situational writing tips

SITUATIONAL WRITINGSITUATIONAL WRITING

This section consists of just ONE This section consists of just ONE compulsory questioncompulsory question


Two marks are given in this section:Two marks are given in this section:

Language ( 20 marks)Language ( 20 marks)

Task fulfilment (10 marks)Task fulfilment (10 marks)


Criteria for Task Fulfilment:Criteria for Task Fulfilment:

UnderstandingUnderstanding of the set task of the set task Awareness of the Awareness of the situationsituation andand readerreader Appropriate Appropriate formatformat All required All required pointspoints dealt with dealt with fullyfully and and

in a in a well-organisedwell-organised manner manner

ToneTone and and registerregister are appropriate are appropriate


TONE AND REGISTERTONE AND REGISTER

• Tone refers to formal or informal Tone refers to formal or informal writing writing

• Register is about whether you have Register is about whether you have chosen the right kind of language for chosen the right kind of language for the situationthe situation

Tone and register are like good Tone and register are like good manners of writingmanners of writing


The information you are given will The information you are given will need to be used and organised to need to be used and organised to justify an opinion or justify an opinion or interpretation of the situationinterpretation of the situation

ActivityActivity

Worksheet 1Worksheet 1


Step 1: Understanding the situationStep 1: Understanding the situation

Step 2: Who is the reader?Step 2: Who is the reader?

Step 3: What format should be used?Step 3: What format should be used?

Step 4: PlanningStep 4: Planning

Step 5: Writing the answerStep 5: Writing the answer

Step 6: Use of prepositional phrases Step 6: Use of prepositional phrases and and

adverbialsadverbials

UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATIONSITUATION

Be clear of the Be clear of the situationsituation itself itself

usually you will find this twice – usually you will find this twice – near the start and near the end of near the start and near the end of the questionthe question


Your thinking processYour thinking process

Characteristic of eventCharacteristic of event Criteria for selection of venueCriteria for selection of venue Each venue – how they fit into Each venue – how they fit into

criteriacriteriaPlus and negatives?Plus and negatives?


• Representing the school at Ideal Representing the school at Ideal School’s Interact Day – School’s Interact Day – someone someone smart in appearance who will attend smart in appearance who will attend punctually and do the school proud punctually and do the school proud just by being therejust by being there

• Attending course on “Helping the Attending course on “Helping the Handicapped in our society” – Handicapped in our society” – someone interested in learning and someone interested in learning and has a caring attitude has a caring attitude


• Participating for the Club in the Best Participating for the Club in the Best Speaker Competition at Ideal School’s Speaker Competition at Ideal School’s Interact Day – Interact Day – must be a good must be a good speaker and smart to represent club speaker and smart to represent club and schooland school

• Representing the Club at your own Representing the Club at your own school’s Inter-CCA Quiz – school’s Inter-CCA Quiz – basically basically someone who knows a lotsomeone who knows a lot


Who is attending the event?Who is attending the event?

* What would attract the students to * What would attract the students to attend?attend?

WHO IS THE READER?WHO IS THE READER?

• In this case, it is specific: the In this case, it is specific: the teacher-in-charge, principalteacher-in-charge, principal

• Sometimes there is a clue in the Sometimes there is a clue in the question: question: in a friendly tone to your in a friendly tone to your teacherteacher

• Always formal writing except when Always formal writing except when writing to close friends.writing to close friends.

WHAT FORMAT?WHAT FORMAT?

• There are 7 types of format:There are 7 types of format:

1) Formal letter1) Formal letter

2) Informal letter2) Informal letter

3) Report3) Report

4) Speech4) Speech

5) Information Sheet5) Information Sheet

6) Magazine Articles/Newspaper6) Magazine Articles/Newspaper

7) Letter to the Editor7) Letter to the Editor

PLANNINGPLANNING

Decide the order in which you will write Decide the order in which you will write your answeryour answer

An introduction to explain the An introduction to explain the situationsituation

Order the situations in which they will Order the situations in which they will be dealt withbe dealt with

Each situation will require a paragraphEach situation will require a paragraph

WRITING THE ANSWERWRITING THE ANSWER

• It is good method to cross out the It is good method to cross out the parts of the question you have dealt parts of the question you have dealt withwith

• Wherever possible, include items Wherever possible, include items from the question but rephrase themfrom the question but rephrase them


Step 1: Re-order the given information Step 1: Re-order the given information even if you do not rephrase iteven if you do not rephrase it

The first paragraph should announce your The first paragraph should announce your purposepurpose , given choices, chosen venue , given choices, chosen venue

Step 2: Explain the reasons for your Step 2: Explain the reasons for your

choice - criteriachoice - criteria


STEP 1:STEP 1:

The event “participating for the Club in The event “participating for the Club in the Best Speaker Competition at the Best Speaker Competition at Ideal School’s Interact Day” goes to Ideal School’s Interact Day” goes to JANEJANE

• How to announce our chosen How to announce our chosen speaker?speaker?


I recommend Jane Neo as our I recommend Jane Neo as our contestant for the Best Speaker contestant for the Best Speaker Competition at Ideal School’s Interact Competition at Ideal School’s Interact Day.Day.

• ContestantContestant is used to explain is used to explain participatingparticipating and and ourour is used instead is used instead of copying of copying for the Clubfor the Club


STEP 2:STEP 2:Jane is an extrovert with excellent Jane is an extrovert with excellent

speaking skills, experienced at public speaking skills, experienced at public speaking as her Class Representative speaking as her Class Representative and for the History Society. She is a and for the History Society. She is a likeable girl which will help her win likeable girl which will help her win votes in the competition and I feel votes in the competition and I feel sure that she will rise to the occasion sure that she will rise to the occasion as she is always willing to give of her as she is always willing to give of her bestbest


In the question:In the question:

Class Class Representative, Representative, also member of also member of History SocietyHistory Society

In our answer:In our answer:

Experienced at public Experienced at public speaking as her speaking as her Class Class Representative and Representative and for the History for the History SocietySociety

Notice how the two facts are used as evidence, rather than just copied. Notice the correct use of ‘and’ rather than the comma in the notes



friendly, sociablefriendly, sociableIn our answer:In our answer:

……an extrovert…She an extrovert…She is a likeable girl is a likeable girl which will help win which will help win her votes in her votes in competitioncompetition

Again, the two adjectives in the notes have Again, the two adjectives in the notes have been rephrased as likeable and an extrovert, been rephrased as likeable and an extrovert, and also used to justify her being chosenand also used to justify her being chosen



articulatearticulateIn our answer:In our answer:

With excellent With excellent speaking skillsspeaking skills

The word ‘articulate’ has been rephrased cleverly to link it to the competition



always ready to always ready to volunteervolunteer

In our answer:In our answer:

I feel sure that she I feel sure that she will rise to the will rise to the occasion as she is occasion as she is always willing to always willing to give of her bestgive of her best

Again, the volunteering is changed a little but clearly shows understanding and it has been used again to justify the decision


The writer has shown complete The writer has shown complete understanding of the situation understanding of the situation through through rephrasingrephrasing and using the and using the notes in the question to notes in the question to justifyjustify the the writer’s opinionwriter’s opinion


Version 1:Version 1:

Jane Neo is a Class Jane Neo is a Class Representative, Representative, also member of the also member of the History Society, History Society, friendly, sociable, friendly, sociable, articulate, always articulate, always ready to volunteer ready to volunteer

This is just copying. This is just copying. The only word The only word offered is “is”. offered is “is”. There is not even There is not even any attempt to any attempt to change the order. change the order. This deserves to This deserves to fail fail



Jane Neo is a Class Jane Neo is a Class Representative and also Representative and also a member of the History a member of the History Society. She should go Society. She should go because she is friendly because she is friendly and sociable. She and sociable. She would make a good would make a good speaker as she is speaker as she is articulate. She is articulate. She is always ready to always ready to volunteervolunteer

An attempt has been An attempt has been made to put the words made to put the words of the question into of the question into correct grammatical correct grammatical sentences and two sentences and two opinions have been opinions have been expressed – expressed – She should She should go because…She would go because…She would make a good speaker make a good speaker as…as…


Version 3:Version 3:Jane Neo would be best Jane Neo would be best

for the Speaker because for the Speaker because she is articulate. She is she is articulate. She is friendly and sociable, a friendly and sociable, a Class Representative, Class Representative, who is also a member who is also a member of the History Society. of the History Society. She is always ready to She is always ready to volunteervolunteer

The main difference The main difference between this answer between this answer and the previous answer and the previous answer is that the material has is that the material has been re-ordered. been re-ordered. Suddenly, there is a real Suddenly, there is a real jump in effect. It sounds jump in effect. It sounds as if the writer really as if the writer really understands. While it understands. While it does not have the does not have the fluency and command of fluency and command of the earlier version, it is the earlier version, it is quite a good answerquite a good answer


• In writing, coherence is neededIn writing, coherence is needed

• Signposts are required to suggest Signposts are required to suggest that more evidence will be added that more evidence will be added such as to further develop an idea or such as to further develop an idea or to make a contrary pointto make a contrary point

ActivityActivity


Some signposts are:Some signposts are:• AnotherAnother• On the other handOn the other hand• HoweverHowever• ConsequentlyConsequently• Not only…but alsoNot only…but also• From this evidence we can presumeFrom this evidence we can presume• FurthermoreFurthermore• SimilarlySimilarly


• Coherence is not just about connectors Coherence is not just about connectors and signposts – it is about organisationand signposts – it is about organisation

• It is important that you paragraph It is important that you paragraph similar ideas togethersimilar ideas together

• The reader expects signals that The reader expects signals that indicate there is going to be a change indicate there is going to be a change in directionin direction


Useful questions to ask:Useful questions to ask:

Have I provided enough evidence for this Have I provided enough evidence for this claim?claim?

Do my examples support my argument?Do my examples support my argument?

If I hadn’t written this, would I If I hadn’t written this, would I understand how these ideas are related?understand how these ideas are related?

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE & PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE & ADVERBIALSADVERBIALS

Be as detailed as possible by Be as detailed as possible by constantly asking the constantly asking the how, where how, where and whenand when questions questions



Jane Neo would be best for the Jane Neo would be best for the Speaker (Where?) because she is Speaker (Where?) because she is articulate (When?). She is friendly articulate (When?). She is friendly and sociable (How? When?), a Class and sociable (How? When?), a Class Representative, who is also a Representative, who is also a member of the History Society. She member of the History Society. She is always ready to volunteer (When? is always ready to volunteer (When? Where?).Where?).


Jane Neo would be best for the Speaker Jane Neo would be best for the Speaker in in the Best Speaker Competitionthe Best Speaker Competition because because she is articulate she is articulate in class debates and in class debates and History Society meetingsHistory Society meetings. She is friendly . She is friendly and sociable and sociable with a pleasant personality with a pleasant personality that explains why she was chosen asthat explains why she was chosen as a a Class Representative. She is always Class Representative. She is always ready to volunteer ready to volunteer in participating for in participating for such events as well as for flag-days for such events as well as for flag-days for our Clubour Club. . 35 vs 6235 vs 62

ADVICEADVICE

EDITINGEDITING- Careless mistakes can cost you a Careless mistakes can cost you a

gradegrade

Good writers are those who find Good writers are those who find careless mistakes before anyone else careless mistakes before anyone else does!does!

ADVICEADVICE

LANGUAGE FEATURESLANGUAGE FEATURES Simple present tenseSimple present tense

- timeless feel- timeless feel - appear up-to-date- appear up-to-date

eg: Some people eg: Some people disagreedisagree with with I I can givecan give you the latest you the latest

statistics statistics to show to show

ADVICEADVICE

LANGUAGE FEATURESLANGUAGE FEATURES Express attitudeExpress attitude

- will, may , must, always, rarely- will, may , must, always, rarely eg: The people eg: The people mustmust be given the be given the

benefit of … benefit of …

Verbs of belief and knowledgeVerbs of belief and knowledge - convince, maintain, consider, prove- convince, maintain, consider, prove eg: I can eg: I can convinceconvince you that… you that…

ADVICEADVICE

TIMINGTIMING- As the mark allocation is equal for As the mark allocation is equal for

section 1 and section 2, spend equal section 1 and section 2, spend equal amount of time on both.amount of time on both.

- Leave the last 5 – 10 mins editing Leave the last 5 – 10 mins editing and checking and checking

- Don’t waste time counting wordsDon’t waste time counting words

situational writing tips

Documents