Writing skills and writing

• attitudes to winning and losing
• comparing texts and opinions
• reading and discussing a poem
• ‘rhetorical’ questions and other persuasion techniques
• writing an essay

Rhetorical questions: asking to make a point

• But will it work in practice? Did I ever say success would be easy?
• Do they expect us to give it up now? Did he achieve that by accident?
• Is that such a difficult idea to understand? Are we going to let them all down?

Look at the examples. Then answer the questions below.

Does the writer (or speaker) expect an answer to these questions?

Is the purpose of questions like this

A to get information? B to make a point?

Is the unwritten (or unspoken) answer to questions like this usually

A negative? B positive?

Match each question in the box with the sentence that goes before it.

1. We’ve worked hard for this for a long time.

2. He’s one of the most successful leaders ever.

3. You just have to keep trying until you succeed.

4. His plan sounds attractive on paper.

5. Our supporters believe we can win.

6. I admit we’ve had some problems.

Write one or two sentences that lead to these questions. Start in the way shown, then add more sentences using the ideas in the boxes.

1. Too often, the behaviour of top sports stars during matches sets a bad example.

They ___ Is this what we want young people to learn from watching sport?

2. Some people have suggested that the way to solve the problem of _ is to However, __ Is this really the best solution to the problem?

Persuasion in writing: «but» and a short essay

• Try to include some of the persuasion techniques you have practised in Periods 6 and 7 (but don’t use them too much).
• Paragraph 1: Winning is not the only reason for playing sport.
• Examples of other reasons.
• Sometimes these may be as important as winning.
• Paragraph 2: The effects money has on sport.
• ‘Win at all costs’ attitude can lead to cheating (examples).
• Rich teams are able to ‘buy success’ (explain).
• Paragraph 3: Own opinion.
• Possible ways to change the situation (e.g. limit spending).

Match the sentence beginnings 1–6 with the endings a–f.

Obviously we can’t return to the past, but a it does raise an important question.

b I think there is a fault in the basic argument.

c it’s very unlikely that they’ll win it.

d we hardly ever see each other nowadays.

e we can still learn from it.

f it’s not the only reason for taking part.

They may not be the worst team in the competition, but

While I agree with most of the writer’s points,

Of course, it’s easy to make fun of the idea, but still

It’s certainly true that most people want success, but

We may have been friends when we were young, but

Complete these sentences in any way that makes sense.

Obviously I was disappointed with the result, but

It may not be the only answer, but

While they play well enough in defence

Of course, we need to be careful, but

It’s certainly a very popular book, but

Winning may be important, but

Write a short essay giving your opinion about this statement.

There is too much money in sport nowadays: winning at any cost has become the main aim in many sports, and has had a negative effect on players and supporters. How far do you agree?