL TASK 1 QUESTIONS
 There will always be given 3 things:
 Question statement
 Always changes
 Instructions
 Never changes
 Data source
 7 TYPES OF QUESTIONS
 Line graph
 Bar chart
 Pie chart
 Table
 Multiple graph/charts/tables
 Process diagram
 Map(s)
 MARKING CRITERIA
 DOS AND DON’TS:
 Task achievement Dos:
 Identify key features
 Report key features generally in overview
 Report key features with specific data in details paragraphs
 Write over 150 words
 Task achievement Don’ts:
 Write about everything you see
 Report data in the overview
 Use inaccurate data
 Include opinion
 Write a conclusion
 Coherence and cohesion dos:
 Have a clear structure
 Organize information logically
 Use linking words appropriately and accurately
 Use referencing(it, they,this…)
 Coherence and cohesion don’ts:
 Write one long answer
 Try to get marks by using lots of linking words
 Overuse linking words
 try to find comparisons that is not there
 Vocabulary dos:
 Use a range of vocabulary
 Use vocabulary for describing data accurately and appropriately
 Use appropriate collocations
 Think accuracy first
 Vocabulary don’ts:
 Misspell words
 Use words or phrases you don’t know 100%
 Repeat words from the question or data source
 Take risks with synonyms
 Try to show off vocabulary
 Grammar dos:
 Use appropriate structures
 Use the correct tense
 Use structures accurately
 Use accurate punctuation
 Think accuracy first
 Grammar don’ts:
 Make careless mistakes
 Try to use as many different structures as possible

MODULE 3
Two main purposes(purposes help to identify key features):
 Show trends over time
 Compare and contrast data. (comparing things that are similar, contrasting things that are different)
MODULE 4 - Planning, structure and identifying key features
Why plan?
 It saves you time
 If you know what to write, it saves you time
 Task 1 is a thinking task and a writing task
 You will make fewer mistakes
 You won’t get stuck
Four stages of planning:
 Understand the graph
 What type of graph is it?
 What does the title say?
 What does it tell on X axes and on Y axes?
 What is measurement?
 What are the items and is there a key?
 How many items are there? If there is more than one graph
 Is it over time or not?
 What tenses will you have to use?
 What is the purpose?
Structure always states the same thing which means we can use the same structure over and over again:
1. Introduction
a) Paraphrase the question
2. Overview
a) Pick up 2-4 key features and report them generally
b) No data
3. Details 1
a) Describe in much more detail
4. Details 2
 Identify key features
 The biggest mistakes students make is overcomplicating things
 They are often the most obvious things
 Identify any comparisons
 Add information to a structure
MODULE 5
INTRODUCTIONS:
 A sentence only
 All you have to do is to paraphrase the question statement
 Synonyms
 There are 2 types of synonyms:
 Direct - woman/lady(use)
 Loose - phone/gadget(not use)
 Different word forms
 Verb
 Noun
 Adjective
 Adverb
 Changing the tense
 Examples
 Britain - england, wales and scotland
OVERVIEW:
 Identify 2-4 key features
 It is the most obvious thing. Look at the big picture
 Think about the purpose:
 If over time, it will be a general trend
 If not over time, more likely to be the biggest/smallest and comparisons
 2 sentences only
 No data or details
 GOLDER RULES:
 START WITH OVERALL
 NO DATA
 REPORT KEY FEATURES
 FOUR OR LESS ELEMENTS
 2 SENTENCES

MODULE 6 - how to write an effective details paragraph


What is the difference between overview and details paragraphs?
Overview is just main ideas described generally
Details paragraphs describes these main ideas in more detail:
 Important changes, numbers, differences, comparisons.
GOLDEN RULES:
DO NOT DESCRIBE EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF DATA
MAKE SURE DATA IS ACCURATE
MAKE SURE YOU ACTUALLY MENTION DATA
GROUP DATA LOGICALLY
MAKE COMPARISONS WHEN RELEVANT
MODULE 7 - line graphs and bar charts
First:
Type -
Over time-
Title -
X and Y axis -
Categories -
Purpose -
Second:
Identify key features
Planning like this:

Grammar and vocabulary


Think about what the question is asking you to do:
 Describe a general trend
 You have to do this for graphs over time
 Two main structures are
 Noun phrase
 Verb phrase
 Describe change in detail
 Compare two pieces of data


Process
Understand the process:
Where it begins and ends
Is it linear or cyclical
Natural or man-made
For details paragraphs, you will have to split the stages logically.
You will then write out the details. You have to think about:
 Sequencing


 Showing purpose
 Think about why each state occurs

 Passive or active voice
 You do use passive for processes that are man-made but for natural processes, you use active voice.

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