CARTA PARA PEDIR PERMISO

CARTA PARA PEDIR PERMISO

Writing formal letters to request permission

Reason for writing:

• I am writing to ask/request permission to/for
• I am writing to ask if I might

Making first request:

• Firstly I wonder if you would be so kind as to allow....
• 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/to

Thanking for permission

• Many thanks for kindly considering my requests, should you require further details please do not hesitate let me know.
• Thank you for considering my requests,should you require further details please do not hesitate let me know.

Ending the letter

I look forward to your reply, 

......

CORREO ELECTRÓNICOS

CORREOS ELECTRÓNICOS

DOS

• Use an informative subject line, which says what the email is about.

• Write the most important information first.

• Use numbers and bullet points to make the message clearer.

• Use simple grammar. Avoid things like the passive. (As emails are a fast means of  communication, they tend to be less wordy and complex than formal letters.)

• Write short sentences.

• Use paragraphs to keep the email clear and easy to understand

 DON’TS

• Write ‘hello’ as your subject line.

• Write about irrelevant issues. The reader will soon hit ‘delete’ if the email doesn’t get to the point.

• Give personal information that you don’t want anyone else to know.

(The email could end up in the wrong hands)

• Use capital letters to write whole words as in emails, this is considered shouting.

• Use different fonts in the email (the recipient’s computer may not be compatible)

• Use Italics (the reason may be misunderstood, due to cultural differences).

• Use exclamation marks.

• Use abbreviations like coz and uni, as the recipient may not understand them.

• Use acronyms like BTW for the same reason.

• Use smileys. They may be misunderstood and come across as unprofessional. 

CARTA DE REFERENCIA

REFERENCIAS

CHARACTER REFERENCE:

Identify the relation with the person.
Elaborate on positive qualifications at work and experience.
Mention social skills.
Give a balanced picture, include weaknesses qualified to give positive impression overall.
Conclude by recommending for work.

To whoever it may concern
Bob Nowacki

Sample Character Reference for a Job 

Dear Mr. Rollins,

This letter is my personal character reference for John Tate. I have been a close friend of John’s for eight years and his immediate supervisor for three. He has worked for me at ArkCo since December 3, 2009. In my interactions with him, I’ve found that he consistently exceeds expectations in his interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and work ethic.

I was hesitant to hire John at first because of our close friendship, but I hadtwo other managers interview him to ensure the hire was unbiased. Both agreed that out of all the candidates, he stood out in his professionalism and ability to communicate effectively. After the hire, he was able to match pace with his peers in a matter of weeks. By the time he had been in his position for two months, he was consistently among the top performers. To this day, Iconduct all of his evaluations with other managers, and John never fails to impress them with his well-developed skills and can-do attitude.  

Several specific examples of his stellar performance spring to mind, and I hope they will help you in your hiring process. When a coworker was unable to come to work due to a family emergency, John stayed late every day for the duration of her leave to work on her projects for her. This ensured that she didn’t fall too far behind and kept us from losing a valuable contract.  Another time, a customer felt compelled to contact me directly regarding how helpful John had been during a sale of the new info tech systems. She raved about the fact that he was able to take complex systems and make them easy for laymen to understand without being condescending. He was also quick to answer her questions with relevant information that mattered to her and not just irrelevant statistics and technical jargon. That customer has since switched to our provider services exclusively.

I hope these examples show what a hard-working and proactive employee John is and can help you make your decision. Employees of John’s caliber are hard to replace, but I honestly believe that he has outgrown our location and is ready for the challenges of your business. He is self motivated and driven to do his work to the best of his ability. I highly recommend John for your organization, as I know he will be a great asset to you.

Here is another one for you

To whom it may concern

When Anne Jones asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her for a P.E.O. scholarship, I was not only happy to do so, I was also honored to be asked. I have known Anne since January of 2010, when she was a student in my English composition I class.

My appreciation of Anne’s intellectual abilities and leadership skills has grown exponentially as I I was impressed by Anne’s ability to comprehend the points we covered so thoroughly and to make the knowledge her own. This ability indicates intelligence and a commitment to applying what she learns. Anne is also a valued contributor to my classes.

In addition to exceeding expectations academically, Anne continues her long tradition of service through membership in a number of college organizations. For example, she is a member of Rotaract, a student organization that is devoted to community service.

Anne also works to earn money for the extras such as books and food, that she needs at college. She worked for Migrant Education over the summer, conducting yearly home visits to members and attending/presenting at conferences in addition to performing office work.

I cannot say enough about Anne’s achievements and work ethic.  I know that she not only will succeed at whatever she attempts but will also contribute greatly to any field or institution of which she is a member.

Please feel free to contact me at 808-652-1518 extn. 1453, or by email at Thomas@univ.edu, if I can provide any addition information.

Faithfully,

Signature

Thomas Conley Ph.D

Assistant Professor of English

CARTAS INFORMALES

CARTAS INFORMALES

INFORMAL LETTER:

Remember that in informal letters we use:

Informal vocabulary, including phrasal verbs:  ‘go on’ instead of ‘continue’

Simpler sentence structure:  I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.

Punctuation using exclamation marks: If you’d been at the wedding, you’d have loved the food!

Useful Phrases for writing formal letters or emails

Writing Skills : Useful expressions

INFORMAL LETTER

Dear (first name),

Beginnings:

Thank you/Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter/postcard.

It was good/nice to hear from you recently.

I’m sorry I haven’t written/been in touch for such a long time.

It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you’re/you and your family are well.

Asking Hi! How are the things? How are you? How’s it going?

Referring to:

their news Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news

Listen, did I tell you about … You’ll never believe what …

Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …

I thought you might be interested to hear about/know that …

By the way, have you heard about/did you know that …

Apologies:

I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.

I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.

If you let me know where you bought it/how much it cost I’ll gladly pay for it/replace it.

Please let me know how much the bill is and I’ll gladly pay it.

Invitations:

I’m/We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I/we hope you’ll be able to come.

Would you like to come/go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend.

I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre/come on holiday with us?

Could you let me/us know if you can come/you’d like to join us?

Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.

Thank you for asking/inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …

Requests:

I’m writing to ask for your help/you (if you could do me) a favour.

I wonder if/I was wondering if you could help me/do me a favour.

I hope you don’t mind my asking but could you (possibly) …?

I’d be very/really/terribly grateful if you could …

Good luck/ Congratulations/ Thank you:

I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality/the wonderful present.

It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.

I really appreciated all your help/advice.

Congratulations on passing your exams/your excellent exam results!

I wish you good luck/Good luck in/with your exams/your driving test/your interview.

Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well/pass.

Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …

Making suggestions and recommendations:

Why don’t you …? Maybe you could …? How about …?

You can’t leave New York without doing sth

I’m sure you will enjoy doing sth If you like, we can …

Do visit somewhere Don’t forget to do sth (Imperative -> Strong Recommendation)

I’m told that … People say that … (If you heard sth is good)

Endings:

Give my love/regards to … Say hello to … Hope to hear from you soon.

See you soon! Write soon. Once again, thank you for all your help.

Signing off:

Love,

Lots of love,

Yours,

Best wishes,

First name

REDACCIONES CON ARGUMENTOS

REDACCIONES CON ARGUMENTOS

DISCURSIVE: 

Making points:

Many people feel that ...          

First and foremost, ...

It is widely believed that ...

Another argument in favour is ...

It is clear from the facts that ...

The benefits of ... outweigh the disadvantages.

On the whole, I think ...

It would be ideal if ...

An opposing argument is ...

On the other hand ...

Other people think ... 

Giving opinions:

I personally feel that ...

I find it hard to see why ...

I certainly don't believe that ...

It is difficult to believe that ...

I object to the cloning of animals. 

Organising and linking your ideas:

First of all, … Secondly, … In addition, …

Moreover, … Furthermore, …

So … As a result, … Therefore, …

However, … On the one hand … on the other hand …

On the whole … While it is true to say …

Finally, … To summarise, … In conclusion

ESCRIBIR UN CUENTO

ESCRIBIR UN CUENTO

STORY:

Beginnings and endings:

A narrative needs an interesting beginning to catch the reader’s attention and encourage him or her to read on, and a clear ending to round the story off satisfactorily. A weak beginning or ending can spoil the effect of the story, so it’s worth spending time working out how to start and finish.

Verb tenses:

We use:

The simple past to describe the main events:

I ran to answer the phone but it stopped ringing as I picked up the receiver.

The past continuous to set the scene:

It was raining heavily as we set off.

The past perfect to describe events which happened before the main events:

When I got on the bus all the seats had been taken.

Preset participles to show two actions which are linked:

Noticing that she looked lost, I asked if I could help.

Perfect participles to show that one action was complete before another started:

Having reported my stolen passport to the police, I returned sadly to the hotel.

Time Links:

before …. then … at first, … next …

later … during … after that … afterwards …

when … finally, … as soon as … eventually, …

immediately … in the end, … once …

A few days earlier … Just after that … Some time later …

Following the accident … Later on …

Adding variety and interest:

Try to use different adjectives to convey the atmosphere. For example, if you want

to convey the idea of fear, you could use frightened, terrified, scared.

Varying the length of sentences can be effective.

Use direct speech occasionally for dramatic effect (remember to use inverted commas correctly: “No,” he yelled, “don’t touch that switch!”)

CRITICA

REVIEW:

Know what you have to write about and who you are writing for.
Have the appropriate vocabulary to describe a film or a book.
Know what tone (light / persuasive / friendly) to adopt. Use descriptive adjectives, verbs and adverbs to make it more interesting.
Write an introduction which will make an immediate impact on your readers.
Conclude your review with a reflective comment which reinforces your purpose of writing.
Include the reported views of people you have spoken to (if appropriate).
Include both positive and negative points.
If two or more separate reviews are required, write equal amounts on each.
Give a brief summary of the plot and remember to state the title of what you are reviewing.

The story is fast-moving and will have you in the edge of your seat throughout.
An impressive team of animators has produced techniques that are absolutely first-class.

And above all, it's an extremely funny film.
Although sth of a disappointment in relation to previous... this film has an unusal plot and gives reasonable value on special effects.
Set in time and place the film tells the story / recounts events in...
I found the plot rather conventional / predictable / contrived / completely bizarre / absurd...
The novelist has succeeded in creating an extremely intricate / complex plot / entirely believable / life-like characters.
I would strongly advise you not to miss / waste money on 'title'.
I would definitely recommend seeing/visiting/having a look at 'title'.
For those who enjoy contemporary music, Tropical String Quartet are not to be missed.
Go and see 'title'. You'll be amazed.

x has much to recommend it.

X is, at heart, a(n) love/spy/adventure story.

It is based on a book by ...

It is set in the countryside/the future.

The film has a quality cast.

The film was directed by ...

The film score is enchanting/evocative/scary.

The film captures the spirit of ...

The hero/heroine/villain is ...

I felt/thought it was …

I was impressed by …

What struck me most was ...

What I liked most/didn't like was ...

The plot was gripping.

The characters were very convincing/very well drawn.

On reflection, I think it was ...

It struck me as being ...

What I didn't understand was how ...

In spite of these few criticisms, I think ...

I would have no hesitation in recommending …

UN INFORME

ESCRIBIR UN INFORME

REPORT

ESTRUCTURA:

Se debe realizar un primer párrafo como introducción, donde de manera concisa y directa se refleje el propósito del informe, la finalidad y quién lo ha realizado y sobre qué sujetos.

Dividir el resto del informe en párrafos que respondan a los objetivos marcados de manera concisa y usando un amplio vocabulario, omitir tanto la repetición de palabras como de ideas.

Por último, finalizar con las conclusiones o recomendaciones.

Un informe debe ser simple, conciso, exacto, preciso y certero aunque sin olvidar dar datos que ayuden al lector a entender el informe.

Ser objetivo debe tenerse en cuenta también.

El título y el estilo de escritura son muy importantes y debemos fijarnos en atraer la atención del lector desde el primer momento, aún sin saber en muchos casos quién lo va a leer.

Un informe debe ser simple, omitir frases largas y  complicadas.

FORMATO:

• To:
• From:
• Subject:
• Date:

Headings to include:

• Introduction
• Heading for the subject of each paragraph
• Conclusion or recommendations

Introducing the report: 

• The aim of this report is  to ....
• This report examines .... . It does not examine ..... because ...... .
• The aim / purpose of this report is
• This report is written at the request of …
• The purpose/intention/aim of this report is to outline / present / discuss / give a brief comment / suggest / sum up the last...
• It will also include / consider / suggest / recommend / point out / indicate or show (indicar) ....
• The report contains the relevant details concerning the problem as you required.
• It's based on my observations/extracts from the questionnaires / the feedback from participants...
• As requested (solicitado) I am submitting (presentar,sostener) this report concerning...
• This report is submitted in support of our request for...
• The / this report is based on a survey conducted by ( empresa) among ( participantes)
• This involved visiting …/ looking back …/ investigating …
• My findings are outlined below /  are presented below
• I outline my findings below

Contrasting past and present situation

• Whereas in the past, most people did not use to have .....
• It is true to say that 20 years ago the situation was totally different as ....used to......
• It is due to the population growth in this area that the building of......
• Had the ....  there would be no need for expansion.....

Predicting the future:

• The outlook for young people/ jobs/ the country is ...  bright/ optimistic / depressing ....
• The future looks bleak ( gris, deprimente, lúgubre, crudo, sombrío) / remains uncertain/ is promising
• This seems unlikely in the near / foreseeable (inmediato, prevesible) future ....
• All This has to do with the idea that …
• To cite another simple example …

Making recommendations:

• In the light of these conclusions, I recommend that _____ should be ____
• In addition, a _______ could ______
• Bearing in mind …

Grammar Note:
To make suggestions and recommendations you should use 'could + bare infinitive verb' (if you are less sure), or 'should + infinitive verb' (if you are more sure). You could also use 'suggest + _ing' or 'suggest that + a subject noun (e.g. 'we') + a verb (e.g. 'could' + infinitive verb). Do NOT use 'suggest to'.

• I would strongly recommend that (object) should...
• I would like to suggest …-ing/that
• I would like to recommend …
• In the light of the results of the survey, I would (strongly) advise against / in favor of...
• I feel it would be to our advantage if....
• I suggest ... as it would result in...
• Consideration should be given...
• It would be prudent / inadvisable / advisable to ... on the grounds that it / owing to the fact that / due to the fact that...
• I am opposed to the idea of...
• It would be mutually advantageous
• I suggest that the problem of... can be addressed through...
• Therefore... Hence, I suggest …
• For the satisfaction of... the ... should be...
• Another problem was that...
• I therefore thoroughly recommend …
• So I suggest that we do not …
• Consequently I wholeheartedly recommend that we do not …
• More steps also need to be taken to...
• The obvious conclusion to be drawn (provoca, suscita) from these facts is that...
• You may wish to consider …
• I hope / believe / trust you will consider this proposal favourably / the proposal will be given due (debida) consideration / the proposal will receive a due consideration.
• The main conclusion that can be drawn is therefore that...
• In the light of this, it is recommended that... (+ a general recommendation; e.g. that something needs to be changed. The detailed recommendations should go in the Recommendations section below.)
• Examples for you :)

SOLICITUD DE EMPLEO

SOLICITUD DE EMPLEO

Letter of application or cover letters

Dear Mr/Ms (surname), Dear Sir/Madam/Sir or Madam,

1º- INTRODUCTION: Reason for writing: expresar las razones por las que escribes

I am writing to replay to your advertisement which appeared in …

I am writing to you in response to your advertisement for a secretary.

Please accept this letter as an expression of interest in the position of …

I am writing to apply for the position...
I am writing with regard to your advert in...

I am writing to apply for the post/position of …    … as advertised in …

I am writing with reference/in response to your advertisement, which I saw …

I am writing in connection with your advertisement in the Daily Star on May 11th …

With reference to your advertisement …

2º- BODY OF THE LETTER:  titulación, experiencia relevante e interés por el puesto ofrecido.

As you can/will see from my enclosed/attached CV, my experience and qualifications match this position’s requirements.

I chose to take a xx Diploma in …

I also obtained distinctions in …

I am a confident user of Microsoft Office and have worked extensively with …

I joined the branch …

I was promoted/ appointed to a new position in charge of …

My duties range from … to …

I am also responsible for organizing/making

As outlined in my curriculum vitae, which I enclosed, I am...
I am very hard working and enjoy the pressure of working to strict deadlines.

Qualifications / Experience:

I gained some experience while …

I am currently working as …

I have been working for … for the last four years.

I worked part-time for three years as …

At the moment I am employed by …

My qualifications include …

I have a diploma in …

I graduated from Barcelona University last year with a degree in …

Please find attached my CV

As you can see from the attached CV …

Porqué estoy interesado

I am now interested in working in ….. and given the experience I have acquired/gained at …

I consider myself well equipped to respond / to take up the challenge offered by the post of …

I also feel I have / posses the necessary personal qualities to meet / to deal with the demands of the job.

I would be keen to find a job rather than carry on with further full-time study.

I have included in the CV, the contact details of my branch manager who would bewilling/pleased to provide you with a character reference.

I am really attracted to the job you offer...
I feel I have the necessary qualities for this job.
I do feel that I would be an ideal candidate for the position...

3º. CLOSE / endings:

I am available for interview at any time which might be convenient to you and would be able to start work after serving out the two months’ notice in my current/present job.

I would be pleased to meet you for an interview, for which I am available at any time.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
I thank you for considering my application and would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if/should you require further information.

Should you require further details, do not hesitate to contact me.

I am available for interview at your convenience.

I shall be available for interview any day apart from Wednesdays.

I look forward to hearing from you. 

 Signing off:

(If Dear surname) Yours sincerely,

(If Dear Sir/Madam) Yours faithfully,

Yours,

First name + su

Example:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for the  post of xxxxxx  which was advertised in The New York Times yesterday. 

 I consider I am the ideal candidate for the position due to my extensive experience as xxxxxxx  working for my present employer for whom I perform all of the same tasks that are described in your advertisement.   In addition to that I  am an ambitious person who loves a good challenge, and I firmly believe I could be an asset to your company since I not only have the qualifications, but also leadership qualities and team spirit. I consider myself  responsible, organized and zealous in all my endeavours.

Please find enclosed*** herewith my CV.  Should you require further details, please do not hesitate to contact me at the following telephone number: 65748338547. You can also reach me by way of e-mail at xxxxxxx@hotmail.com

I look forward to setting up an interview at your earliest convenience and to discussing with you my future with your company.

I thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Signature

FULL NAME

180 palabras 

***(attached si lo envías vía correo electrónico)

CARTA PARA PEDIR PERMISO

CARTA PARA PEDIR PERMISO

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

CARTA INFORMATIVA

CARTA DANDO INFORMACIÓN

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

CARTAS DE SUGERENCIA

CARTAS DE SUGERENCIA

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 first piece of 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

CARTA DE QUEJA

Letter of complaint

Writing formal letters to complain:

 Reason for writing:

• I am writing in order to complain about ..... + ADVERBS OF TIME AND PLACE
• I am writing to complain about + ADVERBS OF TIME AND PLACE +  I used to think your xxxxxx but now I see how wrong I was.   If I had known.......,   I would have........

 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 were refunded
• I would be grateful if you could give me a full refund
• Due to the aforesaid, I believe I am entitled to a refund
• Should you require further details, do not hesitate to contact me at my cell phone number 443 967 382.

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

CARTAS FORMALES

Formal letters

Si escribes una carta en un examen, entonces lee muy bien el enunciado y cumple los requisitos.
Piensa quién va a leer tu carta y el propósito.

Por ejemplo, una carta a un periódico dará una opinión de un asunto mientras que una carta de queja dará detalles de un acontecimiento negativo o una situación que no cumplió tus expectativas. 

No uses lenguaje emocional, usa el idioma razonadamente dando ejemplos y opiniones para cada punto nuevo.

Organiza la carta con esmero:

1  -  la razón por la cual escribes la carta  - the reason for writing the letter

2 - dar detalles de tu problema/ asunto o tu opinión  -  detailing your problem/issue or views

3 -  Dar más información - supply further information

4 -  concluir con comentarios/sugerencias/ peticiones - concluding remarks / suggestions / requests.

Only include details which are strictly relevant.

Remember that in formal letters we use:

Formal vocabulary, usually no phrasal verbs:  (‘Tolerate’ instead of ‘put up with’)

More complex sentence structures: (Knowing what a good reputation the restaurant has, I was disappointed  with the service)

Punctuation using semi-colons: The library offers no facilities for borrowing videos; this is because of the high cost involved

Parte superior derecha: mi dirección

Parte superior izquierda: dirección del destinatario

Salutación (greetings): si no es persona conocida:  Dear Sir or Madam,

                                   si es persona conocida:        Dear Mr Brown, / Dear Ms Brown,

                                                                           Dear Mrs Brown,

                                                                           Dear Miss Brown,

                                                                           Dear Dr Green,

Reasons for writing:

• I am writing to …
• I am writing with regard to …
• I am writing on behalf of …
• 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

Asking questions:

• I would be grateful if …
• I wonder if you could …
• Could you …? Could you tell me something about …?
• I would particularly like to know …
• I would be interested in having more details about …

Referring to their letter:

• As you started in your letter, …
• Regarding … Concerning … With regard to....
• I am writing to complain about …
• You said … but in fact what happened …
• You assured us we.......however...... 

Closing or ending the letter:

• If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• Please contact me if you have any further questions.
• I look forward to receiving your reply/to your reply/ to hearing from you

Signing off:

• (If Dear surname) Yours sincerely,
• (If Dear Sir/Madam) Yours faithfully,
• Yours,
• (SIGNATURE)
• Your first name + surname

ESCRIBIR UN ARTÍCULO

ARTICLE:

Notice what kind of article you have to write (for a newspaper/magazine / etc.) and who your readers will be then choose correct register and layout, keep it consistent throughout the article.
Use descriptive verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to make events more interesting, use rhetorical questions to enhance the reader's interest.
The introduction should have an impact on readers.

Use direct speech only where appropriate.  According to experts... 

Personal passives are interesting to use too.  Living abroad is said to be a great ... 

Inversions are interesting techniques to add emphasis.  Never would I have imagined ....

You could hypothesize with modal verbs.     Losing your job must have been a trauma...

Conclude the article forcefully and leave readers with something to think about. ie: So after all you have read, don't you think something should be done? And the sooner the better? 

General structure:

Give your article a heading or headline which makes the subject clear and also catches the reader’s attention.

Divide the article into paragraphs to help the reader follow the argument.

Begin with an interesting introduction – an example, perhaps, or a question.

End with an overall comment or concluding.

Heading:  Debe ser atrayente para el lector, que le enganche a seguir leyendo.

Freezing! (dramatic)

My Lone Walk to the North Pole (a summary)

Rescue from the rapids (a summary)

What’s the big idea? (a question)

Seven banks a day are robbed in LA (a surprising)

You’re already well equipped to prevent crime (a surprising)

Opening:

Did you know …?

What would you do if …?

Never would I have imagined that......

Have you ever....?

Sequencing:

At first / To start with/In the beginning / to begin with /firstly/ in the first place/ 

XXX used to xxxxx   

had they had the opportunity, they would surely have.......

Besides / in addition / in addition to this/ what’s more / moreover

Secondly/ in second place /

However / nevertheless/ on the other hand/ even so/ contrary to popular belief

Last but not least/ lastly/ finally

In conclusion/ summarizing/ in a nutshell

Then/Next/After that, ...

The next thing that happened was ...

The next thing I knew was ...

Seconds/Minutes later,

Late on/Some time later,

It wasn't until much later that ...

After some time/After what seemed like years, ...

Finally/In the end, ...

At last, ...

Simultaneous events:

Meanwhile/In the meantime,

While all this was going on,

In the middle of all this, ...

During all this time, ...

Sudden or unexpected events:

Suddenly/All of a sudden, ...

All at once, ...

Out of the blue, ...

Without any warning, ...

Just when I was least expecting it, ...

The next thing I knew was ...

Rapid events:

As quick as a flash, ...

In the wink of an eye, ...

In a matter of seconds/minutes, ...

In no time at all, ...

Looking back:

In retrospect, ...

When I think back to what happened then, ...

Remember to use  conditionals, modal verbs, passives, inversion, etc...

REDACCIONES

THE ESSAY

ESSAY:

• Clear introduction, outline the situation as it is / had been recently. Rhetorical question to lead into the main body.
• Clear paragraphs, each covering a particular point in your argument or aspect of the subject.
• Identify whether the task demands balanced or one-sided approach. If one-sided mention the alternatives briefly in the conclusion.
• Support your ideas with brief examples.
• Use connectors to link your sentences and ideas.
• Conclusion should 'echo' the introductory paragraph.

Argumentative essay: 7 point structure

• 1º- Introduction: escribir un texto impactante para atraer la atención del lector
• 2º- question: una pregunta puede ser introducida
• 3º- answer to your question
• 4º- Flag word/phrase + first point  + structures - example  
• 5º- Flag word/phrase + second point  + structures – example
• 6º- Flag word/phrase + third  point (contrary to other points) + structures – example
• 7º- Conclusion with first person + structures  

COMPUTERS - TODAY'S RELIGION

Have you ever imagined what life could be like without computers? There is no doubt computers play an ever increasing role in our lives, in fact we could not live without them.  

Firstly, in the past, technology did not use to be a problem since Spanish people would work by hand.   Spain was known as a non-industrialized country, had they had computers they would have been more productive.  But things have changed and fortunately the birth of computers has  improved  manufacturing processes and competitiveness. I wish they had been invented sooner.               

Besides, thanks to computers, which have allowed us to discover internet, we can keep in touch through social networks, watch streaming broadcasts or buy anything in online shops .  All kinds  of information can also  be  a click away.

On the other hand,  too much dependence on computers is said to be  risky,  as  hackers   can extract private details to use fraudulently, despite having  antivirus programs installed on your system.

Summarizing,  all evidence suggests the more computers are used, the more control there is,  however relying on them too much could be unsafe.

USEFUL PHRASES TO LEARN

 INTRODUCTION: 

Introducing the phenomenon to be discussed

• More and more families are choosing to have only one child.
• The trend nowadays is towards having smaller families.
• Over the past ten years or so the media have frequently carried reports of ...............
• Recent research indicates that the number of teenagers who smoke is increasing.
• Hardly a week goes by without another report of ................. appearing in the media.
• Although most people would generally agree that ............... few would deny that ................ 
• This raises the issue of whether .................
   
• It is probably true to say that …
• There can be no doubt that
• It is simply not the case that
• Evidence seems to suggest that
• In my opinion, the first point to bear in mind is that
• It cannot be denied that
• It is my firm belief that
• I would dispute the claim / the stance / position / attitude that
• It is difficult to accept the idea that
• It is true to some extent (hasta cierto punto) that
• To such an extent (hasta tal punto) that
• To a certain / small extent (hasta cierto punto) that
• It would be wrong to argue that
• Never before has an issue awakened more curiosity than..../inspired more individuals than/ caised more controversy than

Expressing general opinions

• It is widely believed that
• No one would dispute the fact that
• Few people would contest / dispute (the fact) that
• It is generally agreed that
• There are those who argue that
• It has been suggested that
• It is often claimed that
• Opponents / supporters / proponents of sth X argue that

Expressing your opinion

• In my opinion, the first point to bear in mind is that
• As I see it,
• It seems to me that ............ 
• I would also say that ....
• I am convinced that ...............
• I am inclined to believe that ..................
• There is no doubt in my mind that ..................
• One of the drawbacks of ....... is ..........
• However, one of the benefits is that ............

Referring to other sources

• All the evidence suggests that
• A recent survey proved that
• Judging by the comments made by
• Interviews with students/ researchers, etc have revealed that

Presenting arguments

• One justification often given for ........... is that.................
• Advocates/Proponents would claim that ..................
• Those who object to ................. often argue that ...................
• Another objection is that ......
• However, it should not be forgotten that ..............
• ........... are opposed to ................ on the grounds that .................
• From the point of view of .................
• According to ....................

Describing causes

• One factor which has led to ............ is ..............
• One of the factors which has brought this about is .........
• The problem often stems from ....................
• The situation has been exacerbated by ................
• .............. has only made the situation worse.
• One consequence of ................ is ................

Proposing steps and measures

• As regards the most appropriate response to this situation, one suggestion would be to .........
• The first step to be taken would be to ........
• To alleviate the situation people should ...........
• In addition they ought to ...............
• To begin to tackle this situation society/individuals/the government need/s to ..........
• .............. would certainly ameliorate the situation.
• This can only be dealt with if ............
• To overcome this problem, ..............
• Were the government to ..............., the situation would doubtless improve.
• Individuals can do a great deal to ............
• The burden of responsibility lies in the hands of ........
• It is vitally important that .........
• Legislation should be introduced to control .................
• It would be a grave error if we .................

Concluding

• All in all it seems to me that ...........
• The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that .......................
• All things considered, .............
• On balance, I tend to believe that ............
• The world would surely be a better place to live in if ..............
• In a nutshell,  if people stopped ....ing, we would have/ we could look forward to a ...............
• The prospects for the future will be bleak/grim unless ...................
• All of this leads me to the conclusion that
• In conclusion,
• To sum up,
• In a nutshell,
• Summarizing,
• To conclude,

Tip

You should have a few pages safe somewhere where you can keep a record of other useful essay phrases that you come across in your reading. Note them down and practise using them in your own writing.

Look out for more advanced expressions that you can use in place of phrases that weren't even impressive at the B2 level - phrases like "solve the problem". 

Here are a few alternative problem and solution phrases to get you going.:

• a crisis in education which must be addressed
• something that must be tackled / be dealt with
• a challenge which must be met
• something must be done to restore law and order in the inner cities