2BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR REVIEWS

BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR REVIEWS

ANSWER THE QUESTION
PLAN your review.
Make sure you have at least 4 paragraphs.
Choose an appropriate title.
The introduction will talk about what's being reviewed.
Use a relaxed, friendly, chatty style.
You can use contractions such as I'm, I've etc..
Use a new paragraph for each point you want to make.
Give your opinion.
In the concluding paragraph give your opinion.

USEFUL PHRASES FOR REVIEWS

WHAT I LIKED

What I liked most was…..

The thing I liked most was ….

I was pleasantly surprised by …..

….. would appeal to …..

If you get a chance to….

WHAT I DISLIKED

What I disliked most was …..

I was disappointed by ……

I was disappointed with…..

I was very disappointed by …..

I was very disappointed with….

REVIEWS OF BOOKS:

main character

is set in

comedy

science fiction

thriller

romance

comedy

author

written by

chapter

factual

fiction

unbelievable

bestseller

REVIEWS OF FILMS, TV PROGRAMMES, PLAYS:

lead role

star role

star

star actor

star actress

starring

secondary role

He plays a …….

She plays a …….

written by ….

is set in …..

based on a true story…..

believable

true to life

not very believable

far-fetched


REVIEWS OF PLACES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, ETC:

location

service

setting

attractive setting

disappointing setting

owned by

run by

head chef (restaurant)

waiters (restaurant)

staff …….

staff at reception…….(hotel)

hotel facilities….

reasonable prices…..

good value for money…..

excellent value for money …..

expensive

a bit expensive

overpriced

not worth the money

poor value for money

always fully booked

book in advance

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2BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR INFORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR INFORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

Writing informal letters and emails involves writing letters or emails to friends or relatives.
When writing an informal letter or email our language is more relaxed and we are able to use contacted forms ( I’m instead of I am) which is rare in other forms of English writing, except perhaps when using direct speech.
You may find some useful phrases below.
Look also at Writing Formal Letters and Emails and compare.

USEFUL PHRASES FOR INFORMAL LETTER WRITING

INFORMAL LETTERS

GREETINGS:

Dear Jim,

Hello Jim,

Hi Jim,

INFORMAL LETTERS

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH:

Sorry I haven't written for ages.

Sorry it's taken me so long to write.

How's it going?

How are you?

How are things with you?

How are things?

AN INFORMAL LETTER REFERRING TO GOOD NEWS:

Glad to hear about…

I'm really glad to hear about….

I'm very happy to hear about….

I was very happy to read about….

Great news about your….

AN INFORMAL LETTER REFERRING TO BAD NEWS:

I'm extremely sorry to hear about….

I'm very sorry to hear about….

Sorry to read about….

It’s very sad to hear about your….

I can't tell you how sad I am that….

INFORMAL LETTERS

INTRODUCING POINTS

By the way,….

Did you hear about……?

Did you see……?

Have you seen…..?

Tell me about……?

Oh, another thing……..

ENDING AN INFORMAL LETTER OR EMAIL:

Well, time to go.

Well, it's time to go.

Well, got to go.

Well, time to close.

I've got to leave off now. Write soon.

Make sure you write soon.

Love.

Lots of love.

All my love.

Will write again soon.

Look after yourself.

Take care of yourself.

All the best.

Everything good.

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2BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR LETTERS OF APPLICATION

BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR LETTERS OF APPLICATION

USEFUL PHRASES FOR LETTERS OF APPLICATION

GREETINGS:

Dear Sir,

Dear Madam,

Dear Sir / Madam,

Dear Mr Brown,

Dear Ms Jones, etc.

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing in response to the job advertisement which I saw in….

I am writing with regard to the job offer which I saw in…..

DESCRIBING CHARACTER:

I am generally considered hardworking. For example I

I am generally considered outgoing. For example I

I consider myself a good team member. For example I

I consider myself a sociable person. For example I

I would say I was an industrious person. For example

In my present post I have often needed to show initiative. For example

PRESENTING QUALIFICATIONS:

I obtained a degree in…………from ……….. University achieving a……. grade….

I have …. A levels in……., ……., ………, and………

I also have a ……. qualification….

I hold a full driving licence.


LANGUAGE ABILITY:

I am a native ……… speaker and also fluent in…………

I have an Intermediate level in……

I have an advanced level in……

DESCRIBING EXPERIENCE:

I have experience of this type of work because….

My job at ………….. has given me experience of this type of work.

Although I have no direct experience, I have….

OFFERING FURTHER INFORMATION:

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me

I will gladly supply any further information

AVAILABILITY FOR INTERVIEW:

I am available for interview at your convenience.

ENDING THE LETTER:

I look forward to receiving your reply

I look forward to your reply

Yours sincerely (if addressed to a named person)

Yours faithfully (to unnamed person)

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2BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR FORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR FORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

Writing formal letters is a necessary skill that you need for most BAC exams. Below I suggest some writing help, useful phrases and writing hint n’ tips for formal letter writing.

EXAMPLES:

a. You are given an article to read from a newspaper. You write to the newspaper

disagreeing with the article.

b. You write to complain about something.

c. You write making suggestions about something.

d. You write requesting information.

e. You write giving information.

f. You write requesting permission.

USEFUL PHRASES FOR WRITING FORMAL LETTERS OR EMAILS

A) WRITING FORMAL LETTERS :

GREETINGS:

Dear Sir,

Dear Madam,

Dear Sir / Madam,

Dear Mr Brown,

Dear Ms Jones, etc.

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing in response to your article/advertisement/letter

I am writing with regard to your article/advertisement/letter

I am writing regarding your article/advertisement/letter

ENDING THE LETTER:

I look forward to receiving your reply.

I look forward to your reply.

I look to hearing from you.

I am yours faithfully (if you don't know the name of the person you are writing to)

I am yours sincerely (if you know the name of the person you are writing to)

Yours faithfully,

Yours sincerely,

B) WRITING FORMAL LETTERS TO COMPLAIN:

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing in order to complain about

I am writing to complain about

INTRODUCING THE COMPLAINT:

Firstly,

In the first place,

First of all,

My first complaint is…..

The first problem is…..

The first thing I would like to draw your attention to is….

My first concern is…..

INTRODUCING FURTHER COMPLAINTS:

Secondly,

In the second place,

Not only …….but also…

In addition,

In addition to this,

Added to this,

…….was also unacceptable….



DEMANDING ACTION:

I suggest that you replace the item.

I therefore suggest that I be given a full refund.

I would be grateful if my money was refunded.

I would be grateful if you could give me a full refund.

ENDING THE LETTER:

I look forward to hearing from you.

I look forward to receiving a full refund.

I look forward to receiving a replacement.

I look forward to receiving your explanation.

C) WRITING FORMAL LETTERS TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS:

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing to suggest….

I am writing to arrange…..

I am writing to offer suggestions

I am writing make arrangements…..

MAKING FIRST SUGGESTION:

My first suggestion is…..

First of all, I suggest….

I would like to suggest….

MAKING FURTHER SUGGESTIONS:

Another possibility is…..

A further possibility is…..

I further suggest…..

I would further suggest…..

Secondly,

OFFERING A CHOICE:

Would you therefore mind choosing between….?

Either……or

You might choose either ……. or…..

D) WRITING FORMAL LETTERS TO REQUEST INFORMATION

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing to receive further information about….

I am writing to enquire about….

I am writing to receive more detailed information about….

I am writing to receive further details about….

REQUESTING INFORMATION:

The first thing I would like to know is…

First of all I would like to know…

I wonder if you would mind telling me first of all ….?

REQUESTING FURTHER INFORMATION:

Could you also tell me….?

Could you also inform me ….?

Would you also mind informing me ….?

Would you also mind telling me ….?

Do you know….?

I would also like to know if

I would also like to know whether

I hope you might also let me know about …

THANKING FOR INFORMATION:

I would like to thank you in advance for this information.

Thanking you in advance for this information.

Thanking you in advance.

E) WRITING FORMAL LETTERS TO GIVE INFORMATION:

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing to inform you about….

I am writing to provide you with information about….

I am writing to let you know that….

PROVIDING FIRST POINT:

The first thing I would like to inform you of is….

The first thing I would like to tell you is….

The first thing I wish to inform you of is….

I would like to begin by informing you….

PROVIDING FURTHER POINTS:

I would also like to let you know that….

I would also like to inform you that…..

You might also find the following information useful….

It might also be useful for you to know that….

Another piece of information that might be useful…..

ENDING THE LETTER:

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to as….

If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask….

I will willingly provide further information on request….

I am at your disposal should you require further information….

I am at your disposal should you need further assistance….

Please do not hesitate to ask should you require further information…..


F) WRITING FORMAL LETTERS TO REQUEST PERMISSION

REASON FOR WRITING:

I am writing to ask permission to….

I am writing to ask permission for…..

I am writing to request permission to…..

I am writing to request permission for…..

I am writing to ask if I might…..

MAKING FIRST REQUEST:

Firstly I wonder if you would…..

First of all I wonder whether you would mind…..

The first request I would like you to consider is…..

MAKING FURTHER REQUESTS:

I would be grateful if you would also consider…..

I wonder if it might be possible for me to…..

I would also like to request permission for…..

I would also like to request permission to…..

THANKING FOR PERMISSION

Many thanks for kindly considering my requests…..

Thank you for considering my requests…..

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2BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR ARTICLES

BAC WRITING HINTS N’ TIPS FOR ARTICLES:

ANSWER THE QUESTION

PLAN your article.

Give your article a title.

Make sure you have at least 4 paragraphs.

Ask rhetorical questions to get your readers' attention.

e.g. What would the world be like without oil? What will life be like in 20 years time?

Speak directly to your readers.

e.g. Let's just imagine some of the possibilities.

Give examples where appropriate.

Use humour where appropriate

Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.

Finally, give your opinion where appropriate.

REVISE your article to correct mistakes.

USEFUL PHRASES FOR BAC ARTICLE WRITING

RHETORICAL PHRASES:

Have you ever ……..?

What do you think about ……..?

Are you one of those people who think that……?

Are you one of those people who …....?

What would life be like if ……?

Will the future bring us….. ?

INTRODUCING YOUR FIRST POINT:

Firstly

In the first place

First of all

The first thing to consider is

One thing to consider is

To begin with

INTRODUCINGMORE POINTS:

Secondly

Another consideration

Yet another consideration

Another thing to consider is

Added to that

Apart from that

In addition to this

INTRODUCING YOUR FINAL POINTS:

In conclusion

To conclude

To sum up

So

INTRODUCING YOUR OPINION:

I think

In my opinion

Personally I believe that

In my view

If you ask me

To my mind

My personal opinion is

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MOROCCAN BACCALAUREATE EXAM

MOROCCAN BACCALAUREATE EXAM

WRITING PAPER

TYPES OF COMPOSITION

When you write a composition or essay, you are often asked to write your
answer in the form of an article, a report, a letter, etc.

ARTICLES are found in magazines and newspapers (e.g. school newspaper,

magazine for young children, etc). All of the following may be written in the form

of an article:

• Descriptive compositions about people, places, objects, etc

• Narrative descriptions or stories about real or imaginary events which

happened in the past

• Discursive essays, about arguments concerning particular subjects, which

include:

- opinion essays, giving your Personal opinion

- for-and-against essays, giving the opposing arguments for both sides (e.g.

pros v. cons / advantages v. drawbacks - disadvantages)

- cause – effect essays, discussing the causes and the consequences

REPORTS are similar to articles but have a more formal, factual style, and

each kind has its own special format and features. Compositions in the form of

reports include:

• News reports about recent events (e.g. accidents, earthquakes, etc). such as

those found in newspapers

• Assessment reports discussing the suitability of a person, a place, a

proposed plan, etc

• Reviews discussing a film, book, restaurant, etc and giving your

opinion/recommendation

LETTERS and e-mails are written to a specific person/group (e.g. your parents,

the Town Council, etc) for a specific reason (e.g. to make a complaint, to apply for a job, etc). Compositions in this form include:

• Friendly letters to people we know, usually about Personal matters, in

informal style

• Formal letters to officials/managers/etc, about official/business matters, in

formal style

• Postcards to friends or relatives

There are several other kinds of informative writing, each with its own format

and features. (You are not often asked to write compositions in these forms.)

They include:

• Friendly or formal e-mails

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