Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Editing & Writing Topics

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 15-Mar-2007, 15:04
XYZ XYZ is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: Russia
Posts: 56
Current Location: Moscow
First Language: Russian
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
XYZ is on a distinguished road
Red face Giving advice (Please helpm me check!)

Here is another letter for FCE. Could somebode correct this? What mark can I expect for this letter?

As part of my studies, I have to write about places of historical interest in a foreign country. When I come to stay with you, I’d like to visit some important historical sights. What do you think are the best places to see? How many places do you think I can visit in 10 days?



Dear Kate,

Thanks for your letter! It was great to hear all your news. I’m really glad you’re going to visit me this year!

If you want to see the most important historical places in my city, I’d recommend you to go the Kremlin and the Red Square in the center of Moscow. There’re lots of museums, churches, cathedrals and you’ll find out some interesting facts about the royal family, which lived and ruled there.

You asked me how many places you could visit in 10 days. Actually, all of them because they are close to each other. If I were you I’d spend 2 or 3 days in the Kremlin’s museums and several hours wandering around the Red Square, so don’t forget to bring your camera and take some pictures.


I hope that you’ll find these places useful for your studies. If you want to know anything else, just drop me a line.


Best wishes,
Peter.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 16-Mar-2007, 06:39
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,130
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 241 Times in 231 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: Giving advice (Please helpm me check!)

which lived and ruled there- I'd use 'who' unless there were many royal familes and only one of them lived there
Exclamation marks- I see no need for them here. I would generally advise against using them much. Someone said that an exclamation mark is like someone laughing at their own jokes. Let the reader decide what is surprising. If you can't provide a concrete reason for using them, then cut them. In the first sentence, you might use an exclamation mark if it was the first letter for many years. It doesn't really intensify the 'thanks'.

In terms of a grade; it does the job and has very few mistakes, so it would pass. The layout/format is fine and the structure OK.

However, what mark would you give this for vocab? There's nothing in there that grabs my attention. It's sound and reads well enough, but I think you could jazz it up a bit to get into the top band. I wouldn't give this a grade A, but I think you could get there.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 17-Mar-2007, 19:37
XYZ XYZ is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: Russia
Posts: 56
Current Location: Moscow
First Language: Russian
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
XYZ is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Giving advice (Please helpm me check!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
which lived and ruled there- I'd use 'who' unless there were many royal familes and only one of them lived there
Exclamation marks- I see no need for them here. I would generally advise against using them much. Someone said that an exclamation mark is like someone laughing at their own jokes. Let the reader decide what is surprising. If you can't provide a concrete reason for using them, then cut them. In the first sentence, you might use an exclamation mark if it was the first letter for many years. It doesn't really intensify the 'thanks'.

In terms of a grade; it does the job and has very few mistakes, so it would pass. The layout/format is fine and the structure OK.

However, what mark would you give this for vocab? There's nothing in there that grabs my attention. It's sound and reads well enough, but I think you could jazz it up a bit to get into the top band. I wouldn't give this a grade A, but I think you could get there.

I’ve taken your advice and tried to liven up my letter. I’ve used some adjectives and phrases to do that but I’m still not sure about the result. Take a look at this and tell me what it looks like. Is it enough for grade A if it is not what else do I need to do? Thank you very much.



Dear Kate,

Thanks for your letter! It was great to hear all your news. I’m really happy that you’re going to come to see me this year.

If you want to see the most significant historical places in my city, I’d recommend you to go the Kremlin and the Red Square in the center of Moscow. As people say this is the heart or Russia. There’re lots of museums, impressive churches and cathedrals and you’ll find out some amazing facts about the royal family, who lived and ruled there.

You asked me how many places you could visit in 10 days. Actually, all of them because they are close to each other. If I were you I’d spend 2 or 3 days in the Kremlin’s museums and several hours wandering around the Red Square, so don’t forget to bring your camera and take some lovely pictures of the sights.

I hope that you’ll find these places useful for your studies. If you want to know anything else, just drop me a line.


Best wishes,

Peter.



Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 18-Mar-2007, 05:49
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,130
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 241 Times in 231 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: Giving advice (Please helpm me check!)

As people say this is the heart or Russia- As people say, this is the heart of Russia
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 20-Mar-2007, 17:10
XYZ XYZ is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: Russia
Posts: 56
Current Location: Moscow
First Language: Russian
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
XYZ is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Giving advice (Please helpm me check!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
As people say this is the heart or Russia- As people say, this is the heart of Russia
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
kindly check drrohitbaslas Editing & Writing Topics 2 25-Sep-2006 16:01
check grammar and punctuation for my personal essay tanthony3 Ask a Teacher 2 29-Jun-2006 11:03
grammar check for my essay and editing tanthony3 Ask a Teacher 1 29-Jun-2006 04:35
Please I need your advice. Check my writing- thanks! hello_there Ask a Teacher 1 08-Jun-2006 23:00
Giving advice Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 23-Apr-2003 20:19


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 11:48.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com