English - Writing Tips

Front 1

General

Back 1

• Writing paper is 1 hour

• 2 20 mark questions

• Answer both, there is no choice

• Worth 40 marks total

• 30 minutes per questions]
  

• SPaG is worth 7 marks per question

• Always plan answers

Front 2

SPaG

Back 2

• Use semicolons
• Spell correctly, don't use a word you can't spell, you may lose marks
• Use ambitious vocabulary

Front 3

General Structure

Back 3

• Always use correct tone
  
• Many marks are available for addresses in letter
  
• Indent paragraphs
  
• Underline Subheadings
  

Front 4

Formal Letters (Structure and Content)

Back 4

• Most likely type of writing
• Always: Dear Mr Smith Except newspapers where it is Dear Editor
• Your address is in the top right, leave a line and theirs is on the left, leave a line and the date is on the right, leave a line, "Dear Mr Smith," on the left then start under the comma
• Open with a topic sentence
• Then 3 paragraphs of your point of view
• 1 paragraph of the alternate point of view
• 1 paragraph of your point of view
• Conclusion
• Formal tone, realism needed, appropriate language etc.
• End with "Yours sincerely"

Front 5

Informal Letters (Structure and Content)

Back 5

• Structure is identical to formal letter but without your address (use "hi" instead of "dear" too)
  
• Opening paragraph of backstory
• Five paragraphs of your point of view
• Brief sentence to end
• Don't end with "Yours sincerely"

Front 6

Speech

Back 6

• Find out the Purpose (informing, explaining arguing or persuading), audience and tone of the speech
• Opening paragraph followed by 5 paragraphs of your point of view and then rounded off with a slogan at the end
• Greet the audience at the beginning, outline the topic and ask a rhetorical question
• Maintain attention using Rhetorical questions, memorable phrases, anecdotes and statistics

Front 7

Magazine Article

Back 7

• Find out the Purpose (informing, explaining arguing or persuading), audience and tone of the article
  
• Keep language formal, but keep a fun tone as well
  
• Have a witty main heading a subheadings for each paragraph
  
• Opening paragraph, 4 subtitled paragraphs of your opinion followed by a conclusion at the end
  

Front 8

Leaflet

Back 8

• Find out the Purpose (informing, explaining arguing or persuading), audience and tone of the leaflet
  
• Don't draw pictures, draw a box with writing in it
• Don't write in columns
• Introduction, 5 paragraphs, short conclusion
• Subheadings can be used, similar to a magazine article
• Include a maximum of 3 bullet points, web addresses and phone numbers

Front 9

Travel Writing

Back 9

• Could be a guide, rough guide, alternative guide, magazine article or leaflet

• Will always be about a place

• Introduction, 4 paragraphs, conclusion

• Persuasive language

• Pick a side (except rough guide)

Front 10

Job Application

Back 10

• Variation of a formal letter so the structure is the same

• Avoid slang, contractions and humour

• Information can be made up

• Introduction, 4 paragraphs then conclusion

• Stands out against the competition

• Be persuasive

• Formal tone

Front 11

Review

Back 11

• Learn film review

Front 12

Radio Phone-In

Back 12

• Open with "Hi DJ Darren"
• Create a brief back story (I was listening the your discussion...)
• Pick a side
• 3-4 paragraphs of your side
• 1 paragraph of counter argument
• Persuasive
• Round off at the end (Thank you...)

Front 13

Report

Back 13

• Formal
• Impersonal and no persuasive language or personal pronouns
• Factual
• Title indicating the topic and audience
• Introduction outlining purpose of report and evidence gathered
• How the research was carried out paragraph
• Findings paragraph
• Conclusions paragraph
• Recommendations paragraph