Prime Time 7/8, Writing, Arbeitsheft

4 Introduction Features of the book In this book you will find: •• authentic texts on each topic •• tasks to deal with the content •• vocabulary tasks •• tasks to improve language skills •• tasks to train writing •• writing prompts to practise Reading for writing Reading is a perfect way to prepare for writing. Before you start writing a text, read similar texts on the same topic. This will help you to get used to the vocabulary and the way in which such texts are written. In this book you will find a number of sample texts, which will make it easier for you to write your own texts. The other tasks in each section help you to cope with the linguistic challenges during the writing process. How to work with texts In this book you can practise to make the most of authentic texts. •• Look at the sample texts and the layout carefully. •• Copy phrases and expressions from the sample texts. •• Take your time and read the passage again and again. •• Study the beginnings of paragraphs and use similar phrases in your own texts. •• Take a close look at the first and last paragraph of the texts. •• Use a dictionary to look up the words and phrases you don’t understand. •• Only use the words and phrases you really understand. How to acquire vocabulary through reading •• Lift phrases from texts. When practising to write, study authentic texts and change them so that they express what you want to say. It makes sense to keep lists of useful phrases which can be used for certain purposes (e.g. introducing a paragraph, giving reasons). •• Memorise chunks. Set phrases are very typical in English. Make sure you remember them e.g. by using index cards to learn them. •• Collect topic-related vocabulary. In order to do this, make lists or mind maps of words and phrases related to a certain topic. •• Study collocations. Certain words are always used in the same context, e.g. together with the same adjective. We call such typical phrases collocations. In English, collocations are very important because they are so frequent. If you get them right, your English will sound really authentic. •• Do your own research. Before you write a text about a topic, research is very useful to get more ideas and to acquire typical vocabulary. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv