Prime Time 6, Coursebook mit Audio-CD und DVD

Example answer To: Mr Martens From: Michael Berger Subject: Mobile phones at school Introduction Probably every student has a mobile phone. We use them as alarm clocks, calculators, to help with exam revision, to pay telephone bills and buy train tickets, to send photos of ourselves – and even to talk with other people. And that’s where the problems can start. As requested, I have prepared a report on the current situation of mobile phone usage at our school, as teachers have continuously been complaining about students over-using their mobile phones in class. Current situation At the moment all students are allowed to bring their mobile phones to school. The current situation is unsatisfactory as many teachers find that the lessons are being disturbed. It is true that some students use their phones quite often during classes. They send text messages, play games or look at photos they have taken. Nevertheless, most students switch their phones off before the lessons start. Why phones are important Mobile phones are very important for almost all teenagers. It is, for example, important to give your parents a call when school finishes early so that they can pick you up. Furthermore, phones are used in multiple ways: as cameras, calculators or organisers. Suggestion To sum up, we should find a solution that is fair to everyone, instead of banning all mobile phones from school. One way to deal with the problem could be to have students switch off their phones before lessons. If students neglect this law, their mobiles should be taken away until the end of the school day, without exception. Useful tips Starting off Before you start, it is important that you understand the situation. The heading at the beginning is: To: … From: … Subject: … Introduction Start with a general description of the task. Language Use formal and factual language. Only include relevant facts and details. Give short and clear information. Use reported speech to write about what people told you. Often the passive is used in reports. When writing factual reports, you may also need to use the five Ws: Who? What? When? Where? Why? (and sometimes How?). Paragraphs Use separate paragraphs for each main point. Use clear headings for your paragraphs. Conclusion Write your suggestions and recommendations at the end of the report. It is OK to use “I”. 169 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv