© 2008 Steve Campsall
write to advise |
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Advice seems as if it is everywhere these days - so much so you might wonder if we know how to do anything at all! But back to GCSE English... for your exam, one of the types of writing you could be asked to do is 'Write to Advise'. This is very similar to some other kinds of writing that are covered on Englishbiz - writing to explain and inform. These kinds of writing are types of sometimes referred to as expository writing. This is a kind of writing that explains something. (Interestingly, the opening part of a fictional story is called its exposition. This is the part that 'exposes' or explains details such as who is in the story, where it is set and what the circumstances are. Of course, in fictional literary writing the style needed is very different from what you will be asked in your exam when 'writing to advise'). In GCSE Writing to Advise, you will be asked to write about a real-world task such as, 'Write an article for your school magazine in which you advise its readers how they could... welcome newcomers/lead healthier lives/lead greener lives'. When you asked to write to advise, your purpose is:
When deciding on what mark or grade to give, an examiner will be looking for specific aspects of your writing:
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Some useful tips:
Search out as many sources of advice as you can. You will find many excellent and different kinds of advice in magazines so these are a first class source of revision for your exam. Beg, buy or buy or borrow different kinds of magazines and read articles that offer advice to their readers - not just the 'Agony Aunt' columns.
Look out for and get hold of articles that give advice on such as health (e.g. smoking, dieting, drinking), choosing a good holiday, looking after a pet, revising successfully and so on. Read these with care working out how the writer has addressed the topic in a style, tone and structure that is appropriate for the audience and purpose.
Visit your local chemist's or doctor's
to get hold of leaflets that give advice. Such places are an excellent source
'writing to advise' that will help your revision.
Techniques for writing to advise
Whatever form your writing takes - letter, article, speech - you will be
expected to establish, quickly, a rapport, i.e. a good relationship, with your
reader or audience. You can use several techniques to do this.
Make it clear that the problem you are advising on is current, real, relevant and worthy of consideration.
| 'I worry about my appearance, you worry about your appearance - we all worry about our appearance. Each time we pick up a magazine we are faced with images of perfect faces, perfect bodies, perfect everything. What can we do to regain a sense of perspective, a sense of reality - a sense of self-control?' |
Explain the problem to show why it's happening.
If appropriate to your audience, use informal, even chatty, English to create a friendly empathic tone.
Make suggestions that are genuinely achievable and helpful.
Address the reader directly as 'you' and use the 'inclusive "we"' to make it personal and to include yourself in the problem.
Give reasons why the advice is worth taking or what the consequences could be.
Refer to outside sources of reliable advice such as specialists or university research (make this up for the exam - this isn't a test of your knowledge of the subject but of your writing skills).
Vary your Sentences!
This applies to all writing but, in order to capture your readers interest and attention - and to hold onto it - vary the opening and the structure of your sentences.
Think about the different kinds of sentences you could use.
Vary the way your sentences open and develop.
Vary their length: short sentences can be snappy and catchy; long sentences can be descriptive and informative.
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Interesting writing is built from varied sentences. Look at this. It certainly seems to be a good example of 'writing to advise'. What do you think?
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Finally, always check your work
- as you write!
Each year, literally thousands of students fail to achieve the marks they could. Don't be one of them ALWAYS CHECK YOUR WRITING BEFORE HANDING IN! |
Read each sentence immediately after you write it
Use a variety of sentence types and styles and remember that shorter sentences are often clearer and crisper sounding. An occasional ultra-short sentence can add real impact to writing.
Read each sentence before you proceed to the next to check it is fluent, accurate and complete. Does it follow on logically from the previous sentence?
Check every paragraph
A paragraph is a series of sentences (often at least five) that develop from a single topic sentence used to introduce the point of the paragraph.
Avoid creating overly short paragraphs as this suggests either a) you do not know what a paragraph is or b) that you have no explained the point of the paragraph in sufficient detail. Try to make sure that each paragraph flows naturally on from its predecessor by using the final sentence of each paragraph to subtly 'hook' into the topic of the next paragraph.
To correct a missed paragraph simply put this mark where you want in to be: // then, in your margin write: // = new paragraph. The examiner will not mark you down for this so long as you have not forgotten all of your paragraphs.
Examine each comma
A very common error and poor style is to use a comma instead of a full stop to end a sentence. This makes two or more stylish, short and crisp sentences into one long, drawn out and boring sentence! Always end each sentence with a full stop - or a semi-colon if you know how to use this punctuation mark.
Look at every apostrophe
Apostrophes are only ever used for two reasons. But so many students fail to use them effectively. If two words are squeezed together into one and a letter is missed out in the process, show where the letter was by inserting an apostrophe. So should not becomes shouldn't
And when one of two nouns belong to the other, show which one possesses which by adding apostrophe+s to its end. So the school's entrance is correct because the entrance is 'possessed by the school, also Alan's book shows a similar possession.
But watch out for it's. With an apostrophe this is always a shortened form of it is or it has, as in it's cold. If you mean belonging to it, as in its fur is shiny and smooth, no apostrophe is needed.
