Unit 14 Review

Welcome to the final review of Unit 14. Over the last few weeks you have worked with three powerful areas of advanced English: the passive voice, inversion and the language of discussion. In this review we will bring all three together so that you can use them confidently in both writing and speaking.

The passive voice is used when the action is more important than the person who performs it, or when the agent is unknown, obvious or unimportant. The structure is consistent across tenses: a form of be + past participle. The form of be carries the tense, while the past participle carries the meaning of the action.

Notice how the agent (the person doing the action) often disappears in the passive. We add by + agent only when this information is new or important. In academic writing, journalism and scientific reports, the passive is extremely common because the focus stays on the event, the process or the result, not on the person.

Inversion is an advanced technique in which the normal order of subject and auxiliary verb is reversed. It is used for emphasis or for stylistic effect, and it is typical of formal writing, of literary English and of rhetorical speech. The most common pattern appears after negative or restrictive adverbials placed at the beginning of a sentence.

• Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.
• Not only did she pass the exam, but she also gained the highest mark.
• Hardly had I arrived when the phone rang.
• Only then did I understand the problem.
• So successful was the project that it won three awards.

In every example, the auxiliary verb (have, did, had) comes before the subject. When there is no auxiliary in the original statement, we use do / does / did to form the inversion. Inversion also appears in formal conditionals: Had I known earlier, I would have called you. Were I you, I would accept the offer immediately.

Discussion language is the set of phrases that allow you to express opinions, agree, disagree and hedge in academic and professional contexts. These phrases are the building blocks of any discussion essay or formal debate. They help you sound balanced and considered, even when you hold a strong view.

Expressing opinion:

• In my view, ...
• As I see it, ...
• It seems to me that ...
• Personally, I believe ...

Agreeing:

• I entirely agree with that point.
• Absolutely, you are right.
• I take your point.

Disagreeing politely:

• I'm afraid I disagree.
• I see your point, but ...
• On the other hand, ...
• However, it could be argued that ...

Hedging (sounding less certain):

• It seems that ...
• It appears that ...
• Perhaps ...
• It may be the case that ...

Giving examples and emphasising:

• For instance, ...
• In particular, ...
• Above all, ...

Writing strategy: Using hedging

When you write a discussion essay, you do not need to give one single, certain answer. Strong B2 writers use hedging to make their claims sound measured and academic. Instead of writing Technology is bad for children, you can write Technology may be harmful to children in some cases. Hedging shows the reader that you are thinking carefully, not reacting emotionally. It also combines naturally with the passive voice: It is widely accepted that… or It has been argued that…. Using both hedging and the passive in the same sentence is a very effective combination in academic writing, and it is exactly the kind of language you should aim for in your final writing task.

Which sentence uses the passive voice correctly?

Which sentence shows correct inversion after a negative adverbial?

PREPARE — gather your ideas before you write.

Before you start writing, take five minutes to plan. Write short notes for: 1) the topic and your main position (do you agree or disagree?); 2) two or three reasons that support your view; 3) one or two concrete examples you can use; 4) the opposite view and a polite reply to it. A strong discussion essay is always balanced — it shows the reader that you have considered both sides before reaching a conclusion. Planning your ideas in advance will also help you to use the passive voice, inversion and discussion language naturally, instead of trying to remember them while you write.

WRITE — the writing task.

Write a 150–200 word discussion essay on the following topic:

'Some people say that social media does more harm than good. Do you agree or disagree?'

Try to use:

• at least three discussion phrases from this unit (e.g. an opinion phrase, a hedging phrase and a linking adverb);
• one passive structure such as It is widely believed that... or Social media should be used responsibly;
• one inverted sentence for emphasis (for example, beginning with Not only or Never).

Remember to write an introduction, two body paragraphs and a short conclusion. A model opening sentence appears on the next card.

Read the model sentence aloud. Pay attention to the stress on 'view' and the clear pronunciation of 'responsibly'. Try to sound calm and measured, as if you were giving a real academic opinion.

REVIEW — check your writing before you finish.

Go through this checklist and edit your essay:

1) Have you used a hedging phrase such as it seems that or perhaps? 2) Is your opinion phrase (e.g. In my view) clearly placed in the introduction? 3) Is every passive sentence in the correct tense? Check the form of be carefully. 4) Have you used at least one linking adverb such as however or in particular to connect your ideas? 5) Is your final paragraph a clear conclusion that restates your view in different words?

If you can answer 'yes' to all five questions, your essay is ready. If not, make one more careful edit before you stop.