PAPER BREAK DOWN
Paper 2 – Writing
2 hours, 80 marks
2 questions:
Question 1: Extended Writing
(Discursive/Argumentative/Persuasive) – 40 marks
Directed writing in the form of: letter, article or speech based
on one or two texts.
Question 2: Creative Writing (narrative/descriptive) –
40 marks
Answer ONE question from a choice of 4: 2 descriptive and 2
narrative.
Question 1
DIRECTED WRITING 40 marks
ASSESSMENT FOCUS
R1 – Demonstrate understanding of W1 - articulate experience and
explicit meanings express what is thought, felt and
imagined
R2 – Demonstrate understanding of
15 implicit meanings
W2 - organise and structure ideas
and opinions for deliberate effect 25
mar R3 – analyse, evaluate and develop
facts, ideas and opinions, using
W3 - use a range of vocabulary
and sentence structures
mar
appropriate support from the text
ks R5 – select and use information for
appropriate to context
W4 - use register appropriate to
ks
specific purposes context
W5 - make accurate use of
spelling, punctuation and
grammar.
DIRECTED WRITING
You will read one passage (or two
short ones) and adapt the
information in it, in the form of
What is ONE of the following:
it?
Letter/speech/article
(newspaper or magazine)
You will be asked to write either as
the person in the passage or as a
fictionalised version of yourself.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Read the question before you read the passage
Have 2 highlighters handy to highlight information you will need in
order to address the two bullet points in the question.
Make sure you address each bullet point equally (5 points for
each bullet point)
Next on a separate piece of lined paper construct your plan:
Firstly, determine:
Form – text type? what level of formality should the text The key to
have? success is
Audience – who is the text aimed at? planning.
Purpose – what is the text trying to do?
Inform/entertain/persuade/advise
Perspective – who are you meant to be writing as?
Lastly, create a skeletal plan for your
writing to structure your work in a
coherent and organised manner.
P ersonal pronoun DON’T FORGET YOUR
I mperative LITERARY DEVICES
C ompliment
Use a combination of
these techniques, in
P ersonal experience EACH of your
(anecdote) paragraphs to support
E xaggeration your view and make
R hetorical question + your writing better.
repetition Think of these
techniques like
S tatistics and figures cement which hold
together and
U se of authority support a building
A lliteration
D escriptive language
E motive language
Argumentati
STRUCTURE FOR AN
ARGUMENTATIVE
Introduction state the issue
Alternative view give the opposite side of view
Criticism of Alternative
demolish the opposite view by using its weakness
view
Your view explain reasons and techniques to support your view
Conclusion Summary
SPEECHES
Make sure you are certain of the purpose; the underlying purpose will
always be to persuade.
Note:
Writing frame: The techniques in
each paragraph can
Introduction greeting followed by a STRONG OPENING. differ, but make sure
go straight into the issueyou have at least
one technique
use fact/stats/question/quote per
P ersonal pronoun
paragraph. ICmperative
ompliment
Body: Anecdote tell a story that supports your points P ersonal experience
use authority quote someone that has some knowledge of the topic
(anecdote)
E xaggeration
facts/stats refer to facts and statistics to back up your point
R hetorical question +
repetition
S tatistics and figures
Conclusion: summarise your speech U se of authority
A lliteration
look to the future – what will/won’t happen due to what D escriptive language
E motive language
has been stated. R ule of three
IS
IN
F H
Persuasive
STRUCTURE FOR AN
PERSUASIVE
Introduction state the issue
Alternative view give the opposite side of view but nullify it
Your view Present your view
Your view explain reasons and techniques to support your view
Conclusion Summarise and justify your view.
STRUCTURE FOR A Discourse markers
PERSUASIVE – words/phrases that
connect, organize and
manage your
The point of a persuasive is to CONVINCE your sentences/paragraphs
reader that your view on the topic is the correct to create fluency. They
one. work as a “sign-post” in
the text for your reader.
In order to do this, you need to:
Begin with a clear statement Body of
Start a new paragraph for a new point; each your
paragraph should have a clear topic sentence. persuasi
Link your paragraphs in a logical manner, use ve
discourse markers to lead your reader to the
conclusion. Remember to PIC
In your conclusion, show why you are justified in
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
PURPOSE AND REGISTER:
TO INFORM AND REGISTER IS FORMAL.
In the exam they
Structure
may give you a Heading: will be catchy – can be a pun or
heading. alliterative
If they don’t it IS
NOT necessary to
write one Paragraph one: summarises the main event, the
reason for the article; relates the WHO? WHAT?
Responds to WHERE? WHEN?
the bullet point
using the
information Paragraphs two – five: give details about the
from the event and answer the questions: WHO? WHERE?
passage.
WHAT? WHY? WHEN? HOW?
SHOULD INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE WITNESS
STATEMENT ALONG WITH FACTS/STATS TO
MAGAZINE As it is an exam it still
ARTICLE requires to be written in
Standard English,
PURPOSE AND REGISTER: therefore no slang.
TO ENTERTAIN AND INFORM; IT IS GENERALLY
INFORMAL.
In the exam they
Structure
may give you a Heading: will be catchy – often a pun or alliterative
heading. Have at
If they don’t it IS least 3
NOT necessary to Paragraph one: introduce the topic and set the
quotestone.
from
write one. 3 different
authorities
Responds to Paragraphs two – five: will give details on the 5
the bullet point
using the Ws
information will have quotations from people
from the interviewed on the topic/surveyed, as well as facts
passage.
and stats.
Paragraph six: conclude your topic and end with a
Discursive
STRUCTURE
The purpose of a Discursive text is to
DISCUSS the pros and cons of a situation.
It needs to address BOTH sides of the
argument equally.
A good discursive piece should ASSESS AND
EVALUATE ALL SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT
IN A NEUTRAL TONE and then provide the
author’s opinion at the end.
STRUCTURE
Introduction state the issue
Present one view Present one side of the argument
Present the alternative view Present the other side of the argument
Express your views,
Your view without bias – supporting
your points
Summarize what you have
Conclusion
said and refer back to the
question
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR
WRITING:
Balanced and calm tone of voice
Technical and formal language where
appropriate
Reference to other sources of expertise /
quotations from famous thinkers
Connectives to link paragraphs together
(Equally, Similarly, On the other
hand, However, etc)
Some persuasive techniques: PIC
PERSUADER devices
LETTE
RS
Determine whether it is a formal letter or informal.
The style of
writing will
Formal letter will be written to people you don’t really know.
Informal letter will be written to friends and family members. vary
In your letter you need to:
depending
Begin: on the
Formal: Dear Sir/Madam or Mr/Mrs (if name is given)
Informal: Dear (name of friend/family member) PURPOSE of
Paragraph 1:Formal: state the purpose straight away. your letter.
Informal: greet the person, ask after their well being and then state the purpose
of the letter.
Paragraph 2-4: should cover the 3 bullet points (a paragraph on each bullet point)
Paragraph 5: summarise your main point, re-iterate your purpose/point of view and the sign off.
Formal: Yours faithfully, (if you began sir/madam)
Yours respectfully, (if you began Mr/Mrs)
Informal: Yours sincerely,
Yours truly,
Regards,
Best wishes,
ACHIEVING FORMALITY
Here are a list of things you can do to make
your writing more formal:
Polite tone
No colloquial (chatty) language
Ambitious vocabulary
Use connectives; therefore,
consequently etc
No slang
Address the person by their surname or
full name
No contractions (can’t, won’t, don’t, etc.)
