How to show the Examiner you deserve a ‘C’ Grade

Tips to improve the quality of writing to Argue, Persuade,

Inform and Explain

How your writing is assessed

There are three Assessment Objectives for writing: AO3(i) – Communication AO3(ii) – Organisation AO3(iii) – Sentence Structure,

punctuation & spelling

AO3(i) – Communication

Your writing is matched to audience, purpose and form

Your writing uses the correct features

Your writing is interesting and detailed

AO3(ii) – Organisation

Your writing is in paragraphs that are linked together logically

Your writing has an effective opening and ending paragraph

Your writing uses a range of rhetorical devices for effect

AO3(iii) – Sentence structure, punctuation & spelling

You use a variety of different types of sentences for effect

You use the full range of punctuation accurately

You spell common and a range of complex words correctly

To get a C grade you must show the

examiner you are thinking about all of

these AOs!!!

Write in paragraphs Remember TiPToP

Time Person Topic Place

Use one-sentence paragraphs for emphasis

Use a range of connectives to link them

Brainstorm your connectives…

Adding Sequencing

Comparing Contrasting

Brainstorm your connectives…

AddingAlso In additionAs well FurthermoreMoreover Too

SequencingFirstly NextSecondly ThenFinally After

ComparingSimilarly LikeEqually In the same wayLikewise

ContrastingHowever AlthoughIn contrast ButWhereas Nevertheless

Use PEE to structure your paragraphs Point – Pupils hate school uniform! Evidence – In a recent survey, 73%

said they would like to wear their own clothes.

Explain – Such a strong response shows we need to re-think the school’s rules.

Now write your own PEE paragraph about school uniform…

Rhetorical devices How many can you think of to use

to make your writing interesting?

Quickly brainstorm a list!

Vary your sentences for effect

Use at least two rhetorical questions

Use very short sentences for impact Follow your rhetorical questions with

a very brief answer e.g. ‘No!’ Re-arrange your clauses to show

you can vary complex sentences

Complex sentences A complex sentence is made up of a

main clause and a subordinate clause A main clause is the most important

piece of information in a sentence I like to go swimming

The subordinate clause adds extra information and doesn’t make sense on its own On Saturday

Complex sentences

The subordinate clause can be moved around to create variety e.g. I like to go swimming on Saturdays. On Saturdays, I like to go swimming I like, on Saturdays, to go swimming

Remember to separate the clauses with a comma

Complex sentences

Re-arrange these clauses to create more interesting sentences: Teenagers argue with their parents

for no good reason.

Complex sentences

Re-arrange these clauses to create more interesting sentences: Teenagers argue with their parents

for no good reason. For no good reason, teenagers argue

with their parents. Teenagers argue, for no good reason,

with their parents.

Complex sentences

Re-arrange these clauses to create more interesting sentences: Healthy living is essential for pupils

studying for their exams.

Complex sentences

Re-arrange these clauses to create more interesting sentences: Healthy living is essential for pupils

studying for their exams. For pupils studying for their exams,

healthy living is essential. Healthy living, for pupils studying for

their exams, is essential.

Varying openings

You could begin your sentence with a reason

Remember to use a comma if it is a separate clause

Because we don’t like being told what to do, we ignore our teachers.

Varying openings

Change these sentences: Mobile phones can be harmful to your

health owing to the radiation.

Varying openings

Change these sentences: Mobile phones can be harmful to your

health owing to the radiation. Owing to the radiation, mobile phones

can be harmful to your health.

Varying openings

Change these sentences: Size Zero models should be banned

from the catwalk because of the impact they have on young people.

Varying openings

Change these sentences: Size Zero models should be banned

from the catwalk because of the impact they have on young people.

Because of the impact they have on young people, Size Zero models should be banned from the catwalk.

Begin with a verb You could begin your sentences

with a verb instead of a noun We will succeed at school if we work

hard. Working hard means that we will

succeed at school.

Write three sentences that begin with a verb instead of a noun…

Punctuation – apostrophes Correct these spellings by adding the

apostrophe to show the missing letters

Wont

Cant

Theyre

Shouldnt

Mustnt

Dont

Punctuation – apostrophes Correct these spellings by adding the

apostrophe to show the missing letters

Wont Won’t

Cant Can’t

Theyre They’re

Shouldnt Shouldn’t

Mustnt Mustn’t

dont Don’t

Punctuation – apostrophes

Remember that apostrophes are used to show possession: Mark’s books The dog’s tail The girls’ changing room

What are the different rules for singular and plural nouns?

Punctuation – apostrophes Where should the apostrophe go?

Wendys playroom

The schools rules

Many teenagers habits

The Magazines cover

Writers technique

Pupils common room

Punctuation – apostrophes Where should the apostrophes go?

Wendys playroom Wendy’s playroom

The schools rules The school’s rules

Many teenagers habits

Many teenagers’ habits

The Magazines cover

The Magazine’s cover

Writers technique Writer’s technique

Pupils common room

Pupils’ common room

Punctuation – colons Use a colon and semi-colons in complex

lists There are many reasons not to smoke:

it is bad for your health; it makes you smell; it is very expensive.

Write your own complex list summarising reasons why school uniform should be

banned

Punctuation – colons

Use a colon instead of the words ‘since’, ‘because’ and ‘so’

Many people donate to charity because it makes them feel better.

Many people donate to charity: it makes them feel better.

Punctuation – colons

Swap the connective for a colon: Animal testing should be banned

since it causes pain to them. We naturally don’t like stress so we

try to avoid it whenever possible. Parents should listen to their children

because they are under a lot of pressure.

Punctuation – colons

Swap the connective for a colon: Animal testing should be banned : it

causes pain to them. We naturally don’t like stress : we try

to avoid it whenever possible. Parents should listen to their

children : they are under a lot of pressure.

Homophones - Common errors

There / their / they’re Where / were / we’re Your / you’re

There / their / they’re

Correct these sentences: The team think there going to win Their was no chance of beating

them I couldn’t see they’re goal keeper

Answers

Correct these sentences: The team think they’re going to

win There was no chance of beating

them I couldn’t see their goal keeper

Where / were / we’re

Correct these sentences I knew were the game was going

to be played Were not going to win this, I

thought I were trying to get past the striker They where going to win

Answers

Correct these sentences I knew where the game was going

to be played We’re not going to win this, I

thought I was trying to get past the striker They were going to win

Your / you’re

“Your really good at this”, I said. I don’t know where you’re kit is Your sure you want to do that?

Answers

“You’re really good at this”, I said. I don’t know where your kit is You’re sure you want to do that?

And finally… Make sure you check your work at

the end. The examiner will be pleased if

they can see you have crossed out mistakes and corrected them.

The examiner will be annoyed if they find you have made lots of careless errors!