Year 11

Unit 2 English Language Writing

Homework Booklet

Name:________________________________________________
Unit 2 - Writing

This section will be a writing task. You will be provided with two questions that may be
linked to the theme of the previous extracts (from the reading paper) and will test your
ability to write to argue/ persuade or advise.
You must answer both questions.
You must spend 30 minutes on each question.

Make sure you include a plan; this can be a list or spider diagram or a flow chart.
Examiners automatically feel happy when they see a plan and it is a good idea to
keep examiners happy.
You must ensure you plan and spend time checking. You will be assessed on your
use of spelling, sentence structure, punctuation and paragraph use. If you forget
about all these things you can go back and add paragraphs by marking your text
with // to show the examiner you want a new paragraph there.
Try to use a variety of punctuation ( :, ;?!) this automatically gives you more
marks.
Make sure you use a variety of sentence structures for effect. Use long
descriptive sentences followed by short snappy ones.
Try to expand your vocabulary. Use words you do not normally use. It doesnt
matter if youre not completely sure how to spell them. You get points for trying.
Use standard English and avoid slang
Make sure you engage your reader. Use any trick you can to guarantee your
reader is interested and continues to read.
Remember to highlight the key points of the question.
Consider PAF:
1. What do they want you to write?
2. Who do they want you to write it for?
3. How do they want you to present it? (Magazine article, letter, webpage
make sure you set it out like the presentational feature requested.)

A Useful phrase to remember could be AFOREST

Planning

Its really important to spend 5 minutes planning your ideas by completing a

spider diagram or list of everything you want to include.
Most people lose marks on the exam because they rush straight in and then
run out of things to say.
An easy way to plan is to spider diagram all your initial ideas. Then look at
your ideas and see if you can add anything else to each branch. After that,
look at all the points you have and try to arrange them in an order of
development. What would be good to use as an introduction, the main and
your conclusion?
The best marks are awarded when people plan what they are going to say
and you can see a logical development of their argument.
You need to think about what points you will make and in what order.

Think of an examiner like a fish you want to catch

HOOK them in
Choose your ANGLE
Use PERSUASIVE devices( to tempt them)
ANECDOTES ( to get them on side)
STRONG POINTS ( to reel them in)

Hook the Reader

Its really important that you select your opening line carefully in order to
hook the reader into your writing and engage them to want to carry on
reading.
Create anecdotes
Try to add anecdotes ( mini stories) to your argument or view point to make
your argument stronger.
For example, relate the topic to your own personal experience ( imagined or
real) or the experience of someone you know ( imagined or real)

Plan Strong Points:

Try to think about the question in extreme.

What could you say to take the idea to the extreme to help you persuade?
You could use a rhetorical question to really engage the reader with a strong
point.

Check your writing for

Emotive language
Exaggeration or stress
Repetition
Anecdotes
Magic 3
Facts and figures
Detailed reasons and justification

Check your PURPOSE, AUDIENCE and FORMAT

What is it you are supposed to be writing? Plan your answer to ensure you are
clear on your purpose
Make sure your purpose is CLEAR
Make sure your language appeals to your target audience- who is it aimed at? Is
this clear from your vocabulary?
Choose the right tone and style for your audience
If asked to write a letter- make sure you set it out like a letter
If asked to write an article include a headline and subheadings
If asked to write a leaflet- make sure you include subheadings- indicate what the
layout would look like.
Over emphasise your FORMAT
Use whatever tricks you can to make sure the examiner clearly knows you are
aware of the purpose, audience and format
For example, This week in Teen Weekly we will be questioning. or, for those
who read my last review, For regular readers you know that here at the
Norwich Herald we support Turn to page 48 for more details, Use our web
link below for help an advice on

Constantly refer to your audience

Think about words and phrases which explicitly refer to your audience so it is
clear you are addressing them.
If for example, you are writing a speech for your class- make sure you refer to
classmates or fellow year 11s, or use phrases which appeal to them, In this
school, we know that..
Make sure you include sign posts for the reader which acknowledges that you
know your audience.

Phrases which might help if asked to write to your class

Yr 11 students think that.
As an English class, we should believe
that.
As 15 year old yourselves, you must

Like me, you must agree that..

Teenagers like us often think..
Fellow classmates..

agree that
Key Stage Four students, you know
that

We know from experience , that

people our age.

Aiming for an A/ A*?

Getting the top marks is about making your piece of writing stand out from the
crowd.
Remember the examiner will be reading hundreds of examples of the same thing.
How can you make yours different?
You could choose to write from the perspective of a character?
Be creative, show originality and flair.
Variety of punctuation and sentence structure used for effect
A wide vocabulary used for effect (crafted)

Letter Writing
Remember how to set it out, your address at the top right hand corner of the page,
the date underneath that on the right, their address on the left top hand side, then
the Dear.. Finish it off, yours faithfully if you dont know them, yours sincerely if
you do know them.
After writing Dear Sir/Madam, you should include a brief opening paragraph. It
might help here to remember this three part structure
1) Explain why youre writing.
2) Make it clear who you are and what your opinion on this topic is.
3) Sum up, and lead into the main part of the letter.
Dear Sir / Madam
Im writing to express my outrage at the recent rise in tuition fees. As someone who
is thinking of going to University myself, I am absolutely appalled by this unjust
decision for a number of reasons. I sincerely hope by the time you finish reading
this letter, you will have come to see sense.

Leaflet

The best approach seemed to be to include a title and a few empty text
boxes which indicate pictures, maps etc. Make it clear that this is a leaflet,
but then write the text in straightforward paragraphs. Dont forget to use
subheadings and titles.

Check your Tone and Style

You need to be completely clear about the conventions of the texts you might
be asked to produce:
A formal letter

An informal letter
A speech
A magazine article
A review
A leaflet

USE WRITING TECHNIQUES!

Writing to Argue

This is where you need to balance both sides of an argument and then give your
own opinion. It is important that you acknowledge the opposing argument and
then try to counter argue with your point of view.
Start with a statement that you may not agree with. For example, Some people
believe that .however, I believe..
Use useful linking phrases like However, Therefore, Nevertheless
Offer your own opinion, I believe that.
Use the media texts to help you. You can quote from these for extra marks.
Use facts and figures to back up your point. ( if you dont know any, make them
up but make sure they are believable)
Use rhetorical questions
Use emotive language.

Writing to Persuade

When writing to persuade, imagine you are a used car salesman. You must
convince the reader that you are absolutely right. You are trying to persuade
someone to do or think something so use all your persuasive powers.
Exaggerate and stress points. Underline your main points
Use we and us when you can. This makes the reader feel more people are on
the side of your opinion.
Remember the magic 3 rule. Say your point 3 times to make the message more
effective. For example, These people are helpless, vulnerable and destitute
Use repetition
Use emotive language
Direct your points personally at the audience, Surely you would agree?
Use rhetorical questions. Is this really what you want?
Finish on a strong point, Think about it!

Writing to Advise

Break your idea or information down into a series of instructions

Structure your advice clearly, so it follows a logical sequence
Use bullet points, subheadings or numbering
Use anecdotes or jokes to keep the reader interested
Make sure your advice is clear and easy to understand
Use imperative verbs ( must, put, place, add, move etc)

Offer helpful alternatives, bBe encouraging and keep your tone friendly.
Consider other places the audience can get help ( organisations, charities,
internet etc)

Writing to REVIEW/ ANALYSE/ COMMENT

Be very clear who your audience is and what format you have been asked to
use.
Choose language that would appeal to your target audience
If reviewing something make sure that you consider all aspects of the product
and who it might appeal to.
Consider the pros and cons of the product you are reviewing
If writing a review, try to sound like an expert and imagine that you have
done this many times before.
If giving your opinion on something, remember that you could take on
the persona of a character. For example, you could be a very fussy film
critic or you could choose a character from TV and imagine they are writing
the review or giving their opinion. Be as imaginative as possible and dont be
afraid to use humour.
Be as imaginative as possible and make your answer stands out from all the
others the examiner will read.
Dont be afraid to use humour- this is especially important if you are writing
from the perspective of a character.

How to edit and draft your work

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

Check you sentence structures- have you varied them for effect?
Have you used a variety of punctuation for effect?
Change boring words
Can you add an adjective?
Spellings?
Have you used a range of techniques to communicate your viewpoint?
Have you hooked or grabbed the reader?
Do you sustain interest?
Are paragraphs used correctly and do they flow?

Common mistakes from the past exams

Some students confused over letter format or not signing off in appropriate
form
Many students didnt plan adequately and ran out of things to say in both
questions- Plan!
Over use or inappropriate use of exclamation marks
No conclusion, summing up, finishing abruptly
Lack of sophisticated vocabulary to reach top A*
Lack of crafting sentence structure for particular effects.

Limited range of punctuation (remember to use 5 types other than full stop
and comma)
Some students were still forgetting paragraphs
You need to make sure you use the right tone and style for your audience.
Many students have been marked down because they used a tone which was
inappropriate for the task. In particular, it can seem they are not respectful
enough of the audience, sound too informal and unworthy of serious
consideration.
The students who did best in the writing exam had a clear sense of purpose
and expressed their ideas clearly. It was absolutely clear what their point of
view was, and they stuck to this without saying irrelevant or vague things.

How to get a SCRAPE a C.. check your:

S = Sentence structure
C = Check through your work
R = Range of vocabulary
A = Audience- who are you writing for?
P = Paragraphs and punctuation
E = Engage your reader, make your work stand out from the
crowd.
Useful websites to help you revise
1. http://www.wjec.co.uk Lots of past papers (English Paper 2)
2. http://www.englishbiz.co.uk This site is helpful for revising grammar and the
writing tasks.
3. http://www.gcse.com/english/ A useful site for general English skills

Useful phrases to use in the exam

Synonyms for this shows
1. This portrays
2. This reflects
3. This divulges
4. This displays
5. This illustrates
6. This appears
7. This discloses
8. This can be evidenced
9. This reveals
10. This demonstrates
11. This presents
12. This indicates

Homework tasks

1.

Work through each of the questions below.

Think about the PAF!
You must include a plan with each answer, and spend no more than 30
minutes on each question.
Use the self-assessment checklist on the next page to check through
your work when you have finished.
Each section contains questions on all the different types of writing you
might get in the exam: articles, leaflets, reports, reviews, letters and
speeches.
You should complete all the questions in each section before moving
onto the next section.
Write an article for an educational magazine in which you argue for or against

compulsory work experience for GCSE students.

2. Write a leaflet to advertise a tourist attraction in your area.
3. Write a report for the Governors of your school, informing them of changes that
the Student Council would recommend to the school buildings.
4. Write a review of a film or TV programme you have recently watched or a game
that you have recently played. Your review will be published in a teenage
magazine called Todays Teens.
5. Write a letter to your Head teacher in which you try to persuade him/ her that
school uniform should be abolished.
6. Write a speech in which you advise teenagers how to revise for their GCSEs.

7. A travel magazine has asked for articles about places that offer a good holiday
either in Britain or abroad. You can choose to write about a town/city, the
countryside or the coast. Write the article for the magazine that describes the
attractions of a place of your choice.
8. Write a leaflet for younger children in which you advise them how to play safely
around their neighbourhood.
9. Your Head teacher is considering ways to improve the catering in your school and
has asked the School Council to produce a report on the current catering
facilities and how they might be improved. Write this report to your Head teacher.

10.Write a review of a film or TV programme you have recently watched or a game

that you have recently played. Your review will be published in a teenage
magazine called Todays Teens.
11.Write a letter to the school kitchen where you advise them how to improve
school meals.
12.A lot of older people dont use computers or the internet either because they
dont see the value in them or because they are afraid of modern technology. You
have been asked to deliver a speech to a group of older people to persuade
them to use computers and the internet.
13.Write an article in which you argue for or against the use of computer games as
an educational tool.
14.Write a leaflet to persuade more students in your school to take up your
favourite hobby or sport.
15.Write a report for your head teacher and governors on ways in which your school
/ college cold be improved for students approaching their GCSEs
16.Write a review of a piece of technology you have recently used. For example:
Tablet, Mobile Phone, computer programme etc. Your review will be published in
a newspaper.
17.Your school wants to ban Saturday jobs for students. Write a letter to your Head
teacher in which you argue for or against the idea of Saturday jobs
18.Write a speech in which you persuade people to be more environmentally
friendly in their homes.

19.Write a lively article for a teenage magazine about the problems teenagers face
when growing up.
20.Write a leaflet to give advice and information to new Year 7 students.
21.The governors, who are responsible for running your school, are interested in the
views of students. They have asked you to write a report pointing out what you
see as the strengths and weaknesses of the school. Here are some suggested

Can you
think
of your
own
questions?
subheadings
for your
report:
facilities
andpractice
equipment,
buildings, range of
your activities.
ideas with your teacher for green
subjects,Share
extracurricular
22.Write a review of a book
you / have
recently read
or an artist/band you have
cards
postcards
home!
recently listened to. Your review will be published in the school newspaper.
23.Write a letter to your local MP in which you argue for or against lowering the
driving age to 16.
24.The world would be a better place without cars. Write a speech arguing either
for or against this statement.

Self-Assessment- checklist
Check you sentence structures- have you varied them for effect?
Have you used a variety of punctuation for effect?
Norwich: a haven for shoppers and sight-seers alike!
If youre looking for a little break away in a city that offers it all, then look no further!
Why not try Norwich? There are beautiful walks along tranquil, hidden waterways or
maybe you fancy shopping til you drop in the ultra-modern Chapelfield Shopping
Mall? Norwich has something for you!
Things to see
Norwich has lots to see! For a small city, it actually breaks lots of records. There are
over 80 pubs and over 50 historic churches just in th city centre. Theres also the
beautiful Norman castle,
dating back to 1066 with fantastic views of the city. Whilst not the most exciting
castle youll ever hope to find, its well preserved and theres a particularly
interesting mummified cat
Have you used interesting words?
Have you used correct spelling?
Have you used a range of techniques to communicate your
viewpoint?
Have you hooked or grabbed the reader?
Do you sustain interest?
Are paragraphs used correctly and do they flow?

Model Answers
Exam question: Write an ARTICLE about a well-known place

Exam question: Write a SPEECH for your class using the title Mobile
phones blessing or curse?

Mobile phones. We all have them dont we? Im sure many of us here would even
claim we
would be lost without our phones; that they are our best possession. However, is
there more to this?
Are mobile phones really a blessing or a curse?
In the early 1990s, about 2% of people our age in the UK owned mobile phones. Now
this number must be close to 100%. We love our phones. But why? Lets think about
it
Firstly, mobile phones allow us to