Unit 8 Final task

[Ana Ma Buñuel]

UNIT 8 FINAL TASK
Title. English File 3rd edition upper-intermediate
Level 2 BAT. Unit 1
Topic of the unit. Call the doctor/Older and wiser
The aim of the writing activity in unit 1 is How to write an informal email to a friend. It introduces useful Language when writing informally, the use of contractions, compound adjectives, comparatives, present perfect and present perfect continuous
First students read a mail, then they have to highlight twelve mistakes, correct them, read some useful Language and finally answer that mail a friend has written. I think the book has a product approach, students are guided through some series of activities although eventually they have to produce something different, an answer to that mail. I feel there are a lot of product-focused activities students have to work on first but then they have to create their own afterwards, an answer to a mail they haven’t seen. That would be process-oriented writing, right? Maybe first students should brainstorm words to describe illnesses and Health condition, but the book also offers that in the Vocabulary section with exercises where students have to identify words connected with minor illnesses and injuries, more serious conditions and phrasal verbs connected with illness. That is why I like English File and have used it for a long time, I think it is a really complete book.
In my opinion, whether it is creative writing (process) or guided writing (product), students need to learn by example first, whatever their age is, they need to read samples of in this case informal writing and only then we must allow them to be creative.

[Oksana_Gavrish]

You are going to evaluate the writing component of a unit of a coursebook that you are familiar with.

Title Superminds 2
Level Starters
Unit 4
Topic of the unit My town
Main linguistic and communicative aims: by the end of the lesson students will be able to use prepositions of place, to use the structure "has got" and to describe the location of places on the map, describe their dream town.
Activities:
1. Match the pictures with the sentances.
2. Look at the map and answer "yes/no" questions.
3. Look at the map and fill in the gaps with prepositions of place.
4. Read the story and color the places according to the text.
5. Read the sentances and draw the pictures if places and their location. Discuss your pictures in pairs.
6. Draw the map of your dream town , draw at least 5 places there, write 5 sentances using the structure "has got", present your town in small groups and share ideas about interesting places you have heard about and give your ideas about some interesing places you can add to your partner.

The book takes a process and a product approach. Some tasks are modelled and strict others are easily changable according to personal aims and context.
Choose one writing activity from the unit.
Draw the map of your dream town , draw at least 5 places there, write 5 sentances using the structure "has got". I think it's prosessed focused activity and we can make it product if we give strict model of the descriptions, of each sentances with multiple choices of some words.

[Irina]

Title Face 2 Face
Level B1+ Imtermediate
Unit 3
Topic Holiday arrangements
The aim of the writing activity is how to write a formal letter using American and British English with travel phrasal verbs.
First, sts read the sentences about formal letters and correct the false statements. Then read the sample and choose the correct answer. I think it's used the process - oriented and product approaches with lots of structure and grammar-vocabulary activities. The book offers the Help with Writing sections with grammar and vocabulary evercises that would help sts to diversity their structures.
Aftrer working with the sample letter sts have to choose the topic of the letter from the list and follow the writting structure. This book contains the plan for writing: 1)Use the notes; 2) Organise your letter correctly;3)Use new vocabulary;4) Read and check for mistakes;5)Give your letter to your teacher
As for me, it's really usefull to have the clear instructions how to write the letter using new grammar and vocabulary. Sts learn by example first and then use their creativity for writing.