Academic task 1: Describing a natural process

Vocabulary and synonyms - lexical coherence. 
This diagram gives you a certain amount of language. You have the choice of whether to repeat it in your description or try and vary it.
What you do here will depend on how well you understand the diagram and the words. It is not an absolute disaster in this task if you do repeat some of the words from the diagram as they are technical terms.
You should, however, try and find alternatives for the more general English words if you can and this will help you score marks on lexical range. It will also help your lexical coherence as you are using words belonging to the same lexical field or group. 
Frog : amphibian, toad.
Mature: adult, fully grown. Mating: reproduction process or cycle.
Frog spawn: fertilised eggs.
Pond: water. Tadpole: no alternative.
Growing: developing, maturing. Young frog: baby, small frog, young.
Legs: limbs.
Step 3 - Quickly plan and organise your answer.

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  Write an overview using words to describe a sequence such as stage, step, phase.
  
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  Use the correct tense to describe the sequence. As this is a natural cycle which is repeated, use the present simple.
  
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  Make sure you use transitive and intransitive verbs correctly - these are verbs which can / can’t be used in the passive voice.
  
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  Make sure that you form the active and passive correctly.
  
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  Use linking words / adverbials related to sequence and ordering (see above).
  

Step 4 - Model answer
The diagram shows the natural process life cycle of a frog from the embryo stage, through seven developmental phases from tadpole to fully grown amphibian.
Initially, the fertilised eggs grow into embryos from which very small tadpoles emerge and shelter under plants in the water or pond. The tadpole begins life black in colour and it has a long tail and shorter body. As it grows, external gills for breathing are produced while subsequent stages in its development include a longer tail and when this stage is complete back limbs begin to appear which allows the tiny creature to swim faster.
The baby frog is nourished from food and nutrients stored in its tail, and the next stage in the cycle is for front limbs to begin growing while the tail shrinks and eventually disappears. At each stage the creature continues to enlarge significantly and changes in colour from black, to dark green and ultimately to bright green.
Once the tail has disappeared the frog is supported on four limbs and continues, in the final phrase, to develop into a full sized amphibian. (183 words).
Commentary

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  Use of adverbial phrases to connect the sentences together and add coherence and connection between the stages. 
  

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  Use of vocabulary / lexis connected to animals, frogs, growth, development, food and size. This variety of words keeps the answer well connected and precise while avoiding repetition when possible.
  

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  Use of passive verbs is suitable when describing any kind of process.