Writing exercise 1

Exercise 1: Common or logical combination

Decide which two texts you can combine. Write the number in order.
For example: 1/18 or 18/1.
Some combinations may only occur in one order. Note all the punctuation and capital letters for the beginning of sentences have been removed. Note you may use each text once only.
1. if more money is invested in management training
2. another possibility would be to make practical subjects like woodwork compulsory in all schools
3. the government needs to take action against football hooliganism soon
4. the cost of housing for essential workers living in city centres ought to be subsidised
5. otherwise it will deteriorate rapidly
6. but it must no be confused with change for change’s sake
7. being more aware of the benefits of a healthy diet than ever before
8. the number of people joining teaching unions has increased
9. many workers will lose their job
10. so that they are preserved for future generations
11. because it is now much too expensive for certain key workers to afford
12. nothing whatsoever is being done
13. knowing the extent of the problem
14. thus decreasing the over-emphasis on academic subjects
15. areas of the world like Antarctica should be left untouched
16. in fact membership has gone up quite impressively
17. unless productivity is increased
18. industrial output will increase dramatically
19. we should all be avoiding junk food
20. although the situation is desperate
21. the situation needs to be tackled now
22. it is obvious that innovation needs to be encouraged


Exercise 2: Flexibility in combining sentences
Insert the appropriate connecting words and phrases from the list below into the pairs of sentences, which follow. Keep the meaning of the sentences in each pair the same. You may use some of the items from the list more than once and in some cases there may be more than one answer.
Connector list

1. otherwise
2. much as
3. so
4. once
5. so…that…
6. although
7. therefore
8. having
9. as
10. although…yet…
11. however
12. so much so
13. moreover
14. even so
15. so that
16. but
17. as well as
18. though
19. in order to
20. so as not
21. nevertheless
22. while
23. despite
24. Take…This…
25. For example

1. A. Personal computers are becoming cheaper and cheaper every year. Moreover, the functions they are now able to perform make them even more attractive.
B. As well as becoming cheaper and cheaper every year, the functions of personal computers are now able to perform make them even more attractive

2. A. _____________ what is being suggested is difficult to believe, the idea needs to be considered seriously.
B. What is being suggested is difficult to believe, _____________the idea needs to be considered seriously.

3. A. _____________ it is hard to agree to such sweeping changes, _____________ they must be implemented.
B. It is hard to agree to such sweeping changes, _____________, they must be implemented.

4. A. The policy was adopted _____________ fraud would be decreased rather than increased.
B. The policy was adopted _____________ decrease rather than increase fraud.

5. A. _____________the President disapproved of the Priminister, he still had to accept his nomination.
B. _____________his disapproval of the Priminister, the President still had to accept his nomination.

6. A. Newspapers and magazines need to be made from more recycled paper than the present average of 60%; _____________, more and more forests might be endangered.
B. Newspapers and magazines need to be made from more recycled paper than the present average of 60% _____________ to endanger more and more forests .

7. A. There was a sharp decline in the popularity of the party._____________, that happened some considerable time before the present party executives were in place.
B. There was a sharp decline in the popularity of the party._____________that happened some considerable time before the present party executives were in place.

8. A. Unpalatable _____________ they may be, the changes are neccesary.
B. _____________ the changes may be unpalatable, they are neccesary.
9. A. The rate of increase in prices has slowed down considerably, _____________ that some governments are worried more about deflation then inflation.
B. The rate of increase in prices has slowed down _____________ considerably _____________ some governments are worried more about deflation then inflation.

10. A. _____________ built up a large network of contacts, the company found it easier to market its products.
B. _____________ they had built up a large network of contacts, the company found it easier to market its products.

11. A. The road toll system proved very successful. _____________, the government has decided to back the scheme financially.
B. The road toll system proved very successful. _____________the government has decided to back the scheme financially.

12. A. _____________, introducing stiffer penalties for traffic violations is by far the best way to deal with the increase in road fatalities.
B. _____________the introduction of stiffer penalties for traffic violations. _____________is by far the best way to deal with the increase in road fatalities.



Exercise 3: Simple and effective connections in a paragraph
Look at the sentences in the left-hand column below. You can see each sentence contains a main point. Use the connecting words in the column on the right in the order they occur to create a paragraph. Remove all unnecessary repetiion. You will have to change the punctuation and remove some words. For example, you need to remove the words in bold in number 2 to in order to use the word like. You also need to remove the full stop after country at the end of the first sentence.

Sentences Connecting words

1. Money needs to be invested in the infrastructure of the country.
2. An example is the transport system.
3. A number of problems will arise.
4. The transport system will wear out.
5. The transport system will break down.
6. The breaking down of the transport system will cause serious inconvenience to the travelling public.
7. The break down in the transport system and inconvenience to the travelling public will have a knock-on effect.
8. It will have a knock-on effect on the economy in general.
9. More people will turn to cars.
10. The roads will become congested.
11. The congested roads will slow the economy down.

Unless

like

For example,
and
verb+ing


This



[Remove repetition]

with+verb+ing
and+verb+ing
which, in turn,



Exercise 4: Putting ideas into a text.

1. More public funds in many rich western countries need to be invested in skills shortages in certain areas.
2. An example is teacher training and teaching.
3. There will be serious repercussions.
4. The educational system will deteriorate further.
5. The education system will simply collapse.
6. The collapse of the education system will seriously affect the whole of society.
7. The collapse of the education system will have serious consequences.
8. The collapse of the education system will have serious consequences for companies.
9. The companies will turn to other countries where there are no skills shortages to set up new ventures.
10. In my home country, factories are being built in areas where there is a surplus of skilled computing staff.
11. Governments in more developed countries will have less money from taxes to fund training.



EXERCISE 5

1. The jumbled text below gives you practice with predicting the grammar and the function of a paragraph as you write. Write out the 14 pieces of jumbled text in the correct order.
Remember to use grammar as well as meaning to help you.
The first piece of text has been marked for you in bold.

1. of a naion depends on natural resources, but
2. economic, but also the social development of a country suffers.
3. nations fail to invest sufficient funds, for reason or another,
4. Unfortunately, many
5. skilled and healthy workforce.
6. in their health systems.
7. For example, the manufacturing industry needs healthy workers
8. as do the financial and services sectors. Otherwise, not only the
9. A lack of investment in health care, however,
10. health plays an equally important role. Every
11. It is often said that the wealth
12. country requires a
13. now suffer from a workforce that cannot function efficiently.
14. means that these countries