How to Write a Description of an Event

What is a description of an event?

A description of an event is when we talk about something that happened. It’s like telling a story or sharing details about a specific occasion.

We give information about the event’s name, where it happened, the date, the people involved, and what actually took place.

The purpose is to help others understand what the event was like, to imagine being there.

We want to convey the atmosphere, feelings, and important moments.

Describing events can be done in different situations, such as writing articles, essays, blogs, talking about personal experiences, or discussing historical events.

Why is it important to learn how to describe an event?

Understanding how to describe events using cause-and-effect phrases is important because it helps you explain why things happen and what comes as a result.

It’s about showing the connection between actions and their results. When you describe events using cause and effect, you can provide clear explanations and connect the dots in a logical way. This skill is useful for speaking and writing, whether you’re talking about things that happened, sharing stories, or expressing your thoughts.

It helps you make your point more clearly and convincingly. Being able to show cause-and-effect relationships helps people understand what you’re saying and makes your language skills better. It’s a valuable tool for communicating effectively and improving your English.

How to Describe an Event?

Step 1: Introduce the event

Begin by giving a short introduction about the event you want to describe. Include important details like the event’s name, the date, and where it happened.

For example:

Last weekend, I went to a music concert at the local stadium.

Step 2: Explain the cause

Next, use one of the cause phrases to explain the reason or why something happened. Choose a phrase that best fits the cause-effect relationship you want to describe. Here are some examples:

  1. Because many people wanted tickets…
  2. Due to the rainy weather…
  3. Since they changed the venue at the last moment…
  4. As the main singer got sick…

Step 3: Describe the result or effect

After explaining the cause, describe what happened as a result. Use phrases that show the outcome of the event. Here are some examples:

  1. The concert tickets sold out quickly.
  2. The outdoor event got cancelled.
  3. Some fans missed the first performance.
  4. We decided to leave early and get our money back.

Step 4: Combine the cause and effect phrases

Finally, put the cause and effect phrases together to make complete sentences or a paragraph that makes sense. Here are some examples:

  1. Because many people wanted tickets, the concert sold out quickly. It was a big success.
  2. Due to the rainy weather, the outdoor event got cancelled, which disappointed many people.
  3. Since they changed the venue at the last moment, some fans missed the first performance, which was unfortunate.
  4. As the main singer got sick, we decided to leave early and get our money back. It was a bit disappointing, but we still enjoyed the rest of the show.

By combining cause and effect phrases, you can create clear descriptions of events. Remember to adjust the sentences to match the specific event you’re talking about. Practice using these phrases in different situations to improve your understanding and skill.

Now that you know the steps to describe an event, let’s see an example

Useful language to express cause-and-effect

Cause PhrasesEffect Phrases
BecauseAs a result
SinceTherefore
Due toConsequently
As a result ofHence
The main cause ofThus
One factor that contributes toSo
The reason forAs a consequence
Leads toResult in
Brings aboutLeads to
TriggersCauses
Results inAffects
Is responsible forInfluences
ProducesContributes to

Pro tips for describing an event

Make sure that you:

  1. Introduce the event clearly.
  2. Describe the outcome or result.
  3. Include relevant details to paint a vivid picture.
  4. Use clear and concise language.
  5. Organize your thoughts logically.
  6. Show the connection between the cause and effect.

 Practice time

You are going to write a post describing an event you went to. It can be a real event or you can invent one. Think about:

  • when and where the event was and why you went there.
  • who you went with and what it was like
  • anything that was unusual about the event and why
  • what the best part of it was and why

Write your post in the comments below to get feedback

Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

for B1 Preliminary Cambridge Test/ IELTS

An essay is a written piece where you can present an idea, propose an argument, express your emotions or initiate a debate.

In an advantages and disadvantages essay your task is to describe the positive and the negative sides of a specific topic. You must include examples and reasons to support your ideas. Sometimes you will also be asked to give your opinion. You can include your personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion of the essay.

The typical structure for an advantages and disadvantages essay is the following:

Paragraph 1: Introduction
  • Start your introduction with a sentence that paraphrases the question you were given
  • Add a sentence where you include the main ideas that you will talk about
  • Give your opinion (if required)
Paragraph 2: Advantages
  • Write a sentence where you summarize the main idea of the paragraph. In this paragraph you must mention the advantages.
  • Next write a sentence where you explain the advantages.
  • Finally you explain the consequence or result of advantages by giving an example.
Paragraph 3: Disadvantages

(This paragraph is similar to paragraph 2, but here you will talk about the disadvantages)

  • Write a sentence where you summarize the main idea of the paragraph. In this paragraph you must mention the disadvantages.
  • Explain the disadvantages.
  • Give examples of the disadvantages.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
  • Summarize your ideas
  • Paraphrase your opinion (if required)
Example:

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling by plane

Nowadays, a lot of people prefer to travel by plane when they go to another country. However, air travel has both pros and drawbacks. Let’s examine some of these here.

One of the main advantages of traveling by plane is that it is much faster than any other form of transport. For example, you can fly from Toronto to New York in 2 hours, whereas by car, it would take more than 7 hours. Another advantage is that flying is more comfortable and less tiring because you can sleep on a long flight. You can also watch movies or read. Finally, it is safer. More people die in car accidents than in the air.

On the other hand, traveling by plane also has some disadvantages. To start with, it can be quite expensive, especially if you want to travel in the comfort of First Class or Business Class. What is more, flights are often delayed, and this means you may have to spend a long time waiting in the airport or miss connecting flights. In addition, you may arrive in New York while your suitcase has gone to Paris.

To sum up, the airplane is a great invention, but it does have some drawbacks. If it was cheaper, it would be better. Still, in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. If we didn’t have planes, it would be very difficult to travel to distant places.

Below there is a template that can help you write your advantages and disadvantages essays.
Template for an advantages and disadvantages essay

Useful language: Linking phrases

To list advantages/ disadvantages
  • the main advantage is…
  • the main disadvantage is …
  • another advantage is …
To add more point to the same topic
  • In addition, …
  • Furthermore, …
  • What is more …
To introduce an example:
  • For instance …
  • For example …
To make contrasting points
  • However, …
  • In spite (of the fact) …
  • Although …
  • On the other hand …
To give a reason
  • Because + clause …
  • Because of + noun …
To introduce the conclusion
  • In conclusion, …
  • To sum up, …
Watch the following video to learn more vocabulary to talk about advantages and disadvantages