Unit 2 Writing. What are we learning today? Learning Objectives To develop our understanding of the expectations for Unit 2 Writing Exam To examine.

WJEC ENGLISH LANGUAGE GCSE

Unit 2 Writing

What are we learning today?Learning Objectives To develop our

understanding of the expectations for Unit 2 Writing Exam

To examine and discuss what is required for an informal letter.

Learning OutcomesI will have created a file on key information for our Unit 2 GCSE examI will be able to identify the PAFT of informal lettersI will have evaluated an example informal letterI will have created an informal letter

Don’t get caught with your pants down when it comes to your final English exam!

There are two writing questions and you have

just one hour to complete BOTH!

You will be asked to write two of these:

letter; report; article;

leaflet; speech; review

What about the numbers involved?

Each question is marked /20. 13 marks for content and

paragraphing 7 marks for technical accuracy.

Top Tips1)As you read the question look for and identify the Purpose Audience Format

2)Read the instructions carefully and use any bullet points you are given.

3)Time management: 25 minutes per question to allow for revision and last minute editing.

4)Think before you write – plan your work carefully so there is structure to your writing.

Letter Writing

Informal Letter – written to a friend or

family member.

The tone should be friendly with a

“chatty” approach.

There are certain features of an

informal letter. What are they?

Look at the following letter. The task set in the exam was:

Write a letter to a friend who is considering moving abroad.

PAF?

Evaluate the letter for: Layout Tone

Organisation Content

Technical inaccuracies

Now look at the paragraph that begins: “Going abroad …….” - this has lost valuable marks because it is so brief.

Re-write this paragraph detailing what some of the problems are: finding a job; accommodation; making new friends, etc.

Informal Letter Success Criteria

Informal Letter Aspects: Clear PAFT Points convincingly

developed Sustained,

developed detail throughout

Paragraphs Appropriate and

ambitious vocabulary

Stylistic devices

Technical Aspects: Correct Spelling Varied sentence

structure Range of

punctuation used accurately

Sentences used to create effect

Your aunt & uncle have invited you to go on a round the world cruise with them over the holidays.

Write a detailed letter with your

reply giving reasons for your

decision.

Now let’s look at formal letter writing – notice the differences about how they are set out

Your own address

Today’s date

Name and address of person you are writing to.

Dear Sir/Madam,

(or name of person if possible, you

can make one up)

Letter content which should be clearly paragraphed using relevant topic sentences. Make sure your work is punctuated correctly and that you use formal language.

Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully

You use “faithfully” if you began your

letter with “Dear Sir/Madam”

Most of the letters you will be asked to write will ask you to PERSUADE or to ARGUE or ADVISE. Quite often they may ask for a combination. There are certain skills/features associated with these terms and examiners will expect you to evidence them in your writing.

Persuasive devices – remember A FOREST

A Alliteration: Audience involvementF Facts: figurative languageO Opinion yours and expertsR Rhetorical questions: repetition

E Emotive language – exaggeration - hyperbole

S Statistics

T Three: list of

When you are asked to argue, the examiner wants you to put just one point of view. You need to be very clear from the beginning what your viewpoint is and make this clear in your writing. If you are asked to argue Mobile phones should be banned in schools, you are either in favour or against, you ARE NOT putting two points of view.

The only time you may wish to put the opposite view is if you are using it as an example to then disagree with –a counter argument eg.

Mobile phones are a necessary part of life. What rubbish, what did people do before they

were invented!

Choose one of the following questions to answer…