English Teaching

ELT365 · Day 200 — Analysing a model: form before function

📚60-Day ELT Masterclass — This post is part of an ongoing series. View full index →

Idea — When analysing a model text, look at the form first — what the text does in each section — before asking learners what they think of it. Jumping to opinion skips the language focus entirely.

Example — For a formal letter model: first map the structure (greeting, purpose, detail, close). Then note key phrases. Opinion last — ‘Would you write this way?’

Try — With your next model text, write three form-focused questions before one opinion question: ‘What does the writer use to open? How does the second paragraph begin? What is the final request?’

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