Read the instructions for the task. With the information given, produce a text using your own words. (approximately 200 words)
Task description:
Write a blog entry for your website based on two texts that you have recently read and analyse the role of volunteers in our society as you inform your readers how the internet is making volunteering easier.
1) TEXT 1
Global Charity Work
Demands on volunteers are growing globally. More and more inner city communities around the world are plagued by social issues such as poverty, homelessness and unemployment and non-governmental organisations and volunteers are doing their upmost to campaign and fundraise in order to meet the growing need. Though authorities are reluctant to accept responsibility, by providing political and economic frameworks that support long-term solutions, volunteers' efforts are still worthwhile. Any help at all can make a difference.
2) TEXT 2
Virtual volunteering
The nature of volunteer work is changing. Nowadays people are actively searching for volunteering opportunities that they can carry out online such as writing emails and newsletters or designing websites for charitable organisations. This is because time constraints or personal obligations prevent them from providing assistance in person. It may not seem like much, but the accumulation of these small actions can have a significant effect, and moreover, can contribute towards creating a culture of community involvement in the future.
Tips
- When you write a blog post remember to write a headline, an introduction that will catch the reader's eye, and a conclusion.
- READ the instructions well: What's my role? To whom do I need to write? What about? Why? To what effect? How? What is the context?...
- Identify and select the relevant information.
- Use your own words, paraphrase (do not just copy from the text you are given), expand the information (explain, comment, clarify), connect ideas (compare and contrast, exemplify, relate to what you know), talk about the intentions, nuances and connotations of the text.
- Take into account the audience you are writing to and the context and adapt the discourse appropriately: formal / informal
Sample answer:
The pleasures of (1)______________(VOLUNTARILY)
Are you thinking about stepping forward to help others but at the same time you feel that you are too (2)________________ (PRESSURE) for time? (3)______________(DOUBT), you are not alone.
By and large, most people would agree that charities and action groups play an important role in assisting communities affected by social and economic (4)______________ (HARD), especially now that we are dealing with the (5)____________ (AFTER) of a global pandemic. Without a doubt, most citizens support this notion and have (6)____________ (NUMBER) reasons for the (7)_____________ (IMPORTANT) of helping others.
As a general rule any (8)_______________ (CHARITY) efforts an individual can make are (9)_____________ (WHILE). As a matter of fact, there is a growing necessity of charity work at a (10)_________________ (GOVERN) and local community level.
It is true that we need to (11)_______________ (KNOW) the difficulties that arise from a lack of (12)________________ (GOVERN) support. However, we are witnessing the rise of a growing movement of people who offer their talents online to support positive change.
(13)___________________ (REGRET), many people feel (14)___________ (HELP) in the face of not only the current health situation but also the difficult (15)___________ (POLITICS) and (16)_______________ (ECONOMY) conditions. (17)_____________ (SIMILAR), other people (18)____________ (SURE) feel vulnerable due to their own demanding circumstances. On the other hand, there are many volunteers eager to shoulder the responsibility of lending a helping hand and go to great (19)____________ (LONG) to contribute their time to charitable causes. (20)_______________ (ADDITION), there are ways to stay involved that suit our modern (21)_________________ (LIFE). A (22)_______________ (FAR) point on this theme is that people with neither free time nor special digital skills can still do their part by donating money.
All in all, I believe that it is essential that the people working to improve our community do not lose heart and give up. Secondly, it is also crucial that they, and society in general, recognise the small (23)________________________ (ACCOMPLISH) and keep their eyes on the goal, however (24)_________________ (ATTAIN) it may seem. If we all do what we can, things can only improve.
KEY
1. volunteering
2. pressed
3. Undoubtedly
4. hardship
hardship:
something
that makes your life difficult or unpleasant, especially a lack of
money, or the condition of having a difficult life. E.g. an economic
policy that caused great hardship for many people. Many students are
suffering severe financial hardship.
5. aftermath
6. numerous, innumerable
7. importance
8. charitable
9. worthwhile
10. non-governmental
11. acknowledge
12. governmental
13.Regrettably
14. helpless
15. political
16. economic
17. Similarly,
18. surely
19. lengths
20. Additionally
21. lifestyles
22. further
23. accomplishments
24. unattainable
Useful language
To Engage the reader
What would your life be like if...?
What would you do if...?
Are you one of those people who ...
Imagine if/ what...
Suppose that ...
Let us suppose, for example, that..
Firstly, .../In the first place, ... / To begin with, …To start with,...
Secondly,.../A second area to consider is …
Another point to remember is ...
Last but not least, I would like to add that...
In addition...
What is more...
Besides...
Moreover...
Furthermore...
In addition to being...
In other words,
Or, to put it another way, ...
What I mean by that is that ...
To emphasise a point
Clearly,...
Especially,
Indeed,
As a matter of fact,
In (actual) fact,
To express similar ideas
Similarly/ Likewise/ In the same way,...
To express contrast
However/ On the other hand/ Nevertheless,...
Despite
In spite of
Although
Even though
To express result
By doing this/ In this way/ As a result/ Consequently,..
To express generalisations
As a (general) rule/ Mainly/ Generally speaking/ By and large,...
To express agreement
Without a doubt/ Undoubtedly,...
I'm convinced that...
I'm inclined to agree that ...
I tend to feel that ...
To express disagreement
It's doubtful that...
I'm not convinced that...
It's highly unlikely that...
I'm strongly opposed to
To give your opinion
As far as I am aware,...
In my experience,...
To my mind, ...
As I see it, … The reason is ...
It seems to me that… This is because ...
I shudder to think...
- shudder: to shake because you are cold or frightened, or because of a strong feeling. E.g. Just thinking about the accident makes me shudder. Shudder to do something: I shudder to think how much this is all going to cost (= I don't want to think about it because it is too unpleasant).
It beggars belief how a person can ever learn to be more humane without any models of good behaviour.
It is true that ... On the other hand, ...
At first sight ....,but in fact ...
Generally speaking,… Broadly speaking,
Admittedly,
Presumably: /prɪˈzjuːməbli/ used to say that you think that something is probably true. Sp. Supuestamente
The government should take action to prevent and resolve
To conclude
To conclude,
All things considered, I believe that ...
Assessment List
When you write a blog entry make sure:
1. APPROPRIACY
a. The content is dealt with appropriately.
b. It contains an attention-grabbing headline.
c. The introduction clearly introduces the main ideas.
d. Each paragraph has appropriate and accurate details to support each main idea.
e. All of the main ideas are clearly related to the topic.
f. The conclusion sums up the points made in an interesting, thoughtful, and unique manner.
g. Register and format are consistently appropriate to the task and target audience.
h. The writing fully achieves the desired effect on the target reader. The writer communicates well with its intended audience.
i. The writing is neat and presentable.
j. It has approximately the right number of words.
2. COHESION AND COHERENCE
a. Information and ideas are skilfully organised through a range of linking devices.
b. The main ideas are organized into a logical sequence.
c. The transitions from one main idea to the next are smooth.
d. The text is a pleasure to read and poses no difficulty to the reader.
3. RANGE OF VOCABULARY AND STRUCTURES
a. The choice of words and grammatical structures is appropriate, varied, and creates a natural voice.
b. There is a wide range of vocabulary and structures.
b. Good use of idiomatic expressions.
c. Good command of collocations.
d. Good command of grammatical structures.
4. ACCURACY
a. Contains correct spelling, grammar, and vocabulary.
WRITTEN MEDIATION: Marking criteria
To correct a piece of writing in which you have to mediate your teacher will give you a mark (from 0 to 10) for each of the following criteria. Each criterion has the same value, that is, they are all equally important.
To pass you need to get a mark of 20 out of 40, that is, a 5 out of 10.
1- SOURCE COMPREHENSION → Let’s show how well we understand and select the information we are given! - 10 points
The message from the input (the source text or infographic) is correctly understood.
The relevant information for the task is identified (what contents, details, explicit intentions in the input are important?).
The significant information from the input is included in the output.
2- CONTENT MANAGEMENT → Let’s show how well we process the information! - 10 points
The message from the input is correctly processed by using the appropriate mediation strategy-/ies depending on the task:
Expanding the information by explaining, commenting, clarifying, giving examples...
Reducing the information by summarizing, synthesising
Connecting, relating ideas or data by comparing and linking with previous or new knowledge
Reformulating by rewording, translating or adapting the language to the reader
The text produced is “fresh”, it departs from a literal quote of the source.
3- ADAPTATION TO SITUATION AND CONTEXT→ Let’s show how well we can communicate in a given situation! 10 points
The text produced is effectively adapted to the context or situation.
The text produced is effectively adapted to the reason why it is written.
The text produced is effectively adapted to the reader/s.
The reader’s needs are taken into account (age, background, origin, culture…)
The text produced solves the problem in communication.
4- ORGANIZATION AND ACCURACY → Let’s show we control the language! 10 points
The text produced is well organized.
The information is coherent.
The message is clear, unambiguous.
The grammatical and lexical items used are correct.
TOTAL MARK: 40 points. Pass mark: 20 points.
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