English Section B Writing Skills

Some short notes on different aspects of the writing to inform, explain describe, advise, argue and persuade.

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  • Created by: Kate
  • Created on: 14-04-10 14:31

Writing Skills

WRITING SKILLS

Ways to succeed in Section B

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PAF

When writing always remember PAF

Purpose - what is the aim of the piece

Audience - who is the piece aimed at

Format - what is it (a letter, speech etc)

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Writing to Persuade

Writing to Persuade

  • Use assertion to encourage positive thinking
  • Use emotive language e.g. loaded adjectives
  • Use superlatives to promote and hyperbole
  • Repetition of a clear idea throughout
  • Involve the reader using pronouns such as 'we' and exclude the opposition by using 'they'
  • Use rhetorical questions with an obvious answer
  • Use lists
  • Colloquial language make sit more chatty
  • Use incentives to persuade people
  • Use a run of three to stress a point
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FEAR

A good mnemonic to remember for writing to persuade is FEAR

Facts - Always use facts and quotes to give credibility

Exaggeration and emotive language - really sell you point and appeal to the heart

Assertion and anecdotes - make the reader feel god about themselves and keep them interested

Rhetorical questions - make the reader think but involve them

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Writing to Advise

Writing to Advise

  • Use simple and reassuring language
  • Shorter and clearer sentences keep a reader calm
  • Give alternative options to suit all lifestyles
  • Always write in the second person
  • Use imperative verbs and time connectives to tell the reader what to do and when
  • Use repetitions to make sure it is clear
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ADVICE

When writing to advise don't forget to remember ADVICE

Advice - should be clear and coherent

Do stay in the role - this makes your writing fluent and continuous so does not confuse the reader

Vocabulary - modal verbs, imperatives and simple language keep it straight forward

Informal but polite - be friendly with the reader to empathise but remeber you do not know them

Choices - give alternative options

Encourage - motivate and make the reader feel good about themselves so they panic less

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Writing to Argue

Writing to Argue

  • Use facts and statistics to back up an argument
  • Use quotations from experts and influential people
  • Consider both sides of the argument and show awareness of the counter argument
  • Focus on three detailed points in the argument as opposed to lots smaller, simpler ones
  • Use connectives to make the argument flow
  • Make the argument well structured, logical and easy to follow
  • Use a run of three to stress a point
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Writing to Inform

Writing to Inform

  • Provide a context for your information
  • Use a wide range of aspects suitably connected
  • Write in a formal tone
  • Run of three to build an impact
  • Use verb infinitives (i.e. to play, to cook) for a formal tone
  • Technical language which can be briefly explained
  • Wrtie in detail and in the present tense
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Writing to Explain

Writing to Explain - very similar to writing to inform

  • Use a range of reasons in appropriate detail
  • Different kinds of examples
  • Link points with a wide range of good connectives
  • Modal verbs can create a polite tone
  • Conditional sentences for cause and effect
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Writing to Describe

Writing to Describe

  • Wide range of detail with adjectives and adverbs
  • Use sensuory and figurative language
  • Use metaphors (including extended ones), similes and personification
  • Mature, complex vocabulary and sentence structure
  • A captivating opening paragraph
  • Controlled paragraphs which are well linked
  • Contrasts and comparisons (even if they are not specified in the question)
  • Some subtle use of sound patterning such as alliteration and onomatopoeia
  • Use of active and passive voice
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Comments

Emily

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These are grrrrrrrrrreat :D thank you so much Kate, how i hope to meet you one day, maybe in a Biology lesson, that would be my dream!!!

mc_rubix

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loooool, your jokes

bethany padgett

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these are good, i put them into my own words and have typed them up. thank you :) its helping me alot

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