Reflection 2

The main issue with process writing, with regard to grammar, is the formation of the passive form, using is & are + past participle.

The main tenses used in storytelling are:

(a) the past continuous, often used to start the narrative, e.g. I was driving in the desert when ....

(b) the simple past

(c) the past perfect e.g.

When I got to the cinema, the film had already started.

Narrative writing

A desert adventure
I was driving in the desert about 10 kms from Liwa when my car broke down. I was with my friend Ali and, of course, we both had mobile phones but unfortunately neither phone would work in such a remote location.

We were hoping another vehicle would spot us but after about an hour we hadn’t seen or been seen by anyone. Neither Ali nor I is a mechanic and we weren’t sure what was wrong with the car, apart from the fact that it wouldn’t start. The fuel gauge showed that we had plenty of petrol. It was very hot but we had plenty of water with us. But the water wouldn’t last for ever and neither of us wanted to spend the night in the desert. What were we to do?

We decided to set off in the direction of Liwa. We took a map and a bag containing water bottles and we started to walk. After about 5 kms we saw a Land Cruiser ahead of us. We waved and shouted like crazy and fortunately the driver spotted us and drove in our direction. We told him what had happened and he drove us into Liwa. We decided to stay in the hotel as it was getting dark.

Next day a local mechanic drove us back to our car. He discovered that the problem was a faulty fuel gauge: we had run out of petrol. How embarrassing! Still, the mechanic fixed it so it should never happen again.

251 words

How olive oil is made

How olive oil is made

Olive oil is still made today using traditional techniques. It is not a difficult process but care has to be taken at key stages.

The first stage is harvesting. The younger olives are picked by hand, the older by sticks, rakes or machines, between September and December. Before crushing, they are washed to remove any remaining impurities. They are then crushed, within thirty-six hours of picking. The olive paste is then pressurized, using a screw or hydraulic press. The resulting liquid contains water and oil which are separated by a centrifugal separator. Any remaining water and impurities are eliminated by the rapid spinning. After centrifugation, the amber olive oil is ready to be bottled. Superior oils have an opaque quality.

The process of making olive oil, as you can see, is thus not a very difficult one. It is important, however, to take care at key points in the process, such as the harvesting of the young olives.

163 words.

How a student joins ADMC

How a student joins ADMC

Not everyone can join ADMC. There is a specific procedure which must be followed and this is it.

Firstly, all prospective students are given the CEPA test, in both English and mathematics. The papers from the test are then marked by teachers from the Higher Colleges of Technology. After being marked, the results are sent to the Ministry of Education. Based on school results and the CEPA test, successful students are enrolled into the college. The students are then registered into Diploma or Higher Diploma courses. After that, ID cards and parking permits are issued to the newly-registered students; photos are needed for this part of the process. Each student is then assigned to a section and given a timetable. Details of the timetable, teachers and room numbers are checked by the students.

As you can see, joining ADMC is a long process. When he has completed the above steps, the new student is ready to start learning at his new college.

167 words.