Writing to inform, explain, describe

Writing toinform, explain,describeWriting toinform, explain,describe

Tuesday 8th March / Wednesday 9th MarchTuesday 8th March / Wednesday 9th March

Paper:The Craft of the WriterPaper:The Craft of the Writer

You are the ‘writer’You are the ‘writer’

You are being examined on how wellyou can ‘craft’ languageYou are being examined on how wellyou can ‘craft’ language

Remember:to craft language = to write skilfullyRemember:to craft language = to write skilfully

Assessment Objectives (i) and (ii)Assessment Objectives (i) and (ii)

GeneralGeneral

Purpose andAudiencePurpose andAudience

CommunicativeEffectivenessCommunicativeEffectiveness

OrganisationOrganisation

How successful andeffective?How successful andeffective?

How focused on the task?How focused on the task?

Sophisticated vocabulary?Controlled and variedsentence structure?Sophisticated vocabulary?Controlled and variedsentence structure?

Skilfully paragraphed andstructured?Skilfully paragraphed andstructured?

Assessment Objective (iii)Assessment Objective (iii)

PunctuationPunctuation

GrammarGrammar

SpellingSpelling

Accurate and variedmarks used for effect?Accurate and variedmarks used for effect?

Accurate andambitious structuringof sentences?Accurate andambitious structuringof sentences?

Accurate spelling ofsimple and complexwords?Accurate spelling ofsimple and complexwords?

SubjectSubject

May be linked to topics covered inother parts of the paperMay be linked to topics covered inother parts of the paper

May be randomMay be random

BUT… they should provide you withan opportunity to write aboutsomething familiar or that interestsyou.BUT… they should provide you withan opportunity to write aboutsomething familiar or that interestsyou.

The QuestionsThe Questions

Choice of two questionsChoice of two questions

May focus on single element of the writingtriplet e.g. writing to describeMay focus on single element of the writingtriplet e.g. writing to describe

May combine two elements e.g. informand explainMay combine two elements e.g. informand explain

READ THE QUESTIONCAREFULLYREAD THE QUESTIONCAREFULLY

AND KEY WORD ITAND KEY WORD IT

FormForm

A form may be specifiedA form may be specified



e.g. write a letterexplaining why youwant to pursue aparticular careere.g. write a letterexplaining why youwant to pursue aparticular career



Addresses/dates Addresses/dates 

Open/close with suitable greetingOpen/close with suitable greeting

A form may not bespecifiedA form may not bespecified



e.g. describe a personyou admiree.g. describe a personyou admire



write in normalparagraphswrite in normalparagraphs

Possible formsPossible forms

LettersLetters

Articles for:Articles for:

–Newspapers–Newspapers

–Magazines–Magazines

–Leaflets–Leaflets

ScriptsScripts

ReportsReports

ProspectusesProspectuses

AudienceAudience

An audience MAY bespecifiedAn audience MAY bespecified



e.g. informing theheadmaster aboutyour viewse.g. informing theheadmaster aboutyour views



use formallanguage and apolite toneuse formallanguage and apolite tone

An audience MAYNOT be specifiedAn audience MAYNOT be specified



e.g. explain howyou think teenagersshould be treatedtodaye.g. explain howyou think teenagersshould be treatedtoday



use vocabularysuitable for youngand old readers *use vocabularysuitable for youngand old readers *

Key wording: an exampleKey wording: an example

Write an article for a magazineinforming visitors to the areaabout local facilities and sitesof interest worth visiting.Write an article for a magazineinforming visitors to the areaabout local facilities and sitesof interest worth visiting.

Writing to informWriting to inform

Purpose: to give detailsabout somethingPurpose: to give detailsabout something

(Hint: Who? What?Where? When? Why?How)(Hint: Who? What?Where? When? Why?How)

Structure:Paragraphsorganised by topic,beginning with cleartopic sentencesStructure:Paragraphsorganised by topic,beginning with cleartopic sentences

Language:Language:

-Clear and factual but lively!-Clear and factual but lively!

-Technical/specialist vocabulary-Technical/specialist vocabulary

-Third person/formal-Third person/formal

-Honest and trustworthy tone?-Honest and trustworthy tone?

Writing to explainWriting to explain

Purpose: giving morethan details aboutsomething; justify andgive the reasonPurpose: giving morethan details aboutsomething; justify andgive the reason

(Moving into analysis)(Moving into analysis)

Structure:Paragraphs (openand then giveevidence)Structure:Paragraphs (openand then giveevidence)

Sequential/logicalorderSequential/logicalorder

Language:Language:

-Connectives to show sequence, cause and effect-Connectives to show sequence, cause and effect

-Technical/specialist vocabulary-Technical/specialist vocabulary

-Clear and authoritative in tone-Clear and authoritative in tone

-Personal (emotional/subjective) OR factual andbalanced-Personal (emotional/subjective) OR factual andbalanced

Writing to describeWriting to describe

Purpose: to paint apicture in words, tomake something realfor the readerPurpose: to paint apicture in words, tomake something realfor the reader

Structure:Paragraphs whichcover different areasof the descriptionStructure:Paragraphs whichcover different areasof the description

Language:Language:

-Adjectives and adverbs-Adjectives and adverbs

-Use of verbs to give power and movement-Use of verbs to give power and movement

-Imagery (make sure it doesn’t jar…)-Imagery (make sure it doesn’t jar…)

-Variety of sentence length and structure-Variety of sentence length and structure

-Appealing to reader’s different senses-Appealing to reader’s different senses

Exam hints (1)Exam hints (1)

Plan your piece of writingPlan your piece of writing

–NEVER just start writing; you will endup with a loosely-structured anddisorganised result (  not ‘crafted’)–NEVER just start writing; you will endup with a loosely-structured anddisorganised result (  not ‘crafted’)

What should I put in my plan?What should I put in my plan?

–Ideas for content–Ideas for content

–Order of points and links–Order of points and links

–Key words to use to communicate ideas–Key words to use to communicate ideas

Exam hints (2)Exam hints (2)

OpeningsOpenings

–Make your beginning attention-grabbing andinteresting–Make your beginning attention-grabbing andinteresting

EndingsEndings

–Plan it for maximum impact – content andstyle.–Plan it for maximum impact – content andstyle.

Leave enough time to check for accuracyin spelling, missing words, punctuationLeave enough time to check for accuracyin spelling, missing words, punctuation

–This could make a difference in your grade.–This could make a difference in your grade.

OpeningsConsider starting your writing with:OpeningsConsider starting your writing with:

A rhetorical questionA rhetorical question

–‘How would you feel coming face to facewith your worst nightmare?’–‘How would you feel coming face to facewith your worst nightmare?’

A dramatic remark or statementA dramatic remark or statement

–‘I will never, ever set foot inside a hotair balloon again!’–‘I will never, ever set foot inside a hotair balloon again!’

More openingsMore openings

An arresting imageAn arresting image

–‘As the fear crept over me, I wonderedwhether I would live or die.’–‘As the fear crept over me, I wonderedwhether I would live or die.’

An intriguing comment to draw thereader inAn intriguing comment to draw thereader in

–‘When a person goes through anexperience like mine last year, itchanges their view of life completely.’–‘When a person goes through anexperience like mine last year, itchanges their view of life completely.’