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Tag: Sentence Craft

  • Writing: A Summary of a Text (PDF)

    Writing: A Summary of a Text (PDF)

    Writing a summary of a text is the B1–B2 writing genre that integrates reading and writing skills. The format requires the writer to read a source text, identify its main points (not details), restate them in their own words (avoiding direct quotation), and present them in a coherent shorter version. Learners build the synthesis skill that academic and professional writing both depend on.

    This worksheet builds B1–B2 writing fluency with summary writing.

    What’s inside:

    • A source text with annotated main points
    • A model summary with annotated structure (introduction, body of main points, brief conclusion)
    • Paraphrasing tasks: restate the source’s claims in your own words
    • Summary gap-fill: complete a partial summary using paraphrased phrases
    • Original-summary task: summarise a different text in 100 words
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Distinguishing main points from details at B1–B2 is the central skill — the summary must capture structure, not content variety. Paraphrasing without plagiarism: changing words while preserving meaning. Avoiding personal opinion: summary stays neutral.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1–B2, in intermediate and upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing Part 1 and C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing Part 1. Part of the Sentence Building & Style collection — the natural next step is Complex Sentences: Coordination, which builds the foundational sentence-construction skill.

  • Writing: Complex Sentences Coordination (PDF)

    Writing: Complex Sentences Coordination (PDF)

    Complex sentences coordination is the B1 writing skill that builds the foundation for all longer writing. The technique combines independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions: and (addition), but (contrast), or (alternative), so (consequence), yet (concession), for (reason). Learners build sentence-combination fluency that turns choppy short sentences into flowing prose.

    This worksheet builds B1 writing fluency with coordination techniques.

    What’s inside:

    • A reference table of coordinating conjunctions with usage examples
    • Sentence-combining drills: merge pairs of simple sentences using coordination
    • Rewriting task: smooth out a choppy paragraph using coordinating conjunctions
    • Multiple-choice on appropriate coordinator for each context
    • Original-writing task: describe a recent experience using at least 5 coordinated sentences
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Comma placement with coordinators at B1 — I went home, and I rested (comma before and with full clauses); I went home and rested (no comma when subject is shared). Overuse of and: choppy writing where stronger coordinators would clarify the relationship. Run-on prevention: not stringing too many clauses together.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1, in intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) Writing. Part of the Sentence Building & Style collection — the natural next step is Complex Sentences: Subordination, which extends coordination into the more sophisticated subordination structures.

  • Writing: Text-Level Cohesion and Coherence (PDF)

    Writing: Text-Level Cohesion and Coherence (PDF)

    Text-level cohesion and coherence is the B2–C1 writing skill that organises sentences into coherent paragraphs and paragraphs into coherent texts. Cohesion techniques include reference (this, these, such), substitution (do so, the same), discourse markers across sentences (however, similarly, in addition), and topic-sentence-and-support paragraph structure. Coherence is the higher-level logical flow that makes texts feel natural rather than assembled. Learners build the discourse-level writing skill that distinguishes B2 from C1.

    This worksheet builds B2–C1 writing fluency with cohesion and coherence techniques.

    What’s inside:

    • A reference table of cohesion devices with examples
    • Reference-tracking drills: identify what this, these, such refer to in sample paragraphs
    • Rewriting task: improve cohesion in a choppy multi-paragraph text
    • Multiple-choice on best cohesion-marker for each transition
    • Original-writing task: write a 300-word coherent text on a topic using varied cohesion devices
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Reference ambiguity at B2–C1 — this needs a clear antecedent. Cohesion-marker variety: avoiding repeated however and furthermore. Topic-sentence support: each paragraph should make one main point with clear supporting development.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2–C1, in upper-intermediate and advanced classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing assessment criteria. Part of the Sentence Building & Style collection — the natural next step is A Summary of a Text, which puts cohesion-and-coherence skill to practical use.

  • Writing: Concise Sentences Cut the Waffle (PDF)

    Writing: Concise Sentences Cut the Waffle (PDF)

    Concise sentences cut the waffle is the B2 writing skill that teaches what to remove rather than what to add. The technique identifies common padding patterns — redundant pairs (future plans, brief summary, true facts), empty intensifiers (very, really, quite, somewhat), throat-clearing openers (It should be noted that, It is interesting to consider), passive-voice padding (It was decided that the team would), and wordy alternatives to single verbs (make a decision → decide, give consideration to → consider). Learners build the editing skill that distinguishes professional writing from student writing.

    This worksheet builds B2 writing fluency with editing-for-concision.

    What’s inside:

    • A reference table of padding patterns and their concise alternatives
    • Editing drills: cut redundancy from sample sentences
    • Rewriting task: tighten a wordy paragraph by 25%
    • Multiple-choice on most concise version of the same content
    • Original-writing task: write a 200-word version of a topic, then edit to 150 words
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Knowing what to cut at B2 — every word should earn its place. Redundancy detection: doubled adjectives, padded openers, intensifier overuse. Recognising that shorter is usually stronger in professional and academic writing.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing and C1 Advanced (CAE) Writing assessment criteria. Part of the Sentence Building & Style collection — the natural next step is Text-Level Cohesion and Coherence, which extends concise writing into multi-paragraph organisation.

  • Writing: Complex Sentences Subordination (PDF)

    Writing: Complex Sentences Subordination (PDF)

    Complex sentences subordination is the B2 writing skill that produces sophisticated multi-clause sentences. The technique uses subordinating conjunctions to signal relationships: because, since, as (reason); although, even though, while, whereas (contrast); if, unless, provided that (condition); when, before, after, until, as soon as (time); so that, in order that (purpose). Learners build sentence-variety fluency essential for B2-level writing.

    This worksheet builds B2 writing fluency with subordination techniques.

    What’s inside:

    • A reference table of subordinating conjunctions grouped by function
    • Sentence-combining drills: merge pairs of sentences using appropriate subordinators
    • Rewriting task: convert coordinated sentences into subordinated equivalents for greater precision
    • Multiple-choice on appropriate subordinator for each context
    • Original-writing task: describe a decision-making process using varied subordination
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Subordinator-meaning precision at B2 — because and since both give reasons, but since often combines reason and time. Comma placement: subordinate-first clauses take a comma (Although it rained, we went out); main-first clauses don’t (We went out although it rained). Variety: avoiding repeated because and although by rotating equivalents.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing assessment criteria. Part of the Sentence Building & Style collection — the natural next step is Concise Sentences: Cut the Waffle, which extends sentence-construction into editing-for-concision.