WRITING IN CONTEXT Creating and Presenting

What you need to do:  Your task is to develop your writing skills so that you can create a number of short pieces.  You will be writing about ideas on ‘Identity and Belonging’.  Your ideas should also be formed by how this context is explored through the film “Freedom Writers.”  Your writing must respond to the written prompt provided. For your homework tasks, you may choose any of the sample prompts on Page 49 of the resource book

What you need to do  You must write at least one piece in each of the following styles:  Expository Writing  Persuasive Writing  With recommendation – imaginative writing  You will be assessed on:  The quality of your ideas about “Identity and Belonging”  The quality of your writing  How well you respond to the prompt.

Form, Audience and Purpose  Before writing, you must decide the form, audience and purpose of your writing. (Insight p )  Form: You must decide the specific form your piece will take. (See p. 97)  Audience: who are you writing for? Describe your audience. (See p. 132)  Is it your peers or another age group?  Is it a similar audience to the set text?  Is it a specific audience or interest group?  The audience dictates your style of writing. E.g. Formal, informal, technical, simple, flowery etc.

Form, Audience and Purpose  Purpose: Why are you writing?  What do you want to achieve in this piece?  What effect do you want to have on your readers?  What do you want to communicate about yourself or your topic?  See page. 132

Imaginative Writing  Purpose:  Imaginative writing is any writing where you develop and build on fictional ideas.  Imaginative writing aims to entertain, describe, reflect on and explore ideas.  (See p ;141 – 144 Insight)

Imaginative Writing  Forms include:  A short story / narrative  A scene or vignette that could add to the text you study.  A dialogue between two characters  A monologue (one character)  Diary entries  Letters  Prologue (before the story)/Epilogue (after)  Script  Interview (of fictional characters)  News report (of fictional events/people)

Imaginative Writing  Language and structure  The language you choose is greatly varied and depends on the form, structure and purpose.  If your writing has a direct link to the text, your language should reflect that used by the author and/or the characters.  Imaginative writing is descriptive and figurative (metaphor, simile, personification).  You must structure your piece to reflect the chosen form (e.g. Letter, diary entry)  plot conventions; dialogue; narrative viewpoint all need to be considered.

Imaginative Writing  Your writing could directly build on the text. Such as:  Additional diary entries of a character  Letters written by other characters (using similar language and structures)  A narrative told from another character’s perspective  Gaps and Silences: what isn’t told in the story? What happened beforehand, afterwards, while other things were happening.  Other ideas?

Imaginative Writing  Your writing might also be an original piece that does not directly build on the novel/film (but makes a number of clear links and parallels):  Use a different setting, characters, plot  Tell a story of another individual whose point of view is not often heard or who struggles to fit into “normal” society.  Tell the story of other ways an individual forms their identity and the factors which influence/inhibit them.  Consider different forms of identity in different contexts.  This type of writing must not simply retell the same story in a different setting, it needs to have unique insights.  You must have a recommendation from your teacher to write in an imaginative style for the SAC.

Responding to the Prompt  We cannot achieve a strong sense of identity unless we also have a strong sense of belonging to something other than ourselves.  Break down the prompt  What is it asking?  Is there more than one part to the question?  What are the key terms?  What different ways could you respond?  What ideas about “Identity and Belonging” does the prompt suggest you should discuss?  Concept Map

Persuasive Writing  Writing that persuades the reader to accept the writer’s viewpoint. (Insight pp ; )  Purpose: to persuade; argue; rebut; encourage action; inspire; sell;  Form: argumentative essay; letter to the editor; dialogue between two opposing views; editorial; opinion article, speech etc  Language: tone can vary; identifiable arguments with evidence; clear contention; persuasive language and strategies.

Persuasive Writing  Structure - differs depending on form but for an essay, opinion article or speech:  Intro: grab the reader’s attention with a shock statement, anecdote, attack etc.  Intro: clearly state the contention in the introduction and signpost main arguments.  Body: one reason per paragraph to support your contention. Use a variety of persuasive language techniques.  Body: last body paragraph should be a rebuttal of opposing views.  Conclusion: strong restatement of argument. Challenge the audience. Suggest solutions.

Responding to the Prompt  Our sense of identity and where we belong is given to us from birth.  Break down the prompt as previously done  How could you turn this prompt into a persuasive contention?  What reasons would you give for your contention?

Expository Writing  Expository writing explores different aspects of an idea. It “exposes” an idea. (Insight pp ; )  Purpose: to explain; explore; analyse; compare; inform  Forms:  a standard essay;  news article; feature article; articles for magazines  research report;  Reflection, memoir, personal experiences.  Interview  Reviews  Blog entries/websites

Expository Writing  Language:  often formal;  third person, though first person could be used if it fits the purpose,  lots of detail  Uses anecdotes to engage the audience as well as facts, examples.  Draws on knowledge beyond the text.  Lively and varied to keep the reader’s interest.

Responding to the Prompt  A strong sense of identity should enable us to embrace difference.  Break down the prompt as previously done  What ideas from the text will you draw on?  What broader ideas about the context will you research and include in your writing?  How would you link these ideas together?