WRITING WITH NUANCES
What Is Nuance in Formal/Informal Writing?
In Paper 1, writing often reflects an opinion or argument. But good writers don’t always state things
directly—they let tone, word choice, and phrasing carry the meaning.
Example:
• Original (blunt): Young people today are lazy and addicted to their phones.
• Nuanced: Some worry that young people are increasingly reliant on digital devices—but is that
really a sign of laziness, or simply a shift in how we live and work?
Rewriting for Tone and Attitude
Take a basic opinion sentence and rewrite it with a different tone (e.g., formal, sarcastic,
diplomatic, enthusiastic).
Base sentence:
The government needs to fix the education system.
Tasks:
Rewrite this sentence:
• In a formal, persuasive article
• In a passionate blog post
• In a letter to a local politician
Example answers:
• Article: Educational reform is long overdue, and targeted investment is essential if we hope to
prepare students for a competitive future.
• Blog: Let’s be honest—our schools are falling behind, and the government can’t keep ignoring it.
• Letter: I urge you to consider the urgent need for change in our education system. Our future
depends on it.
Step-by-Step Guide: Rewriting for Tone and Attitude
1. Identify the Core Message
Ask the question: What is this sentence actually saying?
Answer: The speaker believes the education system is broken and wants the government to
improve it.
2. Decide the Target Audience and Text Type
Tone depends on who you're writing to and what kind of text you're writing.
Ask: Am I writing a formal article, an informal blog, or a persuasive letter?
Examples:
• Formal article → serious, respectful, objective tone
• Blog post → conversational, personal, maybe critical or humorous
• Letter to official → polite but firm, respectful
3. Choose a Tone/Attitude
Now ask: What emotion or attitude do I want to show?
(Passionate? Critical? Hopeful? Frustrated? Sarcastic? Neutral?)
4. Change Word Choice and Structure
Now rewrite the sentence by:
• Replacing basic words with more expressive or precise ones
• Reordering the sentence to add rhythm or emphasis
• Using rhetorical devices (e.g., rhetorical question, contrast, repetition, parallel structure)
Examples:
•
Formal article:
There is an urgent need for comprehensive reform in our national education policy.
•
Blog post (frustrated):
How many more generations have to suffer before the government finally does something
about our crumbling schools?
•
Letter (respectful, persuasive):
I urge you to address the growing concerns about the quality and accessibility of our
education system.
5. Check for Appropriateness
Ask: Does this match the audience and tone of the text type?
Would this sound natural in a blog / article / letter?
If not, revise.
Practice Sentences for Rewriting with Tone and Attitude
Education
1. Students have too much homework.
o Text types: blog, letter to a teacher, article
2. Online learning is not effective.
o Text types: article, blog, school newsletter
3. Exams cause stress for teenagers.
o Text types: blog, letter to a school counselor, article
Technology
4. People spend too much time on social media.
o Text types: blog post, article, magazine editorial
5. Phones should be banned in school.
o Text types: school newspaper article, open letter, persuasive blog
6. Technology makes us lazy.
o Text types: opinion article, personal blog, radio speech
Environment
7. The city is too polluted.
o Text types: article, letter to a mayor, environmental blog
8. People should stop using plastic bags.
o Text types: eco-blog, persuasive article, letter to a local store
9. Climate change is getting worse.
o Text types: formal article, youth blog, public awareness letter
Youth and Society
10. Teenagers don’t care about politics.
o Text types: opinion blog, article in youth magazine, speech
11. Young people are under too much pressure to succeed.
o Text types: personal blog, school magazine article, open letter
12. Teenagers don’t read enough books.
o Text types: blog, letter to school library, article
Health and Lifestyle
13. People don’t exercise enough.
o Text types: health blog, article, letter to a community center
14. Fast food is unhealthy.
o Text types: article, blog, letter to a fast food company
15. Mental health is often ignored.
o Text types: advocacy blog, persuasive letter, school newsletter article
Media and Entertainment
16. There’s too much violence on TV.
o Text types: media review, formal article, letter to a TV network
17. Celebrities are bad role models.
o Text types: opinion blog, magazine article, school debate speech
18. Video games are a waste of time.
o Text types: blog post, opinion article, letter to a school principal
Sentence Expansion Drills for Non-Fiction Writing
Step-by-Step Method: How to Expand a Sentence
Start with a Basic Sentence
E.g.
Teenagers use their phones a lot.
Step 1: Add Who, When, or Where
Many teenagers today use their phones constantly, especially during school breaks.
Step 2: Add a Reason (Why?)
Many teenagers today use their phones constantly, especially during school breaks, to stay connected
with friends or browse social media.
Step 3: Add an Effect (So what?)
This constant use often distracts them from face-to-face interactions and reduces their attention
span.
Step 4: Add Tone or Attitude
While staying connected is important, the constant use of phones during school breaks can make
real-life conversations feel optional—and that’s a problem.
Expansion Formula (Easy to Remember)
Base Idea → + Details → + Reason → + Effect → + Attitude/Tone
PRACTICE DRILLS
Technology
1. People rely on the internet.
2. Teenagers spend time on social media.
3. Phones are used too much in schools.
Education
4. Students are stressed.
5. Homework takes time.
6. Online learning is difficult.
Environment
7. Plastic harms nature.
8. The city is polluted.
9. We should protect trees.
Youth and Lifestyle
10. Teens want more freedom.
11. Young people follow trends.
12. Sleep is important.
Example Drill (with prompts)
Base sentence: Students are stressed.
•
+ Who/When: Many high school students, especially in exam season,
•
+ Why: feel overwhelmed by academic pressure and high expectations.
•
+ Effect: This stress can lead to burnout, anxiety, and poor performance.
•
+ Attitude: It’s time schools took student well-being as seriously as test scores.