DIRECTED WRITING
[0500/0522]
(PAPER 3, PART 1)
Guidance for students of IGCSE English
New Era International Laboratory School
Overall goal:
 To
prepare students for Paper 3, Part 1 IGCSE English over the
coming weeks
Learning objectives:
 To
become more familiar with types of writing asked for by Paper
3, Part 1
 To
practise using the conventions of a letter and a report
 To
ask questions of your teachers
How can we improve our writing?

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING?
+ self-assessment
1. Use it or lose it
There are times when I wish I have a magic pill that I could give to students. The fact is, there are no
shortcuts. To learn a language, one has to use it. Start today. Speak to your friends.
If you are shy, start with a few words or phrases in your conversation. Practise speaking in front of the
mirror.
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2. Read it
Read the newspapers. I would recommend the sports pages if you are a sports enthusiast, or the letters
to the editor. You will learn how to give opinions, to complain and to elaborate your ideas. Go to your
school library and borrow a book.
Make use of pockets of time during school such as in between classes. I am quite sure you are able to
squeeze ten minutes a day for reading. Do not get bogged down if there are words that you do not
know. Just read the easier stuff first.
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3. Write it
My students are required to keep a journal in my classes. What is a journal? Is it like a diary? A diary is a
record of your daily experiences but a journal is more than that. It is a collection of your thoughts,
responses to events in your life and it may also include any interesting article, poems or even a song. I
keep a journal of articles and quotations that are motivating.
There are many types of journals which you can keep. Check out the bloggers on the Internet for more
examples. Search also for examples of journals to help you get started.
40-50 minutes
What’s being assessed
Writing (5 skills)
1. Communicate what’s thought, felt and imagined
2. Order and present facts, ideas and opinions
3. Understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary
4. Use language and register appropriate to the audience and context
5. Make accurate and effective use of: paragraphs, grammatical
structures, sentences, punctuation and spelling.
• Do not use full sentences from the text
Reading (3 skills)
1. Understand and collate explicit meanings
2. Understand, explain and collect implicit meaning and attitudes
3. Select, analyse and evaluate what is relevant to the purpose of the
activity
Improve your
personal
writing, too!
QUESTION 1:
WHAT IS MEANT BY “DIRECTED WRITING”?
ANSWER 1.A:
“DIRECTED WRITING REFERS TO WRITING THAT FOLLOWS
DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS”
ANSWER 1.B:
“THE PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE IS TO TEST HOW WELL
A STUDENT CAN RESPOND IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY
TO A CERTAIN TASK.”
ANSWER 1.C:
“IN THE EXAM FOR PAPER 3 YOUR QUESTION WILL
COME IN THE FORM OF NOTES OR A STIMULUS. YOU
COULD BE ASKED TO WRITE: A REPORT, A SPEECH,
INFORMAL OR FORMAL LETTERS,
PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, DESCRIPTION, AN
ARTICLE OR A RECOUNT.”
Where
have you seen these forms of writing in the past?
What
do these different styles of writing look like?
• a report
• a speech
• informal letters
• formal letters
• heavy description
• an article
• a recount
PAPER 3
QUESTION 1
TWO LISTS (FIND EXAMPLES ON YOUR PHONES)
A report
A speech
A formal letter
An informal letter
A recount
A description
An article
EXAMPLE 2:
LARRY – LETTER – GORILLA SANCTUARY
IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE THE WRITER’S FRIEND, LARRY. WRITE A LETTER TO A MEMBER
OF YOUR FAMILY AFTER YOUR VISIT TO THE GORILLA SANCTUARY.
IN YOUR LETTER YOU SHOULD:
1. MAKE THE CHIMPS AND GORILLAS SOUND INTERESTING AND LOVABLE
2. GIVE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF MARK AND OF MADAME YVETTE
3. PERSUADE YOUR FAMILY TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SANCTUARY
BASE YOU ANSWER UPON WHAT YOU READ IN PASSAGE ‘A’
YOU SHOULD WRITE 1.5-2 SIDES, ALLOWING FOR THE SIZE OF YOUR HANDWRITING.
Group 1: make the chimps and
gorillas sound interesting and
lovable
Group 2: give your impressions
of Mark and of Madame
Yvette
Group 3: persuade your family
to support the work of the
sanctuary
What traits is it important for letters to have?
LETTER
•Start with a greeting (e.g. ‘Dear…’)
•Who are you, who are you writing to? (level of formality)
•Consider the structure of your letter and use paragraphs
•Be informative
•Think about how to end the letter
•Yours sincerely (you know their name)
•Yours faithfully (you don’t know their name)
OTHER FORMS [DIRECTED WRITING]
NEWSPAPER REPORT (ARTICLE)
NEWSPAPER REPORT (ARTICLE)
•Headline
•Who, what, when, where, why, how
•Journalistic style
•Dramatic, attention grabbing
•Include quotes from eyewitnesses
•Short, simple sentences where possible
•Should be objective
•Could consider giving your newspaper report an angle e.g. how human
kindness saves people, never give up hope etc…
NARRATIVE WRITING (ARTICLE)
•A story or part or a story OR a true account
•Plan
•Catchy opening
•Entertaining
•Imaginative or realistic – depends on task
•WHO are you speaking as, WHO you are speaking to
•Don’t change tenses
•Create a convincing character background or setting
•Clear resolution
•The use of ambitious vocabulary is VERY important
SCRIPT WRITING (DIALOGUE)

Character names in margin followed by a COLON (:)

Don’t use speech marks

E.g.

Charles: I’m not famous. Yet.

Consider characters carefully – HOW would your character speak
– would they use complex vocabulary or simple vocabulary?

It is happening NOW – think carefully about tense

Stage directions – in brackets
 Get
and keep the audience’s attention
 Make
 Write
clear points
for your target audience
 Use
persuasive techniques: repetition, irony, lists of
three, rhetorical questions, evidence, emotive
language
 Stay
on topic
What type of writing
could this be?
ANSWER: SPEECH / DIALOGUE
DIARY ENTRY
(NARRATIVE)

Includes inner thoughts and feelings

From one perspective

A place to ‘vent’

Clearly paragraphed

WHO are you writing as
REPORT (ARTICLE)

Be informative

Use formal language

Use evidence

Have a clear structure: introduction, body, conclusion

Use topic sentences

Use clear headings and sub-headings

Avoid bias – be objective and use evidence only to make
a conclusion
REVIEW (ARTICLE)
•General overview of subject
•Criticize
•Balanced conclusion
•Consider the qualities of your subject
•Don’t stray from the topic
•You may have to write AS someone or AS a
character – consider this carefully
•Back up ideas, avoid emotional statements
Books closed
What are the top 10 things that
people on your table have
learned / remembered today?

Task A: Read the question below

DIRECTED WRITING - REPORT
As the secretary of the English Society in your school, you have been
asked to write a report about the club and its activities for your school
magazine. Use the following notes to help you write your report.
• established in 2000
• 250 members
• aim – to help students improve their English
• advisor – Mary Jones
Activities organised
• English assembly
• Pop Quiz
• Treasure Hunt
• English camp
• English week – poetry, drama and story-telling competition
• Annual party
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What to include in your report
• remember to provide a title
• state the aim of the society
• encourage others to become members
Task B: Answer the following questions.
1. What is the required task?
2. How many points are provided? Do you need to provide any of your own?
3. What is a suitable introduction and closing?
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So, let’s plan the answer.
TITLE: (Think of a suitable title for your report)
INTRODUCTION:
The English Society was established in 2000 with the aim of helping
students improve their English. It received tremendous support from its
250 members this year.
BODY
The main activity for this year was? (include all the points given in two or
three paragraphs.)
ENDING
(End your essay with the mention of the annual party, presentation of
prizes, etc. and encourage others to join the society)
EXAMPLE TWO : HOME SCHOOLING