TOP NOTCH 3

INTERMEDIATE 1
1ST WRITING TASK
PAGE 9
WRITING A: FORMAL LETTER/E-MAIL
(150-200 words)

robert.leaf@skymanagement.com

Trip to Per
DO
include
titles and
formal
Greetings
and use
last
names.

Do keep
the
information
relevant

Do include the
recipient and the
subject

Dear Mr. Leaf:

I am glad you have decided to visit our plant in Lima, Per. While I am sure you wont have
any problems with our culture and traditions I will tell you a little about them as you
requested.
Peruvians are not too formal; although in a business setting greetings and salutations start
being formal: addressing a person by their title and shaking hands, people are usually a
little more relaxed from then on, usually going by their first names. Women and men are
greeted the same way in formal situations, by shaking hands in formal situations. In
informal situations sometimes women will give you one kiss on the cheek. Men do not
usually kiss each other. There are no taboo subjects, but its recommended not to talk
about religion, politics or football. Peruvians can be very passionate about these topics. If
you visit someones home, its customary to bring a small gift, like a bottle of wine or
flowers.

DO
organize
your
ideas in a
clear and
logical
way.

One important thing to take into consideration is that in some situations Peruvians are not
very punctual, so if youre invited to someones house it is probably best to make sure the
exact time they expect you there or even plan to arrive an hour late otherwise you may
arrive while the hosts are still getting ready. However, this should not be a problem in the
case of business meetings.
As agreed I will be there to pick you up from the airport on your arrival and will take you to
your hotel so should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to write to me
or ask me in person.
DO check and
Respectfully
DO use a complimentary
close:yours,
correct your spelling
Sincerely, cordially,Derek
etc. Jeter

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 1
1ST WRITING TASK
PAGE 9
WRITING B: INFORMAL LETTER/E-MAIL
(150-200 words)

robert.leaf@coldmail.com

Trip to Per

DONT
use titles
or formal
greetings.

DO
organize
paragraphs
in a clear
and logical
way.

Dear Bobby:
Really excited about you coming here in June!!!! Were going to have so much fun
while youre here! Customs and traditions here are not very different to the ones were
you live, but Ill tell you a little bit about them so that you can feel more relaxed about
being here
Peruvians arent too formal so unless you meet someone in a formal situation (which
you probably wont ;) ) you can address everyone by their first names. When you greet
another guy you will most likely shake hands, but if you meet a girl she will probably kiss
you on the cheek so dont be weird about it, I know you guys dont say hello with a kiss.
There are no taboo subjects or food here but I would avoid talking about politics,
religion or football; Peruvians can be very passionate about these topics. If youre invited
to someones house, it is good manners to bring a small gift like a bottle of wine or a
bunch of flowers.
Theres definitely something you should keep in mind: Peruvians are not the most
punctual people in informal settings, so always make sure that the time they tell you to
be somewhere is really the time youre expected or you run the risk of having to wait by
yourself or to arrive while the hosts are still getting ready!
But dont worry too much as I will be here to help you with anything you need. Cant
wait to see you again!

Kate
DONT expand too
much.

Do include
the recipient
and the
subject

DO make sure
that the first
paragraphs
states the
purpose of
the letter

DO keep the
information
relevant.

DO keep the
closing
informal and
friendly.

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 1
2ND WRITING TASK
PAGE 20

WRITING: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

(150-200 words)

DO make it clear
in the first
paragraph which
are the ideas you
are comparing/
contrasting

DO use
vocabulary to
introduce
comparisons: be
alike, also, be
similar to, and
to, etc

DONT forget to
end with a
closing
paragraph.

Nowadays some people are going back to alternative types

of medical treatments sometimes to complement their
conventional treatment or even to substitute it. I have used
both conventional treatment and homeopathy to treat my
asthma and although I could find some similarities between
the two treatments, they also have many differences.
Homeopathy is similar to conventional medicine in the
sense that you are taking pills or tablets, or given shots at
specified times. In both you have a doctors appointments
and a specialist will treat your ailment. Likewise, many of
the medication in conventional medicine may come from the
same compounds as the ones used in homeopathy.
However, while conventional medicine is based on the
notion of treating the disease, homeopathy is more focused
on preventing the sickness from happening. While
conventional medicine will try to find a cure for your
ailment, homeopathy gives you a diluted substance that will
cause the symptoms of the disease.
I believe people choose alternative to go back to a more
natural approach towards medicine but I have to say I found
conventional medicine more straight forward and think I will
continue to use it from now on.

DO support your
ideas and include
only relevant
information.

DO include
phrases to
introduce
contrast: be
different from,
but, in contrast,
on the other hand,
while/whereas,
etc.

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 2
1ST WRITING TASK
PAGE 36

WRITING: SUPPORTING AN OPINION WITH PERSONAL EXAMPLES

(150-200 words)

DO make sure
that the main
idea is clearly
stated in the
opening
paragraph.
DO organize your
ideas clearly and
logically into
paragraphs.

DO use colorful
language and
varied structures
to keep the text
interesting.

Before starting I must confess that Im a terrible procrastinator; I

always leave things until the last possible minute. Thats not to say
that I believe theres nothing wrong with procrastinating, on the
contrary, I think being well organized is the best way to do things.
I find that when you leave everything for the last minute you end up
doing everything in a rush and so you dont pay close attention to
what you are doing. For example, I sometimes leave all my bills until
the last day I can pay them; because I am pressured to do everything
at once, theres been a couple of times when I have forgotten to pay
a bill and then found out about it weeks later. There was even a time
when I paid the same bill twice! To me, doing things in a hurry usually
means you will suffer for it. When I was at university I usually did my
assignments a day before they were due. This meant that I usually
had to stay up all night in order to do them and then didnt have time
to check them before handing them in.
From my point of view, if youre not well-organized youre very likely
to find trouble, which is why I have decided to plan and schedule
ahead, and its been really helping me out so far. For instance, I am
much more relaxed and dont feel overwhelmed. I have even started
using a daily planner.

DO have a
definite opinion
so that it will be
easier to
organize your
supporting
ideas.
DO make sure
that you always
support your
ideas with
examples from
your own life.

DONT forget to
write a closing
paragraph to
end the text.

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 2
2ND WRITING TASK
PAGE 48

WRITING: REVIEW
(150-200 words)

DO include some
factual
information about
the book, article,
magazine, etc, on
the first
paragraph.

Do include a
summary of the
plot, but do not
give too much
away, to
encourage people
to read it.

DO remember to
give your
recommendation
in the last
paragraph and
support your
opinion.

One of my favorite books of all time is Memoirs of a Geisha,

by American author Arthur Golden in 1997. The book is written
in first person perspective and although it is the fictional story
of a geisha, it is considered a historical novel as it is set in Japan,
before, during and after World War II.

The author tells us the story of a small girl, Chiyo, born in a poor
fishing village, how her parents sold her into slavery to a
renowned geisha house. The author makes us witnesses of her
transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha:
dancing, singing and playing instruments; wearing heavy and
cumbersome kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; and
eventually competing with a jealous rival for the spotlight.

I would have read this book even if it wasnt a best-seller; it is a

fast read and a real page-turner. The author has a very good
grasp of Japanese culture and its nuances and he paints a
beautiful portrait of both the opulence of geisha lifestyle and
the poverty of war. I highly recommend it.

DONT forget to
mention the title
of the book,
name of the
author,
publishing date
and type of
book.

DO organize
your ideas in
paragraphs and
include all the
relevant
information, for
instance the
main
character(s).

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 3
1ST WRITING TASK
PAGE 72

WRITING: A SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

(150-200 words)

My early years
My name is Hal Mulberts, I was born on a rainy day on January 13,
1980. I grew up on a farm in Kansas with my family of five. Life was
simple and there was a lot of time to daydream. As a kid I thought I
would become a dentist or a scientist. But later on I discovered that I
was interested in taking care of animals so I became a veterinarian.

Do introduce
yourself; write
some
information
about your
family.

Living in a farm

Do write
between 3
and 4
headings

As my siblings and I got older we worked the land we lived on. It

demanded a lot of effort from my parents and as a teenager I didnt
help much. Now I know that I should have helped my parents more. I
could have done things differently. They thought I was never going to
change but I did.
Some difficulties
My siblings and I always participated in the farming. And when we
went to university, we only helped in the farm on weekends. It was
hard to take care of the family farm and be a university student at the
same time, but soon we found a rhythm between both our duties.
Lesson learned
My upbringing has completely supported my development and I am
thankful for it. I understood the importance of preparation, hard work,
and respect, values that I apply on my everyday life.

Do keep in
mind the
grammar
learned in the
unit
(Conditionals)
Be careful with
the number of
words used

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 3
2ND WRITING TASK
PAGE 84

WRITING: DESCRIBE TWO HOLIDAYS CELEBRATED IN PERU

(150-200 words)

Do include a
title

My two favorite holidays in Peru

Peru is a very traditional country, we have many holidays but my
two favorite ones are Lord of Miracles (El seor de los Milagros) and
Criolla music day.

Do write a short
introduction of
what you are
going to write
about

El Seor de los Milagros is a religious holiday that takes place in

October. It has been celebrated since 1687 to commemorate a 350year-old mural of the Lord of Miracles.

Do separate
your writing
into
paragraphs to
organize your
ideas and
information

During the processions thousands of people, wearing purple clothes,

follow the image in the middle of silent prayers, loud worshipping
songs and the characteristic smell of incense. Almost on every
corner you can find people selling the unique Turron, a dessert so
delicious that youll definitely recommend it to everyone you know.
During my other favorite holiday, Criolla Music Day, Peruvians get
together on the 31st of October, to celebrate their music and it is
mostly celebrated on the coast of Peru, especially in Lima.
One of the most popular music is Marinera, other genres are Waltz,
Tondero, Festejo and Polka. People usually get together in peas,
places that are like bars, to drink, dance, sing and celebrate the pride
of being Peruvian.
On that day people usually eat at restaurants that offer traditional
food and where they can enjoy the immense variety of flavors we
have.

Do include the
vocabulary
learned in the
unit

Be careful with the

number of words
used

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 4
1ST WRITING TASK
PAGE 96

WRITING: DESCRIBE THE ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES AND IMPACT OF AN INVENTION

(150-200 words)

The airplane
Do introduce
the invention
you chose

One of the greatest inventions of all times is the airplane. Without it,
life wouldnt be the way it is now.
Thanks to them, we are able to know new places, meet new people
and cultures. Even though, travelling by plane might still be a little
expensive and not 100% safe, airplanes are our first option when
travelling long distances.
Airplanes give us a chance to taste food from all over the world, to use
technology that was invented in another continent or to buy products
were not able to get here. If airplanes didnt exist, ships or cars would
take too long to bring them to us.

Do keep in
mind the
grammar
learned in the
unit
(Conditionals)

Do include a
title

I guess that at first people were afraid of travelling by plane. They

couldnt believe such thing could be kept in the air so long. However,
if people hadnt been brave enough to take the risk, things would
have been very different back then. I think one of the most important
things is that they couldnt have gotten medicine from other parts of
the country or even the world.
This means of transportation is of huge importance for us, it has
definitely more positive sides than negative ones. It has helped lots of
generations and in so many different ways that it would be impossible
to think about our life without it nowadays.

Do remember
to mention
some
advantages and
disadvantages
of the invention;
as well as the
impact of the
invention

TOP NOTCH 3
INTERMEDIATE 4
2ND WRITING TASK
PAGE 104

WRITING: OPINION ESSAY ON A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE

(150-200 words)

Do write a tittle
for your essay

Do organize your
essay in one of two
ways:
As paragraphs in
which each of the
pros and cons are
presented together
in contrasting
sentences, or
As two paragraphs
with the ideas in
favor in one
paragraph and
ideas against in
another.

Are Peruvians ready to accept Compulsory Military Service?

All over the world there are countries debating whether or not they
should enforce a compulsory military Service for citizens who are at
least 18 years old. The question is, are Peruvians ready to accept it?
The majority of Peruvians think that it should be something voluntary,
and that nobody can force people to do what they dont want to do.
However, there are some points we should take into consideration
when thinking about it.
On the one hand, there are many cases of young people who leave
school and are unsure of what to do from then on, but the military
service provides a temporary place to go while still in doubt. In that
way, after they finish the service, they could have a better view of
what they want to do.
On the other hand, some people believe that joining the army against
ones will, even for a small period of time, can cause bad attitudes
towards authority in young people, which can cause even more
problems when they leave the service.
Unfortunately, the government doesnt provide good conditions for
the soldiers; in consequence people are still reluctant to the idea of
compulsory military service. And it will probably continue like that,
until other benefits are offered.

Do use linkers in
order to connect
your ideas
better and to
make your
writing more
fluent.

Do support and
explain your
ideas in a clear
way.