Understand
About this text typeWhat is descriptive writing (integrated)?
A descriptive integrated paragraph describes a job by combining information from a reading text and a listening. You describe what the job involves, what it requires, and what makes it interesting or rewarding — using your own words throughout.
Purpose. to describe a job clearly and explain why it is important, interesting, or rewarding.
Key features
- Begin with a topic sentence that names the job and uses a relative clause (who / which / that).
- Describe what the job involves — what the person does, where they work, what skills they need.
- Explain what makes the job interesting or rewarding, using evidence from both sources.
- Combine details from the reading and the listening. Use your own words.
- End with a personal comment or evaluation.
Remember — your paragraph has three parts
- Topic sentence. Name the job and say why it is interesting. Use a relative clause: who / which / that
- Body sentences. Describe what the job involves, needs, and looks like. Add evidence from both sources.
- Concluding sentence. Give a personal evaluation. Use In conclusion, / Overall,
Study
Grammar & vocabularyVocabulary bank
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| career | the profession you follow as your life’s main work | She has built a very successful career in medicine. |
| profession | a job requiring special training and qualifications | Teaching is a demanding but highly respected profession. |
| skill | an ability developed through practice and experience | Strong communication is a key skill in almost any job. |
| rewarding | giving you a deep feeling of satisfaction and purpose | Helping others makes the job feel truly rewarding. |
| demanding | requiring a lot of effort, skill, and time | Working as a nurse is both rewarding and very demanding. |
| workplace | the environment or place where you do your job | A positive workplace improves both well-being and productivity. |
| colleague | a person you work alongside regularly | She has supportive and knowledgeable colleagues. |
| responsibility | a duty or task you are required to carry out | Senior doctors carry enormous professional responsibility. |
Grammar Relative clauses — who / which / that
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| … who + verb (for people) | A nurse is a professional who looks after sick and injured patients. |
| … which + verb (for things or places) | Nursing is a profession which requires both skill and compassion. |
| … that + verb (for people or things) | It is a job that makes a genuine difference to people’s lives. |
| Tip | Use a relative clause to combine two short sentences into one longer, more complex one. |
Useful linking words Notice the example sentences — they show you exactly how to use each word.
| Linking word | When to use it | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| … who… / … which… / … that… | To add detail about a person or thing | A nurse is someone who provides vital daily care to patients. |
| First, / In addition, | To add more descriptive information | In addition, nurses provide emotional support to patients. |
| For example, | To open a new sentence with an example. Followed by a comma. | For example, they take blood pressure and change bandages. |
| such as | To give examples inside a sentence. Not followed by a comma. | They perform practical tasks such as giving injections and changing bandages. |
| However, | To contrast in a NEW sentence. Followed by a comma. | The job is extremely demanding. However, it is deeply rewarding. |
| Although | To contrast inside ONE sentence. No comma after it. | Although the job is demanding, it is deeply rewarding. |
| Overall, / In conclusion, | To give a personal final evaluation | Overall, nursing is one of the most important careers. |
Extra practice · Part A Two options are given for each gap. Only ONE is correct. Think carefully about the meaning before you choose.
Part B · Write your own Complete these sentences using your own ideas. Make sure each linking word is used correctly.
Analyse
Sample paragraphThis is an integrated writing task. First read the text and listen to the talk, and take notes. Then study the sample paragraph to see how the notes are used.
Read Underline the most important ideas.
ReadingWhat Does a Nurse Do?
Nursing is one of the most important and demanding professions in the world. Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, care homes, and community settings, where they look after sick, injured, and vulnerable people every day. Their daily duties involve monitoring patients’ health, administering medicines, assisting doctors with procedures, and keeping detailed medical records. Nurses also play a crucial emotional role — they listen to patients, answer their questions, and help them feel less frightened and more hopeful. To do this job well, nurses need to be caring, patient, observant, and capable of making quick decisions in high-pressure situations. They must also work effectively as part of a large, multidisciplinary team. Although nursing is an extremely demanding profession with long shifts and emotional challenges, it is also deeply rewarding. Many nurses say that seeing a patient recover and return home healthy makes every difficult moment worthwhile.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningA Day in the Life of a Nurse
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Take notes as you listen.
Take notes One box for each source.
What does the job involve day-to-day?
What skills and qualities are needed?
What makes the job rewarding or difficult?
Study the sample paragraph
Read the paragraph, then use the panel beside it to see how it is built. Click any row to light up that sentence.
An Interesting Job: The Nurse
One profession that I find enormously interesting and admirable is nursing — a career that is both one of the most important and one of the most demanding in the world. Nurses are healthcare professionals who work in hospitals, clinics, and care homes, where they look after sick and injured patients every single day. According to the reading, their daily work involves monitoring patients’ health, administering medicines, assisting doctors, and keeping careful records. In addition, they provide vital emotional support — listening to patients and helping them feel less frightened. As the listening transcript describes, a typical shift can last twelve hours or more, during which a nurse might take blood pressure readings, give injections, change bandages, comfort a worried patient, and help someone eat their lunch — all within the same morning. Although the work is physically exhausting and emotionally draining, it is also deeply rewarding. Most nurses say that seeing a patient recover and go home healthy makes every long shift worthwhile. Overall, nursing is a challenging but profoundly meaningful career, and I have enormous respect for everyone who chooses this profession.
Discussion Talk to your partner.
- What details did the writer get from the reading? What came from the listening?
- Find two relative clauses in the sample paragraph. What do they add to the description?
- What job would you like to describe? What two key details would you include?
Practise
Controlled exercisesExercise 1 Complete each sentence with who, which, or that.
Exercise 2 Match each job (1–4) to the correct description (A–D).
| Word | Answer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Doctor | A. a person who designs buildings and plans public spaces for communities | |
| 2. Architect | B. a person who investigates serious crimes and helps bring criminals to justice | |
| 3. Journalist | C. a person who examines patients, diagnoses illnesses, and prescribes treatment | |
| 4. Detective | D. a person who researches current events and writes or reports on them for the public |
Write
Your own paragraphThis is an integrated writing task. Read, listen and take notes first — then plan and write.
Read Take notes as you read.
ReadingWhat Does a Software Developer Do?
Software developers design and build the programs and applications that we use every day, from banking apps and online shops to video games. Most of them work for technology companies, banks or universities, although a growing number work from home as freelancers for clients in other countries. The job is far more varied than people imagine. A developer does not simply sit down and write code; they first have to understand exactly what a client needs, plan how the program will work, and then test it again and again in order to find and repair mistakes. This last stage, which is known as debugging, often takes longer than writing the program in the first place. Good developers need patience, strong logical thinking and excellent problem-solving skills. Communication matters just as much, because most software is built by teams in which designers, testers and project managers all have to understand one another. The work can be demanding: deadlines are tight, technology changes quickly, and developers have to keep learning new tools throughout their careers. In return, the profession offers good salaries, flexible working hours and the satisfaction of creating something that thousands of people will actually use.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningA Day in the Life of a Software Developer
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Take notes as you listen.
Take notes One box for each source.
Where do they work?
What are the main duties and daily tasks?
What skills and qualities are needed?
What are the difficulties and rewards?
Plan and write
Describe a job you find interesting. Use your notes from the reading and the listening to write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
Self-check Tick each box when you are sure.
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My paragraph
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