Compulsory task: no.
Word count: 140-190 words.
Register: semi-informal to informal (depends on the target reader)
Include, when possible:
Questions to the reader:
Are you one of those people who…? If the answer is yes, this article is for you.
Was I feeling sad? Of course I was!
What would…… + if + past simple….?
What would you do if you were the opportunity to live in another country?
How would you feel about…+ ing?
How would you feel about moving to another country?
Intense adjectives for situations, things, and places:
an ancient city.
Delicious food.
an enormous/a gigantic ship.
a tiny bedroom.
a breathtaking landscape.
a fascinating story.
an outstanding/awesome performance.
an awful/terrible plot.
an unforgettable experience.
an astonishing moment.
a filthy room.
a spotless hotel.
Intense adjectives for feelings: -ED
stressed.
delighted.
exhausted = knackered.
thrilled = excited.
devastated.
astonished = surprised = amazed.
Idioms and proverbs:
Actions speak more than words.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
No pain, no gain.
That’s the way the ball bounces.
Conditionals:
2nd to give advice
if + subj + past simple, subj + would + verb rest of sentence
If I were you, I would/wouldn’t pack my suitcase and discover the world!
3rd conditional
If + subj + had + past participle, subj + would have + past participle + rest of sentence
If I had known, I would have never taken that train.
Question tags:
We couldn’t go, could we?
You’re already hooked on the series, aren’t you?
They would like it, wouldn’t they?
Connectors:
As well as.
Besides.
On top of.
However.
(Not) surprisingly.
STRUCTURE:
TITLE: think of an interesting title.
INTRODUCTION: Paragraph 1.
Grab the reader’s attention, so begin the intro with a question:
How would you feel if…?
What would you do if…?
Have you ever thought about…?
Have you ever wanted to…?
Are you the sort/type of person that…?
BODY: Paragraphs 2 and 3.
Develop the questions.
Personal opinion and anecdote/example.
FINAL PARAGRAPH: What do I want the readers to think about or do after reading my article?
EXAMPLE:
MY FAMILY’S TREASURE
Is anyone in your family one of these people who can’t throw things away? My grandma was, and she had spent all her life keeping things.
Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago, and that’s also when my family made an astonishing discovery in her garden shed. Among all the junk, she kept in a perfect state a stunning stagecoach. She always mentioned that her grandad owned one, but, believe it or not, we never paid much attention to her.
It was huge and red with leather seats and perfectly smooth wood. And I’m talking about an object that hasn’t been used since the 1840s! Her inheritance from her grandad, hence, her most precious object. A 150-year-old carriage in spectacular condition. Amazing, isn’t it?
I profoundly regret not having listened to my granny’s stories. So, do you want some advice? Listen to their stories if you’re lucky to have them still around. You might be surprised by their hidden secrets!
