THERE ARE TEN VIDEOS BY MRBRUFF ONLINE ABOUT GETTING AN A* IN THE WRITING SECTION. PART 2 IS AVAILABLE TO VIEW BELOW, BUT LOOK THROUGH ALL TEN VIDEOS.
(NOTE: HE USES 'DAFOREST' WHERE WE HAVE COVERED 'AREDFOREST')
TIPS FOR ANSWERING BOTH QUESTIONS
It is VITAL in both questions that you pay close attention to the PURPOSE, AUDIENCE and FORM in the question. Highlight these parts of the question and make sure you write in an appropriate way.
PURPOSE = What your aim should be (for Q5, this will be inform, explain, describe - or a combination of two of them; for Q6, this will be argue or persuade)
AUDIENCE = Who you're writing for. What might these people expect? What would appeal to them?
FORM = The type of text you're writing. Think about what features you need to use, how you should structure your text, and what kind of language is appropriate.
Thinking about all of these, you should opt for a TONE that is suitable. Can you be satirical, slightly humerous, or ironic? Or is it more suitable to be serious, sophisticated or irate? Think carefully about how your language choices affect the tone.
FORM tips:
AUDIENCE tips:
Sometimes the audience won't be very specific, but still think carefully about whether your writing is appropriate. Consider this when you pick your topic, too. For example, if it's a LOCAL audience, it wouldn't be a great idea to write negatively about the local area! Or if you're writing for a SCHOOL publication, don't write negatively about the school!
You should write in STANDARD ENGLISH and generally stick to being formal, but consider whether it's appropriate to be a little more informal in places.
Also consider if your audience is local or national.
Think about what your audience want/need to know, especially if you're WRITING TO INFORM.
If writing to PERSUADE or ARGUE, think about whether there are certain arguments that you could make that would be more appealing to your audience, or that would address their concerns.
For example, if you're writing for parents, think about what would be most important to people with children.
ALSO IN BOTH QUESTIONS, you must think about the marks you get for spelling, punctuation and sentence structures. That means you should:
PURPOSE = What your aim should be (for Q5, this will be inform, explain, describe - or a combination of two of them; for Q6, this will be argue or persuade)
AUDIENCE = Who you're writing for. What might these people expect? What would appeal to them?
FORM = The type of text you're writing. Think about what features you need to use, how you should structure your text, and what kind of language is appropriate.
Thinking about all of these, you should opt for a TONE that is suitable. Can you be satirical, slightly humerous, or ironic? Or is it more suitable to be serious, sophisticated or irate? Think carefully about how your language choices affect the tone.
FORM tips:
- Use a HEADLINE for articles (whether it's magazine, newspaper, website, etc.)
- For letters, write the date in full, then beneath it, start with: Dear [person's name - Mr / Mrs ______] (or use 'Sir or Madam' if you're not sure, or consider who the audience is - it could be 'Dear Reader,' if to be published in a magazine, for example). Sign off with 'Yours Faithfully, [your full name]' if you don't know the person receiving the letter personally, or 'Yours Sincerely, [your name]' if you do.
- For blog entries, you may wish to still include a headline.
- There may be different forms, just think carefully about what you should and shouldn't do.
AUDIENCE tips:
Sometimes the audience won't be very specific, but still think carefully about whether your writing is appropriate. Consider this when you pick your topic, too. For example, if it's a LOCAL audience, it wouldn't be a great idea to write negatively about the local area! Or if you're writing for a SCHOOL publication, don't write negatively about the school!
You should write in STANDARD ENGLISH and generally stick to being formal, but consider whether it's appropriate to be a little more informal in places.
Also consider if your audience is local or national.
Think about what your audience want/need to know, especially if you're WRITING TO INFORM.
If writing to PERSUADE or ARGUE, think about whether there are certain arguments that you could make that would be more appealing to your audience, or that would address their concerns.
For example, if you're writing for parents, think about what would be most important to people with children.
ALSO IN BOTH QUESTIONS, you must think about the marks you get for spelling, punctuation and sentence structures. That means you should:
- use a range of sentence structures for effect - including short ones
- check your spellings (but don't let this stop you from attempting to use more adventurous words) - take special care with common mistakes like there/their/they're and your/you're, and make sure you use correct forms like could have/would have/should have/must have etc. - never of where the have is!
- avoid basic mistakes with punctuation, capital letters, missing/misplaced apostrophes, etc. Not sure how to use apostrophes? Ask your teacher for extra help, and/or follow this guide: click here. A summary is below:
VIDEO ON SENTENCE VARIETY (USEFUL FOR QUESTIONS 5 AND 6)
(There are links to other useful videos in the playlist, too)
PAST QUESTIONS FOR Q5 AND Q6 - GET AN IDEa OF WHAT MIGHT COME UP (AND USE THEM FOR TIMED PRACTICE AT HOME)
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Section B Past Paper Questions | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
QUESTION 5 TIPS
Question 5 will always be to INFORM, EXPLAIN or DESCRIBE.
It might be a combination of two of them. If it is, make sure you include features of both, BUT you don't have to cover them equally if you don't want to. For example, if writing to describe and explain, you could describe for a few paragraphs then explain in the final one, or you could explain as you go along, combining it with your description.
Remember you can make things up in the exam, as long as it doesn't sound ridiculous!
Your response should be 4-6 paragraphs.
Link to some example questions: click here
Key points for Q5:
It might be a combination of two of them. If it is, make sure you include features of both, BUT you don't have to cover them equally if you don't want to. For example, if writing to describe and explain, you could describe for a few paragraphs then explain in the final one, or you could explain as you go along, combining it with your description.
Remember you can make things up in the exam, as long as it doesn't sound ridiculous!
Your response should be 4-6 paragraphs.
Link to some example questions: click here
Key points for Q5:
- Make your opening really effective - grab the examiner's attention & don't start in a boring, predictable way! You could start by creating vivid imagery, asking a rhetorical question, using a short sentence, etc.
- An effective one-sentence paragraph will stand out to an examiner.
- Ensure that you are using TECHNIQUES and a STYLE appropriate to your purpose:
- Informative writing will require factual language, statistics, expert advice, and might use features such as bullet points for key ideas (but make sure you still write in full for most of your answer). Make up realistic facts, figures, experts etc. if necessary.
- Descriptive writing will play on the senses, use figurative language such as metaphors and similes, and other creative vocabulary to create vivid imagery for a reader. This should be built up slowly and carefully, not rushed. It may also be appropriate to describe your feelings - be original and creative!
- Explaining means you have to make it clear HOW/WHY something is the case (based on what's in the question). Make sure you're clear about what you're writing. It is generally important to be factual, too.
QUESTION 6 TIPS
Question 6 will always be to ARGUE OR PERSUADE.
Whichever you get, you need to make sure you are using PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES (use AREDFOREST, anecdotes, and create imagery using similes, metaphors and other descriptive techniques to support your view).
Whichever you get, plan your response before you start writing: you should give an overview or your point of view (with an interesting opening!) at the start, then proceed through your points, and end on a high note which really drives your point of view home and encourages your audience to agree.
If you are writing to PERSUADE, you must stick to one point of view. If you are writing to ARGUE, make sure you are responding to the points in the question. You should also consider counter-arguments (other views and perspectives): show that you're aware of what people who disagree with you might say, but then follow this by writing persuasively about why they are wrong and that your point of view makes more sense, or why your side of the argument is more important.
Your response should be 5-7 paragraphs.
Key points for Q6:
Whichever you get, you need to make sure you are using PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES (use AREDFOREST, anecdotes, and create imagery using similes, metaphors and other descriptive techniques to support your view).
Whichever you get, plan your response before you start writing: you should give an overview or your point of view (with an interesting opening!) at the start, then proceed through your points, and end on a high note which really drives your point of view home and encourages your audience to agree.
If you are writing to PERSUADE, you must stick to one point of view. If you are writing to ARGUE, make sure you are responding to the points in the question. You should also consider counter-arguments (other views and perspectives): show that you're aware of what people who disagree with you might say, but then follow this by writing persuasively about why they are wrong and that your point of view makes more sense, or why your side of the argument is more important.
Your response should be 5-7 paragraphs.
Key points for Q6:
- Make your opening really effective - grab the examiner's attention & don't start in a boring, predictable way! You could start by creating vivid imagery, asking a rhetorical question, using a short sentence, etc.
- An effective one-sentence paragraph will stand out to an examiner.
- Use rhetorical (persuasive) devices
- Structure your response carefully - work through your key arguments
- Appeal to the reader in various, suitable ways. Try to use the three different types of appeal: logical (makes sense), moral (right thing to do) and emotional (play on emotions to persuade).
OTHER USEFUL VIDEOS:
If you struggle with more basic spellings: