Formal WritingFormal Writing

What is formal writing?

• What does the word formal mean?– Following or being in accord with accepted

forms, conventions, or regulations

• So what is formal writing?– Writing that follows a set of rules

• What does that mean to us?– Writing an essay using a set structure and

language

What do we need to know about?

• There are two main areas we will look at:– Structure (how an essay is put together)– Style (the tone or feel of an essay)

• We will start with structure

Overview of Structure • There are three main

parts in a formal essay:– Introduction– Body– Conclusion

• Think of it like a burger– Introduction and conclusion

are the bread roll, similar and give us something to hold onto

– The middle of the burger (the meat, lettuce, tomato, etc) are all different but work together to create the overall feel of the essay

Introduction

• This has two roles– Clearly outlines your point of view– Lists the points you will make to support your

argument

• Look at the introduction on the handout

• Indicate, using coloured pens, the point of view and points that will be used to support this argument

Sample Introduction

• It is unfair to measure success at Year 11 through a series of exams in each subject. Exam success measures only the knowledge and skills demonstrated in subject areas while ignoring pupil achievement in sporting and cultural pursuits or social development. The exam system places unnecessary stress on students without providing an adequate measure of learning or work undertaken throughout the year. More than anything, it measures a student’s skill in sitting exams.

Body

• This consists of three to five paragraphs that contains the main argument of the essay

• Each paragraph should use the SEXC format– Statement (makes a statement about what the

paragraph is about, should link back to the introduction)

– Example (uses an example to illustrate the statement)– eXplanation (explains why the statement is important) – Comment (links back to the main topic of the essay

and explains why this point is important)• Look at the sample paragraph on the handout

and use coloured pens to indicate the four different areas of the paragraph

Sample Body Paragraph

• The stress of trying to prove their worth in just three hours can put quite a strain on some students. Everyone has heard of at least one student who, despite their hard work and intellect, has become overcome by the stressful nature of the exam and failed to write anything. Teenagers are undergoing major mental development at this stage on their lives and any stress they feel can cause long lasting or even permanent damage. Often it is the students who are most able who try the hardest and put the most strain on themselves who suffer the most. This stress can manifest itself in other areas of students’ lives and cause problems outside of school. However, exam stress does not affect all students equally. Some students can handle stress better despite not being as able. This means that exams do not have the intended effect of testing student knowledge but rather student’s ability to handle stress.

Conclusion

• This is where you sum up your argument• It is similar to an introduction but needs to have

more of an emotional punch to finish off the essay

• You need to restate your point of view, list the main points of argument and make a final statement summing up your thoughts

• Again, look at the sample conclusion and indicate, using coloured pens, the three sections of the conclusion

Sample Conclusion

• So, as you can see measuring success at Year 11 by using exams is unfair. It ignores other student achievement outside of the classroom, places unnecessary strain on already fragile students and really only determines who is good at sitting exams. Alternatives such as coursework which test student knowledge throughout the year and methods to measure student achievement in non-academic areas must be introduced to provide a fair representation of student ability. Student success and failure at Year 11 has a major affect on the options available to students beyond school and the current system disadvantages those who might otherwise go on to make major contributions towards society.

Planning an Essay

• Choose one of the statements on the next slide• Decide what your point of view is (i.e. do you

agree or disagree with the statement)• Brainstorm ideas that can be used to support

your argument• Choose the best three and list them in the three

‘Statement’ sections on your planning sheet• Fill in the rest of the SEXC sections • Think about what your big punch will be for your

conclusion• You will use this plan to write an essay

Sample Statements

• Boy racers are a scourge on our society• The legal age to buy alcohol should be

raised to 21• All secondary school students in New

Zealand should be provided with a lap-top• P is the greatest threat we face as a nation• It was fair for the Muslim Turkish cafe owner

in Invercargill to refuse to serve Israelis

Style

• Look at the sheet highlighting the main differences between informal and formal style

• On the next slide are some examples of writing in an informal style

• Use your rule sheet to re-write the statements in a formal style

Numbers1.Peter raised six cows on his farm2.There were 123 fatalities in the air crash over the Andes3.7004 protestors marched on Parliament today4.Winston Churchill dies on the sixth of March, Nineteen Sixty Nine

Contractions1.Wouldn’t2.Shouldn’t3.Hadn’t4.Won’t5.Didn’t6.Can’t

Abbreviations1.US Govt2.Oxf Uni3.Dr Aaron Matthews MD4.PPTA

Personal Pronouns1.I believe women should have the same rights as men2.If students are forced to perform litter duty, I think they will learn to respect their environment3.So, in conclusion, you will be able to see that lions are the noblest beasts in the animal kingdom

Slang, Colloquialisms etc1.A huge muck up2.It really bugs me3.Acting like a bunch of idiots4.We should kick your useless idea into touch