WEEK 1 – CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS
WRITING: A BLOG POST
The following activities are based on the content of unit 3H from Solutions
Upper-intermediate 3rd Edition Student’s Book.
What is a BLOG POST?
The origin of the word ‘blog’ is as an abbreviation for ‘web-log’ – that is, an online diary. Blogs
are written by many people all over the world, for lots of different purposes. They can be
diaries, or records of what you cook, a travel log for people visiting different destinations or
book review blogs, or many other sorts of blogs. The purpose of the writing depends on what
kind of blog it is.
A blog post is not a genre because it can fulfil different objectives. For example, it can be a
great way to connect with your audience and share your knowledge or expertise in a
particular area, which is the purpose of an article. Also, it can have a great potential to
express your feelings about your life experience, which is the purpose of an anecdote.
Therefore, the blog post can work as a channel to communicate a particular purpose.
Activities
Before you write your own blog post, let’s work with a model text, so that we can start
analysing the main characteristics of this kind of text and put them into practice later.
1. Read the task and underline the two elements that you are required to include in your
blog post.
2. Read the Writing Strategy and the blog post below. In which paragraphs does the writer
cover the two elements from the task?
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WEEK 1 – CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS
3. Read the Learn this! box. Then find an example of each of the structures in the blog post.
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4. Join the sentences, beginning with the words in brackets.
Go to the end of this document to find the answers to these exercises.
Analysis of the model blog post:
This blog:
Contains factual information, as well as information about a personal experience.
Shows the writer’s personal opinion: it is written in the first person.
Clearly states the writer’s personal stance (in favor or against what the article being
commented on claims).
Provides sufficient ideas to support the writer’s stance, which are also clearly signaled by
sequencers (Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly).
Uses devices like rhetorical questions to help engage the reader.
Uses a short but meaningful title to attract readers’ attention and tell them what the
article is about.
Uses semi-formal language (no short forms or too colloquial language, but lots of
connectors and neutral terms instead of more familiar ones).
How is this text organised?
Match the paragraphs with their main function/information they contain (you can match
each paragraph to more than one box).
This paragraph describes the writer’s personal experience,
A which helps support their personal stance.
Paragraph 1 This paragraph involves the readers in the topic and calls
B them for action.
Paragraph 2
C This paragraph explains the reason for writing.
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WEEK 1 – CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS
Paragraph 3 This paragraph offers ideas that support the writer’s
D
personal stance.
Paragraph 4
This paragraph restates the topic being discussed and the
E writer’s own stance about it.
This paragraph introduces the topic and the writer’s own
F
stance in relation to it.
Go to the end of this document to find the answer to this exercise.
WRITING TASK FOR WEEK 1
Now it’s your turn! Read the task below and the notes and have a go at writing your
own blog post!
The local newspaper published an article suggesting that schools should no longer have a
student exchange programme. Write a blog post outlining the benefits of a student exchange
programme and describing your experience with the last foreign student that attended your
classes at school.
Remember that writing is a process, and as such, it has some steps you need to follow:
make notes for a) the advantages and b) your experience.
think about:
- what the purpose of the blog post is.
- who your possible audience is.
- what type of language you should use (formal, informal or semi-formal?).
- what structure the text should have.
- what linguistic resources you should use in each part of the blog post.
use appropriate grammar, spelling and punctuation.
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WEEK 1 – CUSTOMS AND FESTIVALS
use conjunctions, connectors and other linking devices (pronouns, determiners,
paraphrasing, etc.) to make your text coherent and cohesive.
use dictionaries to check the meaning and correct use of words and phrases (what
prepositions are used with them, what patterns do verbs have, etc.).
always read and edit your text (if necessary) before handing in the assignment (or
publishing the post).
Answer key
Exercise 1
How is this text organised?
Paragraph 1 C and F
Paragraph 2 D
Paragraph 3 A
Paragraph 4 B and E
