8/3/2019 Activity GSP Formal Informal Language and Grammar

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Learner Development Unithttp://www.brad.ac.uk/learner-development/

GSP Grammar, Vocabulary, Punctuation

Formal and Informal Writing

Activity 1: Language features of Formal and Informal Writing

Tick the appropriate column.

Language features Formalwriting

Informalwriting

1. Contractions, e.g. Id, Hes

2. Phrasal verbs, e.g. get on with

3. Passive voice, e.g. The price has been increased

4. Adjectives, intensifiers, extreme language e.g.absolutely unbelievable

5. Using a lot of the following punctuation marks: ! - ?

6. Linking words like, e.g. nevertheless, furthermore,conversely, at present

7. Leaving out words in short phrases, e.g. Just readyour note

8. Linking words like, e.g. I mean, so, by the way, atany rate, talking about, and, but

9. Single word verbs e.g. to retain, to depart

10. Starting a sentence with And or But or Because

11. Colourful language for expressing opinions andemotions 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 numberof 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 theonly way forward.

18. Using tentative / hedging language e.g. It is possible

that nuclear power / It seemsthat

8/3/2019 Activity GSP Formal Informal Language and Grammar

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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 formalalternative. There aremany possible altervatives, read the right hand column for somesuggestions.

Informal Statement A possible formal alternativeI thinkthat

Tip: Be tentative (soft language) whengiving your judgement.

from the evidence presented above,it seemsthat ORit could be arguedthat

Finding enough water for everyone inthe world is still a huge problem...

Tip: Use formal nouns and adjectives notemotional or extreme language.

Finding sufficient water for the globalpopulation remains a significantchallenge.

Nobody can say how climate changewill affect water supply.

Tip: Dont use words which refer topeople informally (I, you, them, everyone,nobody)

It is impossible to predict how climatechange will affect water supply.

They did a survey on the way people use

water.

Tip: Try the passive voice.

A survey on water usage was conducted.

And us? We should use water morecarefully at home.

Tip: Dont start the sentence with and,dont ask the reader questions and takethe personal pronoun out (we).

Domestic water usage should be morecarefully monitored.

Because the worlds water supply isfinite

Tip: Dont start a sentence with and,but or because. Use formal linkingwords instead.

Due to the fact thatthe worlds watersupply is finite

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.

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.