Third Edition

An opinion essay / article
Your local authority has decided that a supermarket chain can build a store on some nearby playing fields. Write an article for an internet discussion forum.

Explain why you disagree with the decision.
Present the advantages of green spaces in towns.
Describe a memorable event that took place there.
Suggest a better location for the supermarket and give reasons.

C

D

YourTown.com

I strongly disagree with the plan to build a supermarket on ^;
the playing fields near our schooUiPirstiyj it will mean losing
an important facility for recreation. People of all ages use the
fields for jogging, playing sports and having picnics. Secondly,:
it will cause an increase in traffic around the school.
Green spaces are particularly important in towns. They provide a space where people can escape from noise and pollution. Moreover, they make the whole area more attractive.
Last November, there was a firework display on the playing fields. Hundreds of people attended and the event raised a lot of money for charity.
In my view, it would be better to build a new supermarket next to the station. The buildings there are mostly empty. In addition, it would be much more convenient for customers for the supermarket to be on the ring road. A new supermarket would improve this part of town.
;In conclusion, I oppose the plan to build a supermarket on the playing fields. I believe the playing fields are important to the local community. It would be better to build the supermarket close to the station.

S

• Begin by re-stating the main context of the task.

• 
  Use words like Firstly... and Secondly... to sequence your points.
  
• 
  Avoid using very informal language in an essay or article.
  

• Use a variety of expressions for introducing opinons like It seems to me..., In my view, In my opinion.... etc. and for making additional points, Moreover, Furthermore, etc.

• 
  Use concession clauses like although, even though etc. at the beginning or end of a sentence.
  
• 
  You must cover all of the points in the task.
  
• 
  If you divide your essay or article into paragraphs, it is a good idea to have one paragraph for each point in the task.
  

Finish by summing up your arguments.

Writing Bank ^

19

j Functions Bank
[

Talking about likes and dislikes



Asking for / Giving advice

What can I do? (1C)
Can I ask your advice about something? (1C) I think / don’tthinkyou should ... (1C)
Why don’t you...? (1C)
You need to... (1C)
You have to... (1C)
...That's my advice. (1C)
You’re right. Thanks foryour advice. (1C)

Reacting and showing interest

You're joking / kidding! (1G)
How boring/funny/frustrating/exciting/upsetting/awful! (1G) That’s amazing / exciting / worrying / shocking! (1G)
That sounds great /terrible / annoying /terrifying! (1G)
What a cool thing to do! (1G)
Really? I’m so envious! (1G)
Really? What a relief! (1G)
That sounds like a nightmare! (1G)
Oh no! What a disaster / shame! (1G)

Describing a photo

The photo shows... (2G)
in the foreground / background (2G)
in the top left corner / bottom right corner (2G)
at the top / bottom (2G)
on the left / right (2G)
in the centre (2G)
It looks like a ... (2G)
It looks as if they’re... (2G)
She seems to be... (2G)

Speculating about a photo

She’s probably feeling... and... (2G)
I expect they’re feeling..., but maybe a bit... (2G) Judging by..., I’d say... (2G)
To me, they look as if they’re feeling... (2G)
It can't be... because... (4G)
It must be... because... (4G)

Making suggestions

Shall we... ? (2H)
Let’s... (2H)
Do you fancy... ? (2H)
How / What about... ? (2H) It would be nice to... (2H) We could always... (2H) Why don’t we...? (6G)

Expressing likes and dislikes

I quite fancy... /I don’t really fancy (3G) I’m / I'm not a big fan of... (3G)
I’m / I’m not keen on... (3G)
I adore... /1 can’t stand ... (3G)

Expressing a preference

I'd rather... (3G)
I’d prefer (to)... (3G)
I think... will be better / more fun, etc. (3G)

Reaching an agreement

Shall we settle on ... ? (3G) OK, I agree. (3G)
That’s agreed, then. (3G) That’s a great idea. (3G)

Expressing opinions

I think/I don’t think that... (4E)
In my opinion,... (4E)
I believe / don’t believe that... (4E) It seems to me that... (4E)
To be honest,... (4E)
As I see it,... (4E)
I imagine that... (8G)

Functions Bank

Agreeing and disagreeing

I agree / disagree with (Emma) that... (4E)
(Tom) is right / wrong to say that... because... (4E) It’s true that... (4E)
I don’t agree that... (9D)
I agree that... (9D)
I’m not sure that... (9D)
I wouldn’t say that... (9D)

Comparing and contrasting: similarities

The common theme in the photos is... (4G) You can see... in both photos. (4G)
Both photos show... (4G)
In both photos there are... (4G)

Comparing and contrasting: differences

The first photo shows..., whereas the second photo shows... (4G) In the first photo..., but in the second photo... (4G)
One obvious difference is (that)... (4G)
Unlike the first photo, the second photo shows... (4G)
In contrast to the first photo, the second photo... (4G)

Expressing no preference

don't mind. (6G)

Either suggestion is fine by me. (6G)

They’re both good ideas. (6G)

Structuring your speech

I'd like to start by saying / looking at... (7G)
First of all, we need to decide / examine / look at / ask ourselves... (7G) I'll begin with ... (7G)
Now I’d like to move on to... (7G)
This leads to my next point. (7G)
Now let’s look at / move on to (the question of...) (7G)

Ordering points or opinions

First,... Second,... Finally,... (7G)

Justifying your opinions

There are a number of reasons why I believe this. First,... (7G) I’ll tell you why I think that. (7G)
The reason I say that is... (7G)
The main reason I feel this way is... (7G)

Making contrasts

I'm sure I’ll enjoy it even though ... (5G)
Although it’s..., it will be very... (SG)
The job is quite.... However, I really don’t want to work in a ... (5G)
The... isn’t very good. Nevertheless, I’m choosing this job because I’m interested in ... (5G)

Accepting a suggestion

That sounds like a great idea. (6G) What a good idea! (6G)
I like that idea. (6G)
That’s a really good plan.
Yes. Why not? (6G)
Let’s do that. (6G)

Summing up your opinion

To sum up,... / In conclusion,... / All in all,... (7G) Just to summarise the main points... (7G)

Giving a tentative opinion

I’m not sure really. (8G)
I agree to some extent. (8G) i suppose it’s true to say that... (8G)

Making an additional point

Moreover,... (8G)

Furthermore,... (8G)

What is more,... (8G)

Declining a suggestion

I’m not sure about that. (6G)
I don't think that’s a great idea. (6G) I’m not very keen on that idea. (6G) I’d rather not. (6G)

Making a complaint

There's a problem / something wrong with ... (9G)
It’s broken. (9G)
It doesn’t work. / It has stopped working. (9G)
Can I have my money back, please? (9G)
Can you exchange / repair it? (9G)
Can I see / speak to the manager, please? (9G)

Functions Bank

. Wordlist

Unit I
beard (n)	/biod/
black (adj)	/blaek/
board games (n)	/'bo:d geimz/
bowling (n)	/'boulig/
brown (adj)	/braon/
canteen (n)	/kacn'tiin/
chemistry (n)	/'kemistri/
chess (n)	/tjes/
classroom (n)	/'klu:sru:m/
coat (n)	/koot/
corridor (n)	/'knrido:(r)/
curly (adj)	/'kadi/
dance (n)	/da: ns/
dark (adj)	/da:k/
desk (n)	/desk/
drama (n)	/'draimo/
drawing (n)	/'droag/
fair (adj)	/feo(r)/
geography (n)	/d3i'Dgrofi/
gym (n)	/d3im/
hair (n)	/heo(r)/
hall (n)	/ho:l/
hat (n)	/hset/
homework (n)	/'hoomwaik/
ice skating (n)	/‘ais skeitig/
interactive whiteboard (n)	/.intor'asktiv 'waitboid/
IT [information technology] (n)	/,ai 'ti:/, /mfo'ineifn tek,nnlod3i/
jacket (n)	/'d3aekit/
jumper (n)	/'d3Ampo(r)/
laptop (n)	/'teptDp/
leggings (n)	/'legrgz/
long (adj)	/log/
moustache (n)	/mo'sta:]'/
music (n)	/'mjuizik/
noticeboard (n)	/'nootisboid/
PE [physical education] (n)	/,pi: 'i:/, /'fizikl ,ed3u'kei/n/
picnic (n)	/'piknik/
playing field (n)	/'pleng fi:ld/
reception (n)	/ri'sepjn/
red (adj)	/red/
shirt (n)	/|3:t/
short (adj)	/fo:t/
skateboarding (n)	/'skeitboidig/
staff room (n)	/'sta:fru:m/
straight (adj)	/streit/
sweatshirt (n)	/'s wet|'-j:t/
textbook (n)	/'tekstbuk/
tie (n)	/tai/
trousers (n)	/'traozaz/
video games (n)	/'vidioo geimz/

walk (n)	/wo:k/
wavy (adj)	/' weivi/
whiteboard (n)	/'waitboid/
Unit!
a bit (adv)	/o bit/
a little bit (adv)	/o 'litl bit/
annoyed (adj)	/o'noid/
annoying (adj)	/o'nong/
anxious (adj)	/‘aegkjbs/
ashamed (adj)	/o'J'eimd/
ask for (phrv)	/u:sk fa/
bleed (v)	/bli:d/
blood (n)	/bUd/
bored (adj)	/bo:d/
boring (adj)	/'bo.-rig/
break (your arm) (v)	/breik/
broken (arm) (adj)	/'brookon/
bruise (n,v)	/bru:z/
burn (v)	/b3:n/
confused (adj)	/kon'fjuizd/
confusing (adj)	/kon'fjuizig/
cross (adj)	/krns/
cut (n, v)	/kAt/
delighted (adj)	/di'laitid/
disappointed (adj)	/.diso'pointid/
disgusted (adj)	/dis'gAstid/
disgusting (adj)	/dis'gAStig/
embarrassed (adj)	/im'brerost/
embarrassing (adj)	/im'baerosig/
envious (adj)	/'envios/
excited (adj)	/ik'saiticl/
exhausted (adj)	/ig'zoistid/
exhausting (adj)	/ig'zoistig/
extremely (adv)	/ik'striimli/
fall (over) (v)	/fail/
find out (phrv)	/faind aot/
frightened (adj)	/'fraitnd/
frightening (adj)	/'fraitnig/
get over (phrv)	/get 'oovo(r)/
hurt (v)	/h3:t/
injure (yourself) (v)	/Tnd30(r)/
injury (n)	/'ind3ori/
interested (adj)	/'mtrostid/
interesting (adj)	/‘intrastig/
look at (phrv)	/lok aot/
own up (phrv)	/oun Ap/
pain (n)	/pein/
proud (adj)	/praod/
put back (phrv)	/put brek/
rather (adv)	/'ra:do(r)/
relieved (adj)	/ri'liivd/
satisfied (adj)	/'stetisfaid/

«/

Wordlist



satisfying (adj) shocked (adj) shocking (adj) slip (over) (v) sprain (n, v) surprised (adj) surprising (adj) suspicious (adj) talk about (phrv) tired (adj) tiring (adj) trip (over) (v) upset (adj) very (adv) worried (adj) worrying (adj)
Unit 2
accomplish (v) accomplishment (n) achieve (v) achievement (n) across (prep) along (prep) astonishing (adj) athletic (adj) attempt (n, v) awful (adj) behind (prep) beside (prep) boots (n) brave (adj) brilliant (adj) cave (n) cliff (n) complete (v) completion (n) dark (adj) deep (adj) delicious (adj) desert (n) develop (v) development (n) dinghy (n) down (prep) dream (n,v) employ (v) employment (n) entertain (v) entertainment (n) erupt (v) eruption (n) examination (n)

/'saMisfamj/
/Jbkt/