Writing To explain
Paper 2 B
Communicate clearly and imaginatively, using
and adapting forms for different readers and
purposes.
In paper 2 b you will be asked to write to:
1. To inform – telling the reader about something or
someone. This involves putting information across
clearly.
2. To explain – giving the answers to the questions
‘how?’ and ‘why?’ about something. This helps the
reader to understand an idea, a point of view or a
situation.
3. To describe – painting a picture with words. This
means putting across in an imaginative way what
something or someone is like.
Typical questions
1. Many people have developed
skills that others do not
have. Write about one of
your skills, explaining how
other people could develop it
and why they should try it.
2. Write a leaflet to go out to
Year 9s with their option
choices booklet in which you
explain how to manage GCSE
study successfully.
3. There are many pressures on
teenagers today. Explain what you
think the main pressures are and
how they affect your life and the
lives of teenagers you know.
4. Someone you know very well is
applying to take part in the TV
show ‘Big Brother’ and has asked
you to write to the producer in
support of his or her application.
Describe him or her carefully,
explaining why their qualities
would make them a successful
contestant.
Inform v explain
Every year we escape on
holidays abroad and my
family enjoy seeing
different places
worldwide. Three
summers ago in the
seven week holiday, in a
whistle stop we headed
off around the world
visiting countries as far
apart as America, New
Zealand, Australia,
China and Spain.
The ability to travel easily and
plan holidays on the
internet has made taking
holidays to exotic places
much more of a possibility.
There are many places that
we have visited that have
allowed us to see how
other people live and to
taste a different way of life.
Travel has broadened my
views of the world and it is
clear that……
Explanation is different to
straightforward information.
WRITING TO EXPLAIN REQUIRES:
• A response that answers the precise
demands of the question.
• Content that focuses on HOW or WHY
something happens – rather than just
what happens
• Appropriate language
Explanation is different to
straightforward information.
• As a writer you must
give reasons.
• You must say why or
how something
happens
• You must comment
and explain ideas
throughout your
writing.
Be warned:
• Students loose
grades by just
informing NOT
explaining.
• Don’t loose focus and
just inform your
reader with out
explaining ideas.
Exam question: Think about the
focus of the title
Most people have memories about a
particular holiday or trip. Choose
one that you have experienced and
explain why it was so memorable.
To get the grade
Most people have memories about a
particular holiday or trip. Choose one that
you have experienced and explain why it
was so memorable.
Most people have memories about a particular holiday or
trip. Choose one that you have experienced and explain
why it was so memorable.
YOU SHOULD:
• decide what makes that
one trip special and say
why
• select memorable
features and say why
they are memorable
YOU ARE NOT:
• being asked to write
about trips in general
• describe what actually
happened on one trip
• write about the place
that you visited
Most people have memories about a particular holiday or
trip. Choose one that you have experienced and explain
why it was so memorable.
POSSIBLE PLAN
1. Intro where we went and why memorable
2. First part = fun: Culture food beaches: show why
3. Nightmare – drunken evening, complaints,
explain what happened
4. Mum bitten – rabies fears, doctor and hospital
How the horror unfolded
5. Leaving – friendliness doctor explain it still
didn't take away horror
6. Conclusion – never return – comment
Most people have memories about a particular holiday or trip.
Choose one that you have experienced and explain why it was
so memorable.
About six years ago, I went on When it come to memorable
holidays, our family’s
holiday with my family
package expedition to Dacta
to Turkey. We stayed in a
in Turkey will take some
place called Dacta, and
beating. We had a beautiful
there were not many
place to stay in resort which
British people. I am sure
was lovely, and all of that is
captured in our photographs
that we could have had a
– yet that summer stands
god time and then it
out because of one
would have been ‘just
particular experience that
another holiday.’ however,
we did not capture on
there were also some
camera but which we will
never forget. It has haunted
seriously bad moments
us ever since.
which made the holiday
especially memorable.
A* answer =
When it come to memorable
• Detailed
holidays, our family’s
• Immediately introduces
package expedition to Dacta
more vivid explanation –
in turkey will take some
the experience which ‘has
beating. We had a beautiful
haunted us ever since’
place to stay in resort which
was lovely, and all of that is
• Varied sentences and
captured in our photographs
vocabulary
– yet that summer stands
• Presents situation and
out because of one
says why something
particular experience that
came about and the
we did not capture on
effect it has
camera but which we will
never forget. It has haunted
• Throughout = gives
us ever since.
reasons
A* answer =
• Explanation must be
clear so reader
understands
• Examiners give marks
for varied sentences –
so show your skills
• Use phrases to do
with cause and effect:
As a result of this
This meant that
This is because
The reason for this is
As a consequence
Therefore..
Exam task
EXPLAIN WHAT YOU
DISLIKE MOST ABOUT
TELEVISION
Student response
• As technology has developed so has our
desire to show off and what irritates
me intensely is it is no longer about
watching TV but what you are watching
it on. The latest widescreen or an old
Black and white box. It is all about
money.
A* answer =
I am sure that television is not all bad. It has
educational uses, brings top sporting events
and concerts into the living room and has
the potential to enliven dark winter evenings.
However, the diet that is drip fed into my house
does anything but stimulate the brain or
delight the senses: it could cause premature
aging and certainly hardens the arteries. I
am sick of soaps, reality television and
almost all things American.
Begins
with
positive,
which
then
highlights
what is
wrong
Lists the
problems
with TV
that the
writer is
going to
explain in
more
detail
I am sure that television is not all bad. It
has educational uses, brings top
sporting events and concerts into the
living room and has the potential to
enliven dark winter evenings.
However, the diet that is drip fed into
my house does anything but
stimulate the brain or delight the
senses: it could cause premature
aging and certainly hardens the
arteries. I am sick of soaps, reality
television and almost all things
American.
Effective Language
A* answer =
The worst thing about this monotonous diet of
TV is that it crushes our imagination an
horizons.
Plan out a possible exam
response to this question:
Explain how you have dealt with difficult
situations that have arisen in your life.
You might wish to write about:
•Relationships with parents
•Friends and their expectations
•Problems at school
•Other difficult situation that you have
encountered