HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR FORMAL ESSAY

WHY SHOULD YOU PLAN AN ESSAY? It helps you to remember details. You can organise your thoughts and work out what is important before you begin. You can arrange your ideas and give them structure so that you develop an idea. It helps you to save time in the long run. You already know what you are going to say before you begin. You can eliminate irrelevant details and add in important ones.

How to plan an essay Begin by choosing the question you feel fits the text best. Write the question on your page and underline the key words. Decide on what main points you NEED to make. If the question asks you to describe the setting / relationship etc. then you need to do that. Often this is the first part of the question and will happen early in the essay. Then address the second part of the question – usually why the setting / relationship is important. You need to have at least two really strong points. Add examples to your main points and any other key information that is relevant to the point. Remember you will be rushed and you don’t want to forget things.

Then decide on your structure – intro and conclusion. What will make the essay interesting and show that you know what you are talking about? How will you develop your ideas through the essay? Number each point in order. This stage is very important! Read over your plan to make sure you haven’t left anything out. Begin writing your essay. STICK TO THE PLAN. Refer back to it to make sure you are following it.

TIME ALLOCATION For film, novel and poetry you have 25 minutes for each. first 2 minutes reading all of the questions. pick a question and start on your plan (5 minutes) begin essay after 10minutes and spend 15 minutes writing 3 minutes proofreading For formal writing you have 40 minutes 5 minutes reading information and questions (some will have a lot of info) 10 minutes planning what you want to say. 20 minutes writing (it only needs to be 200 words) 5 minutes proofreading Unfamiliar text has 3 parts: written (prose or transactional), oral and visual. You have 60 minutes. 20 minutes per text.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR FORMAL WRITING AchievementAchievement with MeritAchievement with Excellence  Express idea(s) with supporting detail in a piece of formal writing.  Develop idea(s) with supporting detail and explanation in a piece of formal writing.  Develop idea(s) convincingly with supporting detail and explanation in a piece of formal writing.  Use a writing style appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.  Use a controlled writing style appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.  Use a controlled writing style appropriate to audience, purpose and text type, and which commands attention.  Structure material in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.  Structure material clearly in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.  Structure material clearly and effectively in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.  Use writing conventions without intrusive errors.  Use writing conventions accurately. facts, opinions, info, argument Explanatio n, examples, evidence. formal Spelling, punctuation, grammar that does not inhibit the reader’s ability to understand the piece Building on a single idea by adding detail, links to other ideas towards a coherent planned whole Selects appropriate vocabulary Progresses in a logical way, ideas linked Writing influences the reader to agree with the writer’s ideas. Through use of a distinctive personal voice, inventive use of language. Makes the reader want to read on. Ideas are more than a set of points, ideas interrelate or expand on examples. Suitable for publication with minor editing

How to get started? You need to introduce your idea to the reader. You will suggest the angle / opinion you have on the issue. You may want to use an interesting opening: -An emotive statement - a controversial statement - a rhetorical question - a surprising statistic Best of all is to be unique and original! A basic introduction needs: to echo the question / topic it states the writer’s point of view it introduces the main points

THE BODY This is the main bulk of your ideas and where you present the evidence of your opinion. What the body needs to have: discuss each point made in the introduction in turn keep your argument going and strong keep on track by referring back to the initial topic Give supporting detail to back up what you say structure carefully. Use the LEER structure: L= lead statement E= example E= explanation R= relevance

LEAD STATEMENT What are you writing about? This sentence introduces the paragraph, state the main ideas, may link to the previous paragraph, links to the topic of the essay Zoos are education places. EXPLANATIONWhat do you mean? You will explain what you meant in the lead statement. Give the reader more detail about the idea / issue. Where else can you see a lion close up, let alone their cubs? Did you know that zoos give visitors the opportunity to learn interesting facts about their favorite animals. EXAMPLE What makes you say that? Give evidence, example, proof to support the idea that you have explained. A survey in 2001 from the Auckland Zoo found that 90 percent of people had learnt something from visiting the zoo. RELEVANCE So why is all that important? Convince the reader