Hello and Welcome!

This is a place where you, the participants of the 4th-year English Proficiency course, will be blogging throughout the year, interacting with others, expressing your thoughts and opinions, and generally improving your written English.

New to blogging? Don't worry, we'll explore the possibilities together.

Photo by Mike Licht on Flickr flic.kr/p/8hQekB
used under CC BY 2.0 license

Topics

The main theme of the blog is reviews, which means you should describe something AND give your opinion. Here are some suggested topics and ideas you can review in your post:

• The book I am reading and would like to recommend
• A product you use on a regular basis
• My favourite album/CD
• A recent event in your town/city (e.g. concert, exhibition)
• A play / show you’ve been to recently
• A restaurant / hotel
• My favourite dish / film / colour / time of year - the list goes on…

Structure

Title

The title should accurately sum up the contents of your post; a catchy title is an added bonus

Your review should contain at least 4 paragraphs:

Introduction

You want to capture the readers’ interest.  Use an exciting opening sentence.

Body 1

Focus one one aspect, e.g. what you liked about it

Body 2

Focus on another aspect, e.g. what you didn’t like about it or how it's different to other albums / films (of this genre) / products etc.

Conclusion/Summary
Sum up the main points. Clearly state your opinion or the reasons why you recommend it.

Technicalities

How long should it be? approximately 250 words

Should I use formal language? It is advisable to use semi-formal/informal register

Can I use subheadings or bullet points? You can use headings if you like, but not bullet points, as these will not allow you to show your ability to use linking words (e.g. In addition) and other cohesive features (e.g. Another reason why...)

We look forward to reading your posts.

Happy blogging!