30. My worst habit

10.30

All people have bad habits. Eating junk food or eating late at night, biting one's nails or even abusing of technology are examples of these. They are not correct and are actions that it is recommended that we leave behind by not doing them anymore. In my case I consider that I have two bad habits that I have to fix as soon as possible. On the one hand, to procrastinate, and on the other, to leave things everywhere.

Practice 26. Air pollution essay

Practice 25. Bad style.

a) Another thing to think about is the chance of crime getting worse.

Another issue to consider is the possibility of crime increasing.


b) Regrettably these days lots of people don't have jobs.

Regrettably, nowadays the rate of unemployment is rising.


c) Sometime soon they will find a vaccine for malaria.

A vaccine for malaria may be found soon.


d) A few years ago the price of property in Japan went down a lot.

After 2000, Japanese property prices are increasing.


e) You can't always trust the numbers in that report.

The numbers in that report are unreliable.


f) Sadly, the high inflation led to poverty, social unrest and so on.

The high inflation caused poverty and social unrest.


g) He was over the moon when he won the prize.

He was delighted to win the prize.


h) I think we should pay students to study.

Students should be paid for doing their job.


i) A few years ago they allowed women to vote.

Women were allowed to vote in 1987.


j) What were the main causes of the Russian revolution?

The main causes of the Russian revolution were war and misgovernment.

29. Music is special to me

16. 15

Many people listen to music every day thought the radio, television and social media. It is a form of art; an expression of emotions through harmonic frequencies. Music can make people dance, smile, cry or shout. Music is very special for me since it can go with me everywhere I go, is there with me when I'm sad and can even make me jump for joy.

Practice 24. Cohesion and coherence. Edited version of a paragraph

Ho Chi Minh City, in Vientam, is a fascinating destination for travellers to Southeast Asia. It is located on the Mekong River and was once an important trading center for the French. For instance, many people have learned French at school, especially the older generations, and can still speak it very well. In addition, some cafés serve French-style bread and pastries in Ho Chi Minh City and expensive hotels and restaurant serve French food. It is also remarkable that many of the buildings are built in French-style. Therefore, if you are looking for a unique city to visit in Southeast Asia, Ho Chi Minh City is an attractive choice since it has many historical monuments to visit, many traditions and customs to learn and delicious French-style food to try.

28. My favourite posession

23.00

Most of us have a possession that's special to us. In my case, mine is my necklace. But to explain why, I have to start from the beginning of the story.

Practice 23. Conclusion of my descriptive essay

27. A story from my childhood

11.55

I'm going to tell the story that produced the most precious thing I have in my life.

26. A belief I have or used to have

16.35

It happens to many people that with the course of the years an image of something is created in their mind and when they really see it, it is not what they had been thinking all their life. This is what has happened to me with university life and studies.

Practice 22. Descriptive lead essay.

If you could go on vacation anywhere in te world, where would you go and why?

25. A movie star or singer I like

22.15

Since I was a child I have always loved music. It didn't matter if it was the songs on the radio or the movies on Disney Channel, I knew them all. And they were all in English. My hobby at that age was learning them by memory and looking for the translation of them into my language.

Practice 21. Funnel lead Introduction

Write why school day should or should not be longer.

1. Students should not go to school more than five days and the school day should also not last more than five or six hours. 

     2. On the one hand, children could deconcentrate faster.

              3. In this way they could lose interest in studying and,

                     4. finally, this could lead to a decrease in children's grades.


Therefore, school days should not be longer as children may feel unmotivated, they might have insufficient time to study and they may not have as much time for extracurricular activities.

Practice 20. Introductions. Opening sentences

a) How important is it for companies to have women as senior manager?

Argumentative essay

We live in an age in which women as a senior manager is a matter that companies need to handle.


b) Are there any technological solutions to global warming?

Problem-solution essay

Nowadays, global warming is a very alarming issue and it has some technological solutions to be considered


c) What can be done to reduce infant mortality in developing countries?

Problem-solution essay

These days, infant mortality is a very disturbing issue however, it has some efficient solutions to reduce it in developing countries.

d) Compare the urbanisation process in two contrasting countries?

Comparing essay

The urbanization process is very changing if we contrast different countries such as the United States and Brazil.

Practice 19. My first outline: "Globalization"

Practice 18. Writing thesis statements

GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE - PRO

- Reduces crime rates
- Promotes public safety
- It helps to identify criminals


GUN OWNERSHIP - CON

- Risk of injuring someone
- Gun licenses are not difficult to get so criminals can access to weapons easily
- It doesn't really increase security.


GLOBALIZATION - PRO

- You are informed no matter where you are
- You can travel wherever you want
- You can buy products all over the world


CHANGING YOUR NAME - CON

- I love my name
- People can get confused
- You need to change your ID


INMIGRATION - PRO

- Learn other cultures
- Learn other languages
- They provide more money to the country


ANIMAL CIRCUSES - CON

- Many animals suffer while training
- They separate animals from their natural habitat
- Animals act against their nature practicing that kind of exercises.

THESIS STATEMENTS

- I think that Government surveillance can be good as it reduces crime rates, it promotes public safe and it helps to identify criminals.

- I think that Gun ownership shouldn't be allowed since it increase the risk of injuring someone, gun licenses are not difficult to get so criminal can access to weapons easily and it does'nt really increase security.

- I think that Globalization is very beneficial since you are informed no matter where you are, you can travel wherever you want and you can buy products all over the world.

- I think that Changing my name would be something I wouldn’t like since I love my name, people can get confused and you need also to change you ID.

- I think that Immigration is very beneficial since you can learn different languages, new cultures and they provide more money to the country.

- I think that Animal circuses should not be permitted since many animals suffer while training, they separate animals from their natural habitat and animal act against their nature practicing that kind of exercises.

24. Smoking in public places

22.35

In my grandparents' time, it was usual to see people smoking, it was a fashion and it looked good. In addition, the health effects were not yet known. Nowadays, however, people are aware of the consequences that a cigarette can have. And therefore, smoking in public places should not be permitted since it can affect, not only the health of the smoker, but also the people around him.

23. The best car I own

12.15

I've never had a car of my own just since I didn't get my driver's license. Last November I signed up for driving school, but I didn't go to many days because I don't have much time right now, so I hope that little by little and with a little of luck, next year, I will get it. And of course, when I miraculously have my license, a car is the next step. 

22. My favourite food

19.45

Ever since I was little, I've been with my grandmother. I have practically grown up with her. During the school holidays I always helped her prepare food. With her I learned everything from making lentils to cake. She is a great cook. And since I have always eaten from her food which she makes spectacularly, my favorite food is my grandmother's meatball stew. It's delicious and that's because she makes them herself. She buys the ingredients at the supermarket and then makes this meal so delicious. She usually does it when it's cold because it's a hot meal. Whenever winter comes I can't wait for her to make them and eat them together in her warm kitchen next to the fire.

20.00

21. Discrimination

19.30

Discrimination is the act of treating another person unfairly because of their sex, race, age, etc. This phenomenon often happens in our society. From my side, I consider that it is a very negative action and that it shouldn't be tolerated since people who are different from us are still people. Whether you have black hair and the other person blue or you like rock and the other person reggaeton or even you are an atheist and the other person Catholic, nothing justifies discrimination.

Learn to put ourselfs in other people's shoes is needed. I'm sure no one would like to be badly looked at on the street or when traveling to another country feel treated as less. We're all people , no one is better than no one and therefore, discrimination must not be tolerated.

19.45

20. My first day in Los Angeles, California, United States

12.25

There are several types of people when it comes to travel matters. Many of them, on the one hand, prefer to dedicate that trip to relax since for them it is a time to rest from work and daily life, however, many other people prefer to explore the new city in order to know impressive things that can only be seen there. I am this last type of person, I like to explore and discover places and corners of the world when I travel. Therefore, my first day in Los Angeles I would spent it settling in my new apartment and getting to know the most remarkable places in the city.

19. My last day in my country

10.20

If I traveled to another country and I could only spend one more day with my family and friends, I know for sure that I would take advantage of the time I have left with them because I don't know when I would see them again. On the one hand I would make a great farewell meal with my family and on the other hand, I would stay all afternoon with my friends to say goodbye to them.

18. Shopping

19.55

We all like to buy, whether it's clothes, technology or books, everyone enjoys buying what they like. Some people spend more money, others just look and some others just buy what they need. I am the second and third type of person, I love to look, but above all what I like is to buy my favorite items but of course, without wasting money and buying in a responsible way. The items I most enjoy buying are clothes, make up and books.

17. A good friend

11.50

Throughout my life I have had several types of friends, those from the academy, those whim whom you only go out, those who last until the end of school and those who I think will last all my life which I can count them with the fingers of one hand.

16. The right age to get married

11.00

As much as it's said there's a right age for marriage,  I firmly believe that there really isn't, since love comes when it has to: if it doesn't come to the twenties, then to the thirties and if not, then to the forties! However, I may think so, but the reality is that society does establish an "appropriate" age range for marriage.

Practice 17. Problem-solution paragraphs

Practice 16. Block organisation. "Is the exploration of the space worthwhile?"

Write two paragraphs on the topic: "Is the exploration of the space worthwhile?"

Pros.

• Scientists need to collect information to understand universe.
• Space engineering has produced many useful discoveries (e.g. satellite communication).
• Exploration promotes healthy co-operation between nations (e.g. space station).

Cons.

• Huge amounts of money are spent with little result.
• Resources should be spent on urgent needs on Earth. (e.g. disease control).
• National space programmes are testing potential weapons (e.g. missiles).

Practice 15. Argumentative paragraph. "Employees should be permitted to work from home"

15. Teenagers

 

22.50

Everyone goes through the stage of adolescence. It is a time when we have not yet completely configured our personality and where we have much to learn about life. This stage of life is very interesting. Some examples of this point of view are making new friends or  going to other places with different customs.

14. Cell phones

16.30

The mobile phone is the invention that has revolutionized communications. A variety of things can be done with it, from making a call to making a photo, or from writing an email to watching an internet video. It has many advantages, but also some negative points that it is necessary to know.

Practice 14. Comparison poem."Shall I compare you to ... ?"

Shall I compare you to a tree?

Pure joy is represented by your smile

that enlightens my days 

just like a tree the flowered spring.

Shall I compare you to a tree?

Since you bloom even in the darkest days 

and color the giant world in every way.

Shall I compare you to a tree?
When the cold winter and heavy rain shakes you,
 you stand firm like the tree that still stands until lightning strikes.

Practice 13. Comparisons

Practice 12. My opinion about schools and creativity.

13. Using e-mail

16.10

At the time of my parents, they had no choice but to write letters. Now, with the appearance of email, in addition to being able to receive them instantly, we save paper and in this way we help the planet by polluting less.

Practice 11. Edited version of the opinion paragraph

Practice 10. Opinion Paragraph: Analysing a Ted Talk

1. What's the topic of the TED talk? What's the main idea? When does the speaker introduce his idea? How?

The topic of the talk is education and the main idea is that schools are destroying children's creativity. The speaker introduces the idea at the beginning of the speech and compares the creativity with maths.

2. What are the means of support used by the speaker to convince us that his opinion is right? Provide examples.

The speaker shares personal experiences, uses quotation (Picasso), defines creativity, says facts and examples (he compares the American and British educational system).

3. What's the speaker's conclusion? How does he "concludes"?

He does a restatement of what he has said and makes a brief summary of the main ideas.

12. A big mistake you once made

12.50

Looking back, I don't remember making a big mistake that I regret now. I have always had the typical discussions with my friends or my mother, however, we ended up fixing it within 20 minutes of having discussed. From my perspective, I have never made a big mistake but, if I could go back I would change some actions that I did in the past.

Practice 9. Opinion paragraph: Internet for refugees

Even though many people think Internet is the first thing you need for a living that is compleatly wrong  since it is not a basic need. Zuckerberg said: " I consider Internet connection a human right". However, I totally disagree with his perspective since I consider the right to a house, for example, much more important than the Internet. Houses are the refuge and room of people. In addition, houses protect us from the inclement weather and other threats. Without them, we would not have a place to sleep. They are necessary since otherwise, we would be in the street, with the cold and the wind whipping our face.

What I consider also more important than the Internet is security. When we walk down the street or go anywhere, either to the cinema or to the mall. It is very important to be safe. Security is the lack of risk and with it we walk without fear of being robbed or persecuted. 

11. The working student

 

18.25

It is a fact that working while studying is hard since you need to have time to work and also to do assignments and study for exams.

10. An important story in the news

21.55

In this world of social networks and communication, when an event takes place anywhere in the world, we know about it in seconds.

Practice 8. Descriptive paragraph: how to stop procrastinating

Although procrastination is not adequate, it is an activity carried out by many people and sometimes it is necessary to learn how to stop practicing it. This activity consists of leaving the tasks that we must do for later. For example, let's imagine that there is an exam within 6 days; a procrastinating person would probably start preparing it in the last two days since that person could think he has enough time to study. A solution to stop doing tasks at the last moment would be to make a list of priorities. This way, you can clearly see what you should do now and what you can leave for later. In brief, to put an end to procrastination, the priority list may be the perfect option.

Practice 7. Re-writing and proofreading

9. American customs I like/dislike

10.15

One of the places I would like to travel for a great season would be America, specifically the United States. In this country, there are many customs and traditions that attract my attention, some that I like and others that, on the contrary, I don't.

8. The people I live with

21. 45

There are many people who, when going to university, have the need to move to a residence since it is far from their home. Luckily, that has not been my case. I have been fortunate that the university I go to is 20 minutes from my home, something that many students cannot say.

7. Being on time

14.16

It's a fact that everyone likes being on time. When going to work or just attending the doctor's appointment, the most appropriate thing to do is to arrive on time.  However, in many cases, we don't comply with this rule.

6. An accident

   

9.25

Every day thousands of accidents happen worldwide, whether car, train or plane, it is a very unfortunate experience that I would not wish it on anyone. I have been fortunate that I have not suffered a major accident than twisting my ankle while walking or falling down the stairs.

5. My favourite sport to watch

21.15

My favorite sport to watch is figure skating. I consider it a beautiful activity since they dance on the ice doing very complicated postures and jumps. And all this, at incredible speed!

Practice 6. Final version of my first paragraph

Social networks have been de revolution of the 21st century. They are very useful but also dangerous, specially for teenagers. On the one hand, if you have a public profile, there is no privacy so you don’t know who’s watching your content. In addition, social networks can cause mental health problems in adolescents since many people use them to share their "perfect life".On the other hand, teenagers can even became addicted to it. Instagram is the perfect example because young people could spend hours and hours there. In conclusion, social media could be the perfect tool but it must be used with responsibility.

Practice 5. Editing my first paragraph

Practice 4. Drafting my first paragraph.

Practice 3. Organising paragraphs

4. Learning to play a sport

 

18.20

Sport has never caught my attention; I have always seen it as a form of suffering in which you end up exhausted and sweating. That's why I believe I haven't started to learn any sport yet. The closest thing to a sport I've done has been dancing which I consider very entertaining,

3. My hobby: musical theater

19.52

One day, my best friend invited me to a Halloween play in which she performed.When I arrived there, the place was full of candles, a scary music was playing and I could see angels and demons having a fight. The play was about a battle between the whites and the blacks; the angels and the demons.  It was spectacular. From that moment, the theater hunted me, so I joined the group. Now I can say that this November I have been performing for four years.

2. A special skill I have

13.05

I had never thought about the skills I have but, now that I am thinking about it, I believe I could have two. On the one hand, in the artistic field, singing ;and on the other hand, in the academic world, languages.

Practice 2. Prewriting Process: Brainstorming

Freewriting - The danger of social media

• Social networks have been the revolution of the 21st century.

• If you don't have a social profile you are not up to date.

• They can be dangerous, especially for teenagers.

• If you have a public profile, there is no privacy ⇒ You don't know who is watching your content

• People seem to have a perfect life, they are always happy and they have no problems ⇒ other people ⇒ depression

1. How my life has changed since I came from England

19:10

I've always loved English so since I was a little child, I've wanted to go to United Kingdom and not only for the language but also for the people, culture and customs. My chance arrived in 3rd of ESO when my school organised a trip to Winchester. The trip was only for a week but It has been the best experience I have had so far.

Practice 1. Prewriting Process: Narrowing Topics

This practice consists in transforming very general topics into more specific ones.

• Technology ⇒ Smartphones ⇒ Android/IOS ⇒ Apps ⇒ Social media ⇒ The danger of social media

• Parties ⇒ Nightclubs ⇒ People ⇒ Minors ⇒ Forbidden entry to minors in nightclubs
  

Table of Contents

FIRST PART

Practical Sessions

• Practice 1. Prewriting Process: Narrowing Topics.
• Practice 2. Prewriting Process: Brainstorming.
• Practice 3. Organising paragraphs.
• Practice 4. Drafting my first paragraph.
• Practice 5. Editing my first paragraph.
• Practice 6. Final version of my first paragraph.
• Practice 7. Re-writing and proofreading.
• Practice 8. Descriptive paragraph: how to stop procrastinating.
• Practice 9. Opinion paragraph: Internet for refugees.
• Practice 10. Opinion Paragraph: Analysing a Ted Talk.
• Practice 11. Edited version of the opinion paragraph.
• Practice 12. My opinion about schools and creativity.
• Practice 13. Comparisons.
• Practice 14. Comparison poem."Shall I compare you to ... ?
• Practice 15. Argumentative paragraph. "Employees should be permitted to work from home".
• Practice 16. Block organisation. "Is the exploration of the space worthwhile?"
• Practice 17. Problem-solution paragraphs.

Writing Journal

• 1. How my life has changed since I came from England.
• 2. A special skill I have.
• 3. My hobby: musical theater.
• 4. Learning to play a sport.
• 5. My favourite sport to watch.
• 6. An accident.
• 7. Being on time.
• 8. The people I live with.
• 9. American customs I like/dislike.
• 10. An important story in the news.
• 11. The working student.
• 12. A big mistake I once made.
• 13. Using e-mail.
• 14. Cell phones.
• 15. Teenagers.

SECOND PART

Practical Sessions

• Practice 18. Writing thesis statements.
• Practice 19. My first outline: "Globalization"
• Practice 20. Introductions. Opening sentences.
• Practice 21. Funnel lead introduction.
• Practice 22. Descriptive lead essay.
• Practice 23. Conclusion of my descriptive essay
• Practice 24. Cohesion and coherence. Edited version of a paragraph.
• Practice 25. Bad style.
• Practice 26. Air pollution essay.

Writing Journal

• 16. The right age to get married.
• 17. A good friend.
• 18. Shopping
• 19. My last day in my country.
• 20. My first day in Los Angeles, California, United States.
• 21. Discrimination.
• 22. My favourite food.
• 23. The best car I own.
• 24. Smoking in public places.
• 25. A movie star or singer I like.
• 26. A belief I have or used to have.
• 27. A story from my childhood.
• 28. My favourite possesion.
• 29. Music is special to me.
• 30.My worst habit.