Developing Writing Skills in French: (Developing Writing Skills)

Designed for intermediate to advanced students, this text equips readers with the necessary skills to write confidently in French in a range of situations. Suitable for use as a classroom text or as a self-study course, it is carefully structured to ensure a better understanding of the effect of choice of words, register and style. Each chapter contains a selection of model texts, activities and clear notes on the format, style and language demonstrated. Every activity also has a model answer in the key, which also offers advice, explanations and further examples to support the student's learning. Features include: * key learning points clearly indicated at the beginning of each chapter * a rich selection of model texts from a variety of different media. Based on a well-reviewed Open University course and written by experienced teachers of the language, Developing Writing Skills in French has been trialled with non-native speakers of French to produce a valuable resource that will help students write appropriately for a variety of contexts.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 Le bonheur understanding the terms `noun’, `adjective’ and `pronoun’ and using each one in a sentence understanding sentence cohesion and the function of relative pronouns using synonyms, antonyms and homonyms Chapter 2 L’habitat understanding the present, past and future tenses and their function in writing texts altering the perspective of texts by changing verb tenses understanding the function of adverbs and complements in a written passage improving written passages by using appropriate adverbs completing a story line by adding detail manipulating the active and passive voices improving a written text by adding adverbs and changing tenses Chapter 3 L’expression artistique producing sentences starting from their basic elements (noun + verb +…) improving a written passage by using connectors (link words) simplifing a written text writing a text using elements gathered in note form structuring a well-planned essay Chapter 4 L’environnement en danger manipulating register to adapt to different target audiences using appropriate register for official correspondence producing pastiches to explore different styles Chapter 5 Quelques personnages historiques writing a description of the career and ideology of a political figure describing a day in the life of a political figure analysing texts to distinguish between objective and subjective descriptive content describing a political figure in both a positive and a negative manner improving your style by redrafting your work Chapter 6 Quelques édifices publics identifying the nature and main themes of a text finding shorter alternatives to expressions used in a text summarizing texts and interviews giving objective and subjective reactions to texts changing register arguing for and against a theme Chapter 7 Nouveau départ writing a short story on a contemporary theme by following specific steps summarizing a short story in three sentences checking your written work redrafting and improving your work Chapter 8 Science et technologie analysing the features of a scientific biography writing a fictional or factual text relating to the theme of science and technology identifying the stylistic features of a text correcting and improve a text commenting on a passage summarizing the factual content of a passage Answer key

About the Author :
Graham Bishop is Lecturer in French and German, and Bernard Haezewindt is Lecturer in French, both at the Open University, UK.

Review :
'Perhaps the greatest strength of this book lies in its attention to the development of transferable skills ... Given the importance attached in higher education to the development of transferable skills, this is a vital selling point.' -- The Times Higher Educational Supplement