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English Composition Practicals

The document provides a comprehensive guide for writing tasks, focusing on structure, purpose, language, audience, and tone (SPLAT) for various writing assignments. It includes persuasive techniques, the use of apostrophes, sentence structures, paragraphing, and useful words for effective writing. The aim is to equip writers with the necessary tools to craft compelling letters, speeches, and articles.

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masonmaduma
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5 views9 pages

English Composition Practicals

The document provides a comprehensive guide for writing tasks, focusing on structure, purpose, language, audience, and tone (SPLAT) for various writing assignments. It includes persuasive techniques, the use of apostrophes, sentence structures, paragraphing, and useful words for effective writing. The aim is to equip writers with the necessary tools to craft compelling letters, speeches, and articles.

Uploaded by

masonmaduma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The English Composition writing tool kit

Imagine the task:


Write a letter to the local paper arguing for or against banning under 18s from
the park after 9pm.

1. Read BOTH tasks and choose the one you want to do


2. SPLAT the task in 1 minute max in your head – what is it asking you to do
for the marks:
S = STRUCTURE – how it’s set out and organised
P = PURPOSE – the aim of your writing
L = LANGUAGE – the type of language you should be using (formal,
biased, imagery, connectives …)
A = AUDIENCE – the person/people who will be reading it
T = TONE – what will the ‘feel’ or ‘sound’ of the writing be? (angry,
humorous, supportive …)
3. Now PLAN the task – this is really easy – start by brainstorming the idea
for 1 minute No where else to go
Reduces crime Free country
Free space
PARK BAN
Reduces danger Health/ work benefits of being home
Can you ‘SPLAT’ these possible titles?

Imagine you have a friend or relative who is considering going to live abroad.
Write a letter giving your opinions.
S=
P=
L=
A=
T=

A discussion is being held in your class on the subject of how to deal with
teenage crime. You have to present your views on the subject. Write your
speech.
S =
P =
L =
A =
T=

Now SPLAT these on paper:


• Write a review of a book, film, or music CD for a magazine which is read by
people of your age.
• Imagine you have a friend or relative who has decided to run the London
Marathon (26miles). Write a letter to your friend or relative giving your
opinions.
• Write a lively article with the title ‘The Joys of Exercise’ for a magazine for
people of your age.

Once you have done these – plan them like the example.
11 OR 12 – Writing tools: Persuasive Techniques

These are a range of persuasive techniques used in speeches and writing


G = Guilt – making the audience feel bad for not supporting the ideas being
offered
R = Rhetorical questions – questions that are designed to make people think
rather than answer them.
I = Imagery – building a story or picture in your mind to help you imagine it.
P = personal pronouns – used instead of names like you he, she, we, they, us –
make the audience feel entirely involved
P = Puns – word games that add impact
E = emotive language – designed to tug on the heartstrings and works
alongside guilt
R = repetition – by repeating phrases – they are more likely to be remembered
S = Statistics – facts and numbers to add a feeling of knowledge and proof to
the point
3 = rule of three – saying things in 3s gives them massive impact
P = Pictures – use of provocative or shocking pictures can make the audience
stop and think
S = Stress – by putting extra emphasis on something it makes it stand out
F = Flattery – praising the audience to make sure they think well of you and
therefore your ideas
I = Imperatives – ordering verbs – they grab attention and make the message
clear
S= Superlatives – fastest, tallest, quietest – these are the words of extreme –
the ensure that the full range of the message is made clear
H = Hyperbole – the exaggeration of an exaggeration – this makes the point
even more important
– Writing tools: Apostrophes

1. Omission: The apostrophe is used to show where a letter or letters are


missed out:
Isn’t = is not Contraction Long form
can’t = can not Can’t
you’re = you are
Will not
Write out the missing section
We’ve
Must not
Isn’t
I would
I’ve
NB: Apostrophe is not allowed in ZGCE exams. Stick to the use of the long form
2. Ownership: The apostrophe is used before an s to show that it belongs to.
Peter’s hat = the hat belongs to Peter
Mr Jones’ hat = the hat belongs to Mr Jones

Add the apostrophe OR ‘s into these sentences:


• The doctors stethoscope
• Mrs. Williams garden
• The cricket players bat
• There are Dans gobstoppers
• Les Ferdinands goals are always brilliant
• I was in James house
• This is Sallys book
Writing tools: Sentences

SIMPLE SENTENCES: only contain one piece of information


EG: The cat sat on the mat
TOP TIP: these can be very dramatic and build up suspense.

COMPOUND SENTENCES Contain more than one piece of information


Two simple sentences can be joined by the words ‘and’, ‘but’ and ‘or’.
EG: The cat sat on the mat and licked his paw.

COMPLEX SENTENCES Also contain more than one piece of information.


Made up of several parts or clauses.
At least one of these will be a main clause which holds the main information
for the sentence.
There will also be one or more subordinate clauses (comma sandwiches)these
also give more information about what is happening.

An embedded subordinate clause:


From: The cat needed lots of food.
To: The cat, who was eyeing my goldfish hungrily, needed lots of food.
By embedding a subordinate clause, there is more information in the sentence and it is less
boring.

Beginning with a subordinate clause


From: The cat paced back and forth beside the fish bowl
To: Eyeing my goldfish hungrily, the cat paced back and forth beside the fish bowl.
By beginning with a subordinate clause, you can set the scene for the sentence

Surrounding the main clause with subordinate clauses


From: Felix paced back and forth beside the fish bowl.
To: Even though he had just eaten half a tin of cat food, Felix paced back and forth beside
the fish bowl, eyeing my goldfish hungrily.
Writing tools: Paragraphs

You MUST use paragraphs to break up your ideas. Without them, you cannot
get a C grade or above.
Writing tools: Useful words

Using the appropriate word can make the difference between making
sense and not
explaining why:
… because…
…as…
Consequently …
Therefore …
Since …
… so …
Subsequently …
As a result …

putting things into order:


Firstly … Secondly … (etc) Next …
…then…
…as long as…
Meanwhile …
Whenever…
Eventually …
Finally …
…afterwards …
developing ideas
What is more …
In addition …

giving examples:
For example …
… such as …
… suggested by …

comparing ideas and examples:


Equally … Similarly …
In the same way … In the same vein … As with …
Likewise … Again … However …. Although …. Nevertheless …
On the other hand … Despite this …
Alternatively … Whereas … Compared to …

emphasising ideas:
In particular…
… more importantly …
Significantly …
Specifically …
…especially …
Above all,…

Concluding:
In brief …
On the whole …
To sum up …
In conclusion …

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