Writing Part 2
Writing an Article

B2 First Exam

Article

Often you will be able to choose to write an article for a magazine or newsletter in part 2. 

The main thing is to make your articles interesting to read, and to give your opinions on the topic. 

Time Management

Both texts are the same amount of words, and worth the same amount of points. Spend 40 minutes per text. Give time to both plan and check your work:

Length: 140-190 words 

Most people want to skip planning and start writing immediately. However, this often leads to disorganized essays. Since you’re being marked on organization, you should plan. You’ll have fewer problems while writing and your work will be easier to read.

Planning

Here's an example question:

You have seen this announcement in an international English language magazine.

My Hometown

Tell us why you love your hometown and why people should visit it at least once. We will publish the most interesting articles in the upcoming weeks.

140 - 190 words

What to write about

Know your Audience

In the example above, we know we are writing for an international English learning magazine. The audience will be readers who are interested in travelling and learning English. Therefore, we want to use a neutral tone that’s a little bit formal.

Know the Topic

The question tells you exactly what you need to write.  There’s no bullet points to guide us this time, but it does say what we must write about:

You have seen this announcement in an international English language magazine.

My Hometown

Tell us why you love your hometown and why people should visit it at least once. We will publish the most interesting articles in the upcoming weeks.

140 - 190 words

Outline

We need to remember to talk about the following: 

For a review or article, I usually break away from my typical 3-paragraph outline. 

For this, I’ll do an intro, two paragraphs for the body, and a conclusion (reiterating why people should visit it).

I’m going to talk about my hometown. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site, so it should be easy. Most people come for two things: the architecture or to see old boats.

190 words actually aren’t a lot. You will not be able to write about too many things for each point. Use this to your advantage, because writing less actually means less chance for mistakes.

Plan your Paragraphs

I’m going to talk about my hometown. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site.

Brainstorming Language

I also brainstorm language that I might use. This helps me write my essay faster:

About the town:

About architecture:

About the boats:

Remember, 190 words actually aren't a lot.

Writing the Article

Here's the question again for reference:

You have seen this announcement in an international English language magazine.

My Hometown

Tell us why you love your hometown and why people should visit it at least once. We will publish the most interesting articles in the upcoming weeks.

140 - 190 words

Title

Let’s start with a quick title: Lunenburg is an Unforgettable Nova Scotian Gem

We can always change our title at the end. 

Introduction

An introduction should have one or two sentences that introduce the place, where it’s located, and what we are writing about.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia is a not-so-hidden gem located on the eastern coast of Canada. Every year, thousands of people flock here this year. By the end of this article, you’ll understand exactly why.

The Body

The body might be a little different from the usual 3-paragraph approach I recommend. I think I’ll do 2 paragraphs, and then a short conclusion reminding everyone why they should see my town.

I’ll be talking about:

Here's what I came up with:

One of the most unique things about Lunenburg is it’s architecture. As it’s one of the oldest British settlements in North America, it has buildings dating back to the 1800s. The Academy, Opera House, and historic churches are all must-see places for any tourist. You can improve your English by taking part in any of the tours that explore these sites.

Lunenburg is also famous for shipbuilding, and is the home port of several famous ships such as the Bluenose. It is also regularly visited by many other wooden sailing ships from around the world.  Additionally, any lover of sailing can visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic on the waterfront. The locals will love to help you learn all about classic ship-building and whaling, as well as fishing on modern ships today.

The Conclusion

The conclusion will finish your piece. Your conclusion should:

My conclusion might read as followed:

As you can see, Lunenburg is a must-see destination for anyone who comes to the area, and a great place to practice your English.

Example

Let’s put it all together with some sequencing words and headers for each section:

Lunenburg: an Unforgettable Gem in Nova Scotia

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia is a not-so-hidden gem on the eastern coast of Canada. Every year, thousands of people flock to this famous historic town situated on the Atlantic Ocean. By the end of this article, you’ll understand why.

BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS

One of the most unique things about Lunenburg is it’s architecture, and historic waterfront. As one of the oldest British settlements in North America, it has buildings dating back to the 1800s. The Academy, Opera House, and historic churches are all must-see places. The tours offered by the locals within the community offer many unique opportunities to improve your English.

BEAUTIFUL SHIPS

Lunenburg is also famous for shipbuilding, and is the home port of several famous ships such as the Bluenose II. It is also regularly visited by many other wooden sailing ships from around the world, and you can often find many ships in its port at any given time.  Additionally, any lover of sailing can visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic on the waterfront. The locals will love to help you learn all about classic ship-building and whaling, as well as fishing on modern ships 

DON’T MISS IT

As you can see, Lunenburg is a must-see destination for anyone in the area, and a unique place to improve your English.

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