Year 8 Christmas Holiday Work
ENGLISH
I have put two C.E. papers in your Holiday Work envelope. I suggest you
follow these timings:
Paper 1
Section A (Prose comprehension)
40 minutes
Section B (Writing for a practical purpose)
40 minutes
Paper 2
Section A (Poetry comprehension)
40 minutes
Section B (Creative writing)
40 minutes
When you finish each section, spend some time (20 minutes or so)
reflecting on your work. I have included a mark scheme for the two
comprehension sections and a list of success criteria for your two essays.
This means that you need to allow about four hours for your English
work over the holiday.
Try to work out a schedule, including all your other subject
commitments, and stick to it if you can.
There should still be plenty of time to relax and enjoy your Christmas
holiday!
ASSESSING YOUR WRITING
Level 5
CE
Grade
C
Level 6
CE
Grade
B
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My writing is both varied and interesting.
I vary my writing so that it suits purpose and audience.
I can use a more formal style where appropriate.
I can use a range of imaginative vocabulary accurately.
My sentences and paragraphs are clear, coherent and well-developed.
I am generally able to spell words with complicated spelling patterns correctly.
I use a range of punctuation, including commas, apostrophes and inverted commas.
My handwriting is clearly legible and fluent.
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My writing is fluent and it engages and sustains the reader's interest.
I adapt my style of writing and language choices to suit different forms.
I experiment with a range of sentence structures and a very varied vocabulary in order to create
effects.
I organise my ideas in well-developed, linked paragraphs.
My spelling, even of irregular words, is generally accurate.
I use a range of punctuation to clarify my meaning, for example, semi-colons.
My handwriting is neat and legible.
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Level 7

CE
Grade
A
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Level 8
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Scholarship
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I am a confident writer and adapt my work appropriately and imaginatively to suit purpose and
audience.
I develop both character and setting in my narrative writing.
My non-fiction writing gives clear points of view, and takes account of different perspectives.
I use grammatical features and vocabulary accurately and for effect.
My spelling is correct, even of complex, irregular words.
I use paragraphs and correct punctuation to make the sequence of events or ideas coherent and
clear.
My work is legible and attractively presented.
I am extremely creative in my writing and select specific features and expressions to convey effects
and to interest the reader.
My narrative writing shows control of characters, events and settings.
I am able to express complex ideas clearly and coherently and anticipate a range of viewpoints.
I use vocabulary and grammar to help me make distinctions or to create emphasis.
For effect, I vary the structure of my writing.
I clearly understand how to use a wide range of punctuation in order to improve the clarity of my
writing.
When you have completed your two essays, read them through carefully and
think about the bullet points in the table above.
Can you find examples in your own writing? Does your essay have a strong
structure? Look at your sentences. Are they varied and correctly punctuated?
Have you used paragraphs to help organise your ideas? Are your vocabulary
choices effective? Have you used any figurative language effectively?
It can be really helpful to get feedback from other people as well.