GSP Grammar, Vocabulary, Punctuation Formal and Informal Writing

Activity 1: Language features of Formal and Informal Writing

Tick the appropriate column. Language features 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Contractions, e.g. Id, Hes Phrasal verbs, e.g. get on with Passive voice, e.g. The price has been increased Adjectives, intensifiers, extreme language e.g. absolutely unbelievable Using a lot of the following punctuation marks: ! - ? Linking words like, e.g. nevertheless, furthermore, conversely, at present Leaving out words in short phrases, e.g. Just read your note Linking words like, e.g. I mean, so, by the way, at any rate, talking about, and, but Single word verbs e.g. to retain, to depart Formal writing Informal writing

10. Starting a sentence with And or But or Because 11. Colourful language for expressing opinions and emotions e.g. To be quite honest, Believe it or not, Guess what? 12. Phrases for shared knowledge, e.g. as you know, Just like you said, If you know what I mean 13. Personal pronouns, e.g. I, you, me, they 14. Complex sentences, i.e. sentences using a number of clauses linked by linking words 15. Vague language, e.g. thing, stuff, it, this, those 16. Rhetorical questions, e.g. Did you know that? 17. Expressing ideas strongly, e.g. Nuclear power is the only way forward. 18. Using tentative / hedging language e.g. It is possible that nuclear power / It seems that

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Activity 2: Formal / Informal Language: Practice activity

Fold this piece of paper in half longways so that you cannot see the right hand column. Now read the informal statement in the left hand column and try to think of a formal alternative. There are many possible altervatives, read the right hand column for some suggestions. Informal Statement I think that Tip: Be tentative (soft language) when giving your judgement. Finding enough water for everyone in the world is still a huge problem... Tip: Use formal nouns and adjectives not emotional or extreme language. Nobody can say how climate change will affect water supply. Tip: Dont use words which refer to people informally (I, you, them, everyone, nobody) They did a survey on the way people use water. Tip: Try the passive voice. And us? We should use water more carefully at home. Tip: Dont start the sentence with and, dont ask the reader questions and take the personal pronoun out (we). Because the worlds water supply is finite Tip: Dont start a sentence with and, but or because. Use formal linking words instead. In this essay, I will look at..... Tip: Get rid of I, formal verb for look at In this essay, x y z will be discussed / analysed / evaluated etc. Domestic water usage should be more carefully monitored. A survey on water usage was conducted. It is impossible to predict how climate change will affect water supply. A possible formal alternative from the evidence presented above, it seems that OR it could be argued that

Finding sufficient water for the global population remains a significant challenge.

Due to the fact that the worlds water supply is finite

Answer KEY for Activity 1: 1. Inf, 2.Inf, 3. For, 4. Inf, 5. Inf, 6. Form, 7. Inf, 8. Inf, 9. Form, 10. Inf, 11. Inf, 12. Inf, 13. Inf, 14. Form, 15. Inf., 16. Inf, 17. Inf, 18. Form.