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.
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
Biography
Graham Bishop is Lecturer in French and German, and Bernard Haezewindt is Lecturer in French, both at the Open University, UK.
'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
