Situation | Formal/informal | Example |
---|---|---|
1. Making an appointment at the doctor’s surgery | Formal | Good afternoon. I’d like to book an appointment,please. |
2. Chatting with friends | Informal | Hey! You all right? |
3. Parents’ evening at a children’s school | Formal | It’s nice to see you again. |
4. Job interview | Formal | Good morning. I’m pleased to meet you. |
5. A community drop-in session | Informal | Hi! I thought I’d pop in today. |
Question | Why is it useful? |
---|---|
Who spoke? | Did they move the discussion on or slow it down? | How did they do this? |
---|---|---|
Paul | Tried to move it on | By reminding people what the meeting was for. |
Sharon | Tried to move it on. | By focusing on the future, not the past. |
Nita and Julie | Slowed things down. | By making negative comments, e.g. Nita: ‘It’s been a mess for years.’ |
The centre is in Queen Street near the library and supermarket. The centre is open every day, Monday to Friday 7.00 am to 10.00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays it is open 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. It has a varied programme of events for all ages. There is plenty for everyone to do and enjoy. You can start a new hobby or brush up an old one. For parents we have pre-school and toddler groups. For youngsters there are after school clubs, a drop-in centre and sound studio. Pensioners can enjoy our friendly luncheon club and coach trips out and about. We are now fully staffed with a professional team of people here to help you. There is a centre manager, two team workers, admin assistant, cook and caretaker. We look forward to seeing you soon in the centre.
‘I am going to talk about the centre in three sections. Firstly, the whereabouts of the centre and opening times; secondly, the programme of events and activities; and, finally, the staff at the centre.’
Who said what | How it helped |
---|---|
Doctor: ‘Right. As you know, ...’ | Shows the doctor is ready to start to explain things. |
Doctor: ‘Quite. Well, ...’ | Shows the doctor is ready to move on. |
Doctor: ‘I have the results here and what I’d like to do is ...’ | Indicates that the doctor is about to explain what he is going to do. |
Lorna: ‘Oh, I see.’ | Lorna shows she has heard what the doctor said and is ready for him to continue. |
Doctor: ‘OK.’ | The doctor shows he has heard what Lorna has just said and is going to respond to her concerns. |
Doctor: ‘I can see that you’re looking anxious, so ...’ | The doctor acknowledges that his patient is anxious, so he’ll move on to address her fears. |
Doctor: ‘Firstly, ... Secondly, ...’ | The doctor shows he is going to make a number of points; here is the first … and now the second ... |
Doctor: ‘If I could move on to explain a little about migraines, ...’ | The doctor shows he’s moving on to talk about something else. |
What you read | Why you read it |
What I read | Why I read it |
Novel | For pleasure |
Newspaper | For information – to catch up on the news |
Newspaper | For pleasure – to do the crossword |
Leaflet on smoking | Information – the practice nurse gave it to me and asked me to read it |
Rail timetable | Information – to plan my journey |
Note from partner | Information – wanted me to take the cat to the vet |
Internet article on healthy eating | Information – am trying to lose weight |
Report on adult reading | Information – am writing an essay on adult reading |
Cereal packet | Information – am trying to eat a healthy diet and wanted to know what was in the cereal |
There is no official requirement as to the number of first aiders to workers so employers tend to have no fixed policy about the number of first aiders they need in their company. The reluctance of employers to have a fixed policy is financial. Companies are reluctant to take on something that could cost them a great deal of money in the long run. The number of persons who need to be trained as first aiders should depend on the size of the company and what it produces. A small office will only need one first aider, while a large factory will need more. Employees also need to realise that they have a duty to keep the workplace safe. They must all work together to keep the work environment safe and be constantly reminding their colleagues that they need to know about health and safety.
Way of reading | What it means | When you would use it |
---|---|---|
Skimming | Looking at the title, section headings and subheadings and pictures to get an idea of what the text is about. | When looking at a book and deciding if it is going to be worth reading. |
Scanning | Looking through a text very quickly to find specific information or key words that you are looking for. | To find a particular piece of information; to preview material before reading it in detail; or to check that you understand something after reading it. |
Detailed reading | Reading something carefully to get accurate information. | When reading long or complicated material such as books or reports. |
Skimming | Scanning | Detailed reading |
---|---|---|
‘He is definitely prejudiced against women – he never promotes them at work.’
Letter 1 Dear Sir/Madam The decision to build a new terminal at Stansted Airport is a clear indication that this Government has finally abandoned any pretence of listening to local opinion and are determined to discredit and dismantle any of the remaining rights that local people have to a say in the future of their environment. No sensible argument has been put forward for the extension. The real losers in this argument are local people. It seems that if you choose to live by an airport you then give up the right to have a say in local matters. The private sector is the only opinion the Government seems to want to listen to. The wishes of local people are now totally ignored in the planning process. We all want to see a decent, well-planned travel system but this is not the way to go about it. Everybody should be involved, not just big business. Yours faithfully
Letter 2 Dear Sir/Madam The announcement that the Stansted extension will go ahead will mean a noise pollution and traffic nightmare for tens of thousands of people living near and around the airport. It must be stopped before it is too late. The new terminal will bring a horrendous increase in traffic. It is estimated that there will be an increase of over 30 million passengers every year. This is totally unacceptable and we must fight to the death to oppose it. It is simply dreadful that the people of North Essex be made to suffer for the greed of the rest of the country. It is disgraceful and totally unnecessary that noise and air pollution should be allowed to grow to what will be a deadly level. Yours faithfully
Text A As part of a healthy, balanced diet, you should consume fewer foods and drinks that are high in sugars. Sugary foods and drinks can cause tooth decay, especially if you have them between meals. Many foods that contain added sugars also contain lots of calories but often have few other nutrients. Eating these foods frequently can contribute to becoming overweight. Being overweight can increase your risk of health conditions such as: heart disease type 2 diabetes stroke. NHS (2018) How much sugar is good for me? [Online]. Available at www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/how-much-sugar-is-good-for-me/ (Accessed 20 February 2019).
Text B As I bite into a fresh apple, I stop to think about what I am eating. I am consuming a fruit, which means I am absorbing fructose. And what is fructose? A SUGAR (cue scary music)! In a world where the consumption of sugar is being slammed (for good reason), it concerns me that all sugar is being treated equally, and it shouldn’t be. While some sugary foods should be avoided like the plague, others, if consumed appropriately, can be your friend. Colquhoun, J. (2014) How much sugar is really OK? [Online]. Available at www.foodmatters.com/article/how-much-sugar-is-really-ok (Accessed 20 February 2019).
Type of text | Audience | Purpose | Language and layout |
---|---|---|---|
Birthday card | Person whose birthday it is | To show you have remembered their birthday and wish them well | Short message, informal |
News article on house prices and mortgages | General public | To give information about different kinds of mortgage scheme | Headline, picture, short paragraphs |
Text message | Receiver of text message | To give information or a greeting | Very short with abbreviations |
Children’s bedtime story | Children | To entertain | Short sentences, pictures, bright colours |
Health and safety email | Company employees | To give up-to-date information on health and safety regulations | Short, simple with headings and pictures |
Slimming magazine | Readers interested in weight loss | To inform, advise and entertain | Contents, articles, letters, pictures, adverts |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF A TRIANGULAR BANDAGE Ask the casualty to sit down and support the injured limb. Place the forearm across the chest with the fingertips resting on the opposite shoulder. Place an open bandage over the forearm and hand with its point along the elbow. Still supporting the forearm ease the base of the bandage around the hand, forearm and elbow. Carry the end across the back and over to the front of the uninjured shoulder. Gently adjust the height of the sling if necessary and using a reef knot tie the two ends together in front of the hollow above the collarbone.
Text 3 To the Editor Dear Sir/Madam The number of cars dumped in the city is now beyond a joke. It is absolutely horrendous that no one is taking an interest in something which is causing such a danger to our children. The situation needs to be tackled NOW, not tomorrow. If nothing is done quickly someone will be killed and our Town Councillors will have blood on their hands. Yours not very faithfully Anne Angry
Type of text | Features of language or layout | Why it has these features |
---|---|---|
Article from a tabloid newspaper on obesity | ||
A government report on obesity | ||
A poster informing people about the health risks of obesity |
This report has been written to document an accident that occurred on Monday 15 July 2018 in the wood store at Maverick Workshops. The driver involved in the accident was Jon Collins. Jon was driving the forklift truck and appears to have lost control when it skidded. It is suspected that this was due to a patch of oil on the floor, which had been left by one of the company’s fleet lorries. In the event Jon was quite badly hurt, so an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital. He has a broken his arm and will be off work for the next five weeks. It is suggested that the company investigate where the oil came from and inspect the steering on the forklift truck, as this is the third accident this week.
Terms of reference The Town Council had expressed concern that there seems to be a growing problem with crime and general disorder in the town and they asked for recommendations as to how the situation could be improved. They requested this account of crime in Southland. Methodology The information that follows is based on a survey of three wards in the town over the past two years. The survey was carried out by a local market research company and cost £75,000. Findings The total number of recorded crimes in Southland in 2018 was 14,777. This represents a crime rate of about 123 per 1,000 residents; that is considerably higher than the rates for both Southland and Northamptonshire as a whole. It is also a quarter higher than for England and Wales as a whole. The most frequently recorded crimes in the area were burglary and crime against motor vehicles. A comparison of recorded crime in the following year paints a similar picture. There was a slight improvement over the previous year but the percentages remains higher than both the county and the national average. The most common crimes nationally are assault and offences against cars. National assault rates include grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and a range of offences against the person. Burglary is the third most common crime nationally with aggravated burglary being the least common offence. The figures show that during the two years in question there were a total of 4,500 known offenders in Southland. A breakdown of the information illustrates that 77% of these were male, most offences were committed by offenders aged between 13 and 27, 67% of all motor vehicle crime was committed by offenders under the age of 16, the most common offence committed by offenders aged 18 to 20 was burglary. In addition to recorded crime, Southland Police have also kept records of other incidents reported to them. These are not actual crimes in the sense the perpetrators have committed a criminal offence, but they have given rise to complaints from local residents. These can be divided into juvenile nuisances and breach of the peace. Local vandalism is included in this, as are breaches of the peace such as drunkenness and obstruction. Residents suggested that juvenile nuisance and breach of the peace were the biggest causes for concern. There was a widespread feeling that facilities for young people were totally inadequate and the main complaints were about teenagers ‘hanging around’, noisy neighbours and gangs, bad street lighting and young people drinking in public places. The majority of all age groups felt safe in the town centre but this fell at night. This appears to be in line with the experiences of towns and cities on a national scale, where the character of the town centre is often different to that of the rest of the town. Recommendations The Report makes the following recommendations: an increased police presence in the town centre, the introduction of CCTV cameras in the town centre, the provision of better facilities for younger people, and an increase in car park security systems.
Findings Number of crimes The total number of recorded crimes in Southland in 2018 was 14,777. This represents a crime rate of about 123 per 1,000 residents; that is considerably higher than the rates for both Southland and Northamptonshire as a whole. It is also a quarter higher than for England and Wales as a whole. Types of crime The most frequently recorded crimes in the area were burglary and crime against motor vehicles. A comparison of recorded crime in the following year paints a similar picture. There was a slight improvement over the previous year but the percentages remains higher than both the county and the national average. The national picture The most common crimes nationally are assault and offences against cars. National assault rates include grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and a range of offences against the person. Burglary is the third most common crime nationally with aggravated burglary being the least common offence. Types of offenders The figures show that during the two years in question there were a total of 4,500 known offenders in Southland. A breakdown of the information illustrates that 77% of these were male, most offences were committed by offenders aged between 13 and 27, 67% of all motor vehicle crime was committed by offenders under the age of 16, the most common offence committed by offenders aged 18 to 20 was burglary.A breakdown of the information illustrates that: Other types of crime In addition to recorded crime, Southland Police have also kept records of other incidents reported to them. These are not actual crimes in the sense the perpetrators have committed a criminal offence, but they have given rise to complaints from local residents. These can be divided into juvenile nuisances and breach of the peace. Local vandalism is included in this, as are breaches of the peace such as drunkenness and obstruction. Residents suggested that juvenile nuisance and breach of the peace were the biggest causes for concern. There was a widespread feeling that facilities for young people were totally inadequate and the main complaints were about teenagers ‘hanging around’, noisy neighbours and gangs, bad street lighting and young people drinking in public places. The town centre The majority of all age groups felt safe in the town centre but this fell at night. This appears to be in line with the experiences of towns and cities on a national scale, where the character of the town centre is often different to that of the rest of the town.
The figures show that during the two years in question there were a total of 4,500 known offenders in Southland. A breakdown of the information illustrates that: 77% of these were male most offences were committed by offenders aged between 13 and 27 67% of all motor vehicle crime was committed by offenders under the age of 16 the most common offence committed by offenders aged 18 to 20 was burglary.
The Report makes the following recommendations: an increased police presence in the town centre the introduction of CCTV cameras in the town centre the provision of better facilities for younger people an increase in car park security systems.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Helps you get to grips with the task. | The task takes longer. |
Allows you to concentrate on your ideas without worrying about spelling and presentation. | Tires you out! |
Gives you time to really think about how best to express yourself. | |
Gives you a chance to change your mind. |
If you ask someone to read what you have written and point out any problems, be prepared for criticism. You may not like being told that your writing doesn’t make sense (or is poorly punctuated or full of spelling errors), but you did ask for feedback. The best policy is just to accept the other person’s observations and say ‘thank you’ (they have taken the time to read your work, after all). You can ignore everything they said, of course, but normally it is worth looking carefully at anything they had a problem with.
The cat sat on the mat.
What is the problem?
The information on the website.
41 Elm Walk
Newport
LM1 8HUNewport Rentals
PO Box 71
Newport29 March 2019 Dear Ms Edwardes Re: Monthly rental for 41 Elm Walk We are writing to tell you that we are changing the amount of rent you pay for number 41 Elm Walk. This will take effect from 1st May 2019. The new amount and the way we have calculated it are shown on the next page. Please read the notes we have sent with this letter. They tell you what changes you must tell us about. You can tell us about any changes online. Yours sincerely Mr Matthew Meadows
Date: 12.04.19 To: All cleaning staff From: Head of Service Re: Clocking on before changing into uniform cc: Safta Iqbal, Hygiene Manager It has come to my attention that some staff have been clocking on before changing into uniform. I wish to remind you that this is strictly against company policy and must stop. I understand the time involved amounts only to five or ten minutes per person. Please note, however, that the Hygiene department employs over 60 staff. Five or ten minutes per person for 60 people costs the company five or ten hours per day. We cannot afford this loss of time. From now on, disciplinary action will be taken against any member of staff found clocking on before they have changed. Thank you for your co-operation. Kind regards [Your name]
Situation | |
---|---|
Pub discussion about football. | Informal |
Short presentation to a group of teenagers about sexual health. | Semi-formal |
Conversation with a friend about a party you went to. | Informal |
Description in a job interview of how you handle difficult situations. | Formal |
Email to a friend about arrangements for a holiday. | Semi-formal |
Incident report at work. | Formal |
Discussion with friends about music. | Informal |
Letter to train operator complaining about cancelled services. | Formal |
Telephone message from a client to your manager. | Formal |
Text message to your partner to meet you after work. | Informal |
Pat Smith
14 Acacia Avenue
Trumpton Medley
Herts TM2 4SD[Today’s date] Mrs Knightsbridge
Branch Manager
Oxford and Cambridge Bank
14 The Crescent
London NW1 3RRDear Mrs Knightsbridge Re: account number H122345EE request to let property I am writing further to my telephone call yesterday to request permission to let 14 Acacia Avenue. I have recently accepted an appointment as On-board Entertainment Co-ordinator with Deluxe Cruise Lines. My contract is for 18 months (I enclose a copy for your information) and I am due to take up my new post at the end of next month. The job requires me to live on board ship and I will be away from 14 Acacia Avenue for the length of the contract. During this period, I propose to let the property. I have already spoken to several local estate agents who assure me it will be easy to find suitable tenants from the university or nearby hospital. To protect the property in my absence I would use the services of a managing agent. I understand that, in the current market, the property will command a monthly rental of £550. Please note that whether I let the property or not, I shall continue making mortgage payments (£450 a month) by direct debit. I would be grateful if you could confirm that you have no objection to my letting 14 Acacia Avenue while I am abroad. Yours sincerely Pat Smith
The dog bit Ben. (Active) Ben was bitten by the dog. (Passive)
They all find the machines on the new line difficult to operate.
Operating difficulties are being experienced with the machines on the new line.
No one I spoke to could tell me anything about it.
No information was available.
Active voice For my end-of-year project, I prepared a poll of public transport use in my street. I interviewed my neighbours in their homes and created a spreadsheet to record and analyse the data. I completed the project by the due date and achieved a pass.
Passive voice A poll on public transport use in my street was prepared by me for my end-of-year project. My neighbours were interviewed in their homes and a spreadsheet was created to record and analyse the data. The project was completed by the due date and a pass was achieved.
BENEFIT FRAUDSTER IS FINED Walkland District Council issued a warning this week after a mail order clerk was fined for fraudulently obtaining benefits. Thomas Wilkinson, aged 64 of south London, admitted three charges at the Magistrates Court of fraudulently obtaining benefits amounting to £7,500. He admitted failing to disclose income from distributing mail order goods during part-time employment. Wilkinson was sentenced to 200 hours Community Service and is currently repaying the money. John Stevens of the Walkland District Council Finance Office said ‘genuine’ claimants have nothing to fear, but the Council takes a very serious view of housing benefit fraud. Any changes in circumstances should be referred to the District Council immediately.