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KS3 Writing Paper

You will answer two questions.  One will be a longer written task taking around 45 minutes then a shorter task which takes around 30 minutes. 

For each question you will be told:

  • What you need to write- for example a leaflet, letter. newspaper article etc.

  • Who your audience are- for example teenagers, parents, teachers etc.

  • The purpose of your writing- for example to persuade, to inform, to entertain, to describe etc.

The examiner will be looking at certain things when they give out marks;

  • How you structure sentences- look at openings (are they different) and lengths (a mixture of long and short)

  • That you use punctuation properly- there is no excuse for not using capitals, full stops and commas, but what about a semi colon?

  • How you organise your ideas- do you paragraphs link onto each other and are they in a sensible order

  • That you use paragraphs properly- a new one for each change in topic, place, time and speaker

  • The overall effect of your work- that your language choices are interesting and you have answered the question properly

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There are 12 different writing styles that you could be tested on in your exam- you need to make sure you are confident with using them all.

Argue

The most important things are to make sure you;

  • Address the reader- use we  or you

  • Explain your point of view

  • Tell the reader why the other side of the argument is wrong

In your writing make sure that you use plenty of;

  • Examples (different ones)

  • Facts (make them up)

  • Opinion (could be other peoples too)

  • Alliteration

  • Rule of 3

  • Rhetorical questions

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Persuade

This one is really easy to remember... F E A R R R

  • FACTS- give plenty of them to support your point of view

  • EMOTIVE LANGUAGE- really exaggerate and be over the top to convince your reader

  • Address your AUDIENCE- use we or you to make them feel involved

  • REPETITION- make your point more than once so the reader doesn't forget it

  • RULE OF 3- put adjectives into groups of three so they are more memorable

  • RHETORICAL QUESTIONS- use them to show obvious your solution is to the problem.

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Advise

When you are writing you need to make sure you use;

  • Instructions- ...talk to.. go and see...ask someone to...

  • Suggestions- ...can...could....may... might...will....would...shall...must...should...

Make sure you also use;

  • Paragraphs (properly)

  • Subheadings

  • Bullet points

  • Lists (of the solutions)

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Inform

The main idea here is to give your ideas so;

  • Clearly tell your reader your ideas

  • Address them directly using you or we

  • Put the information in a sensible order

  • Link each of your paragraphs if you can

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Explain

Here you need to make sure you go into detail about your ideas;

  • Try to put ideas in a step by step order

  • Clearly tell your reader your ideas

  • Use examples to illustrate your point

  • Give them the details of when things are happening, why they happen etc

  • USE PEE

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Describe

Another easy on to remember... A P I S S

  • ADJECTIVES- use plenty of describing words (and be adventurous)

  • PARAGRAPHS- each idea needs one paragraph of detail

  • IMAGERY- make up some interesting similes and metaphors

  • SENSES- tell the reader what you can see, smell, touch, taste and hear

  • STAY STILL- don't wander away from the pace you are describing.

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Analyse

Writing should be;

  • In the present tense... I am walking... She is thinking...They are playing

  • In the third person... She...He...They...Sarah... Mark

You should use plenty of;

  • Words that show an opinion

  • Words that explain the effect of something

  • Explanations of how and why something is the way it is.

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Comment

Writing should be;

  • More personal than analyse- use first person... I believe...I noticed...I like...

  • In the present tense... I am walking... She is thinking...They are playing

You should use plenty of;

  • Opinions of what you have read/ seen

  • Connectives...however...therefore...as a result...in addition...

  • Linked paragraphs that show how you ideas are sensibly organised

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Review

Writing should be;

  • In the third person... She...He...They...Sarah... Mark

  • In the present tense... I am walking... She is thinking...They are playing

You should use plenty of;

  • Evidence to support the opinions

  • Connectives...however...therefore...as a result...in addition...

  • Equal amounts about the strengths and weaknesses

  • Linked paragraphs that show how you ideas are sensibly organised

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Imagine

Writing should be;

  • Personal if possible- in the first person is best

  • Original and interesting- try to be unusual about you make up

You should use plenty of;

  • Description about the setting and characters

  • Detail in your writing

  • Adventurous and unusual vocabulary

  • Linked paragraphs that show how your ideas are sensibly organised

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Explore

Writing should be;

  • Personal if possible- in the first person is best

  • Interesting, even though it will be about something you have already done/seen

You should use plenty of;

  • Description about the setting and characters

  • Detail in your writing

  • Adventurous and unusual vocabulary

  • Linked paragraphs that show how your ideas are sensibly organised

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Entertain

Writing should be;

  • Personal if possible- in the first person is best

  • Funny, unusual and interesting for your reader

You should use plenty of;

  • Description about the setting and characters

  • Detail in your writing

  • Adventurous and unusual vocabulary

  • Linked paragraphs that show how your ideas are sensibly organised

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Look at all the different texts that are around you at home- newspaper articles, books, leaflets, TV guides, the internet and so on.  Choose a few and work out which of the 12 categories they fit into.  Do they always fit into just one or sometimes can it be more than one?

Think about your journey to school or home from school- write down all the texts you see- film posters, magazines, billboards, notices in shop windows.  Work out what the purpose (the 12 categories) of each text is and who it is aimed at (it's audience).  How does the layout and language used  attract the attention of the audience?

Try some of these past questions- REMEMBER to be strict and time yourself and leave plenty of time to check your work.

  • Write a speech which persuades the school governors to get rid of school uniform.
  • Write the instructions that come with a new computer game called 'Attack'
  • Write a magazine article informing young people about the dangers of smoking.
  • Write a letter home from holiday describing what the resort you are staying at is like.