by Erica L. Meltzer | Nov 13, 2021 | Blog, IELTS
Although it is very important to make a good first impression on your examiner by writing a strong introduction to your Task 2 essay, the body paragraphs are where your overall mark will really be determined.
Body paragraphs form the substance of your essay, and so it is important that they be structured logically (Coherence and Cohesion), and in a way that allows you to respond to the question as directly and thoroughly as possible (Task Response).
Because the Writing test requires you to apply so many skills at the same time, it can be very helpful to have a standard body-paragraph “formula” that can be used for virtually any question.
Once you have determined the focus of your paragraph, each new idea can be introduced with linking device + point.
You can then discuss that point or give an example to illustrate it using no more than two additional sentences. The limit prevents repetition, over-explaining, and going off-topic.
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by Erica L. Meltzer | May 31, 2021
I’m taking… Not sure where to start? Check out the list of must-know grammar rules for Band 7+ in Writing. The three types of conjunctions, and how to punctuate them Comma splices: the two main causes To make your IELTS writing more idiomatic, stop...
by Erica L. Meltzer | May 14, 2021
Erica is currently available for consultations and short-term coaching (maximum of five sessions) in the areas listed below. If you are interested in setting up a session, please send a description of your background and situation via the contact form or to thecriticalreader1@gmail.com.
Test-Preparation Tutors:
- Remediation techniques for struggling middle- and high-school aged readers
ESL Teachers and Tutors:
- Grammar assessment and targeted work on common areas of difficulty for non-native teachers of English; idiomatic usage; pronunciation and intonation
IELTS (must have already earned a university degree):
- Writing preparation
- Speaking
Self-Publishing:
- Non-fiction manuscript evaluation
by Erica L. Meltzer | Apr 28, 2021 | Blog
If you’re studying for the IELTS, you’re probably aware that obtaining a high score in Writing tends to be more difficult than obtaining a high score in Listening, Reading, or Speaking. In fact, it is common for Writing scores to be lower than the others by a full band, sometimes more. The statistics kept by the British Council indicate that this pattern holds true across countries and native languages, including English.
In many cases, candidates score in the 8-9 range without too much trouble in Listening and Reading, and often above 7 in Speaking, but then find themselves stuck—sometimes repeatedly—at 6 or 6.5 in Writing.
This is not entirely surprising. Expressing oneself in a foreign language generally is more challenging than understanding one, and unlike in speaking, tone of voice and facial expressions cannot be used to convey or support written meaning—if a person doesn’t say precisely what they mean, the reader will become confused. (more…)
by Erica L. Meltzer | Mar 13, 2020 | Blog, Issues in Education
A number of years ago, an acquaintance enlisted me to help her search Craigslist for a sublet in New York City. This is a daunting task under the best of circumstances, but in this case the difficulty was compounded by the fact that my acquaintance was not a native English speaker—in fact, she did not speak much English at all—nor was she particularly internet savvy.
As someone who had spent a fair amount of time on Craigslist looking for apartments herself, I was well-versed in the various scams that flood the site and adept at the spotting the markers for them: TOO MUCH CAPITALIZATION or too much lower case. Word salad, word soup… Or wording that just somehow seemed “off,” in some vague, undefined way.
My acquaintance, on the other hand, was entirely at sea: she would call the numbers listed and be told that the original rental no longer existed but that she could be shown other, pricier options; or that she would have to hand over exorbitant amounts of money for a deposit, and so on.
I eventually got very frustrated trying to help her. She was oblivious to clear warning signs, and she went running to look at apartment after apartment that just obviously wasn’t going to pan out. (more…)
