You won a prize in a newspaper competition but you have not received it yet. Write a letter to the newspaper editor. In your letter, Explain what the prize was Describe how you won the prize Explain what you would like the newspaper editor to do
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The letter effectively addresses all parts of the task, clearly explaining the prize, describing how it was won, and requesting action from the editor. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the information is relevant and well-developed. Key strengths include a logical flow of ideas and effective use of cohesive devices. Critical areas for improvement include varying vocabulary to reduce repetition and enhancing sentence structure for fluency. Structural changes made include replacing 'prize' with 'award' and 'reward' to diversify language, as well as minor punctuation adjustments. Further improvements could involve adding specific details about the competition date or the announcement to enhance clarity. Overall, the tone is formal and suitable for the context of the letter.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The letter is well-organized, with a logical flow of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear purpose, and cohesive devices are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. For instance, phrases like 'However' and 'I would greatly appreciate it if' help in transitioning between thoughts. Minor improvements could include varying the sentence structure to enhance fluency.
How to improve:
- Use a clear paragraph structure
- Connect ideas with appropriate linking words
- Maintain logical progression
- Use referencing effectively
What this means:
The letter demonstrates a good range of grammatical structures, with mostly accurate usage. Sentences are well-formed, and the writer uses complex structures effectively. There are no significant grammatical errors, although minor issues with punctuation could be addressed for even greater accuracy. Overall, the clarity and effectiveness of the writing are maintained.
How to improve:
- Use complex sentence structures
- Maintain grammatical accuracy
- Use a variety of sentence patterns
- Check for common grammar errors
What this means:
The vocabulary used is appropriate and conveys the message clearly. Phrases like 'avid reader' and 'thrilled' demonstrate a good range of vocabulary. However, there is some repetition of words such as 'prize' and 'won,' which could be replaced with synonyms to enhance lexical variety. For example, using 'award' or 'reward' could diversify the language.
How to improve:
- Use a wider range of vocabulary
- Demonstrate awareness of collocations
- Avoid word repetition
- Use more sophisticated vocabulary accurately
What this means:
The letter effectively addresses all parts of the task by clearly explaining the prize, describing how it was won, and requesting action from the editor. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the information is relevant and well-developed. To improve further, the writer could include specific details about the competition date or the announcement to enhance clarity.
How to improve:
- Address all parts of the task fully
- Support ideas with specific examples
- Develop each point thoroughly
- Stay relevant to the topic
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