GCSE English
Language
Component 2
Revision
Writing
LCHS
Name:…………………..
Formal Letters
Your address
Date (in full)
Their address
Salutation
Introduction – set out the purpose of your letter
Main body – three main paragraphs on different topics and linked
Conclusion – Actions/Suggestions/Recommendations
Sign Off
Formal Letters
 Correct layout needed
 Yours faithfully – stranger/ Yours sincerely – a person you know (no capitals on
‘faithfully’ or ‘sincerely’
 Formal tone needed throughout the letter
 Standard English needed throughout the letter
 Avoid contractions e.g. don’t, can’t  do not, cannot
Informal Letters
Your address
Date
Salutation
Introduction – set out the purpose of your letter
Main body – three main paragraphs on different topics and
linked
Conclusion – Actions/Suggestions/Recommendations
Sign Off
Informal Letters




Correct layout needed – note change of addresses compared to formal letters
Salutation can be informal e.g. “Hi…”
Language choices need to reflect your audience e.g. a friend, or family member
You must still use writing techniques and mostly Standard English – non-Standard
English needs to be a deliberate choice to reflect the audience
Articles
Headline
Byline
Main Body
Three main topics in clear paragraphs – NEVER write a news report
Concluding paragraph
Articles
 Correct layout needed – including by-line underneath headline
 Make audience and purpose clear
 Article tasks are often opinionated/persuasive tasks so use a range of persuasive
devices in your writing
 Avoid writing ‘news reports’ - you are not reporting on something that has happened,
you are sharing opinions, ideas in a ‘lively’ and appropriate way.
Speeches
Introduction – welcome your listeners, make
it clear who you are addressing
Main Body – three main topics in linked
paragraphs
Conclusion – if persuasive, call to arms!
Speeches
 Make it clear who you are addressing – a good phrase to use is “I stand before you
today”
 Use “dear friends” (or similar depending on audience) parenthetically throughout your
speech
 Link your introduction and concluding paragraphs
 Make sure you use questions and repetition for effect throughout for effect
Reviews
Title
Reviewed by…
Introduction – introduce the ideas behind the
book/film/album etc.
Use three adjectives in minor sentences to describe
it, which you can link at the end.
Give opinions throughout
Conclusion – link back to your three adjectives and
make recommendations (or not!)
Reviews
 Give your opinions on the books/films/albums
 You can provide a star rating if you like
 Do not reveal the storyline to your reader – rhetorical questions can be good to create
intrigue
 Use three adjectives at the start of your review and then expand on these at the end
with the colon and semi-colon format
Leaflet
Title
Subheading
Subheading
x
x
Subheading
Leaflet
 You can use bullet points but avoid using them throughout your leaflet – keep
them to a few at the beginning or at the end
 You can draw a box with ‘picture’ in it to show where a picture would go – but do
not waste time drawing it!
 Use sub-headings to show the correct layout throughout your piece of writing
 You still need to show your writing skills – use a range of sentence structures and
don’t rely on short, simple sentences
Report
Title
Report compiled by…
Subheading
Subheading
Subheading
Reports
 Keep your language formal and avoid ‘ranting’
 Introduce your report – state why you are writing it; in your main body set out
your findings; in your conclusion – give recommendations and solutions
 Use passive verbs in your report – don’t use first person voice
 Use “Report compiled by…” underneath your title
Tips and Tricks
 Use the following ‘Amazing Openings/Endings’:
o Use a shock tactic
o Use a shocking statistic
o Use a rhetorical question
o Use direct address
o Use an imperative
o Use an expert opinion
o Use a controversial statement
o Use an anecdote
o Use a list of three
 Plan your response – this will help you to build detail in each of your
topic paragraphs. Planning is essential for C+O marks.
 Divide your time between the two pieces – 5 minutes planning
(max.), 20 minutes writing and 5 minutes checking and proofreading.
 Do not be arrogant. No matter what you write and how good it is, if
an examiner spots capital letters in the wrong place etc. then you will
be penalised.
 Remember they are ‘real life’ writing opportunities, make sure
your work reflects that. You can take on a persona, if you prefer, but
make this clear e.g. elderly lady complaining about school children on a
bus.
 Only use the sophisticated extras when the bread and butter is
secure. You need good ideas and good structure before you start
adding in humour, sophisticated language choices and techniques.
 Don’t attempt humour unless you are very confident. This needs
to be something you have developed in class – the exam is not
necessarily the time to try something new.
Useful sentence structures and phrases
 Despite…… , ……………..
 Some people think/believe/suggest……………………;
however, others ……………………………….
 You might think…I think…We feel…
 There are three reasons why………………………………. :
……………… ; ……………………………. ;
………………………………
(This then forms your three main paragraphs.)
 Taking everything into consideration,
…………………………….
 I have a question : ……………………………………………….
 You could ……… ; however , ……………………………………..
 Considering everything I have endeavoured to set out
here , …………………………………………………….
 Firstly…
Secondly…
Finally, and perhaps most importantly/significantly, …