How to get the right writing resultsShaun Wilden January 2010

You need a pen and paper:

In approximately 120 words, outline how you spent your

Christmas holiday.

You have 10 minutes.

Is the task a bit like this?

Taken from ‘Teaching Writing skills by Bryne (Longman)

What do we write?

In one minute list of all the things you have written this week.

Compare with a partner, are your lists similar? How many of the things did you write in a language other than English?

Between you choose 3 - 4 different things you have written and decide who the reader of each writing is and

what the purpose of the writing is.

Personal Writing Public Writing Creative Writing

Institutional Academic WritingSocial Writing

From ‘writing’ by Hedge

Is this writing?

This was genuinely submitted as homework:

My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :-o

kids FTF. ILNY, it’s a gr8 plc

My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before we used to go New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I

love New York it’s a great place.

What? E.g. Reader? Effect?

Personal Diary

Public Newspaper article

Creative Story / Poem

Social Letter to friend

Study Notes

Institutional Report to boss

oneself

public

depends if it’s published

friend/family

oneself

boss/superior

- It doesn’t reflect how students would write in real life- It lacks the ‘reader and purpose’ elements- It’s time-consuming, lessons should be more than sitting and writing.- Students lack imagination.

- They write at different speeds.

- They don’t often need to write in English.

- Students make many errors, can’t spell and so on.

- It takes too much effort.

What? E.g. Reader? Effect?

Personal Diary

Public Newspaper article

Creative Story / Poem

Social Letter to friend

Study Notes

Institutional Report to boss

oneself

public

depends if it’s published

friend/family

oneself

boss/superior

Consider:

Content

Length

Style

Organisation

Register

Complexity / Range

Newspaper article

Story

Letter to friend

Report

How many different ‘genres’ are possible in the FCE writing paper?

Seven:An article (for a magazine or newspaper)An email (in response to a situation)An essay (discursive or argument)A letter (similar to email) A report (usually to a superior) A short story (for a magazine or newspaper)

(based on http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/fce.html)

We need materials that are:- Motivating - Purposeful- Advise giving - Deal with all the genres and provides help with

Content

Length

Style

Organisation

Register

Complexity / Range

OverviewWith its striking design, up-to-date material, and interactive

multi-media support for students and teachers, FCE Result is an accessible course and a complete preparation resource. It belongs to the Exams Result series along with CAE Result.

 Key features

Vibrant design with high-impact visuals keeps students motivated

Integrated dictionary skills work builds new skills. Workbook Resource Pack MultiROM provides access to two online

practice tests at oxfordenglishtesting.comTeacher's Pack includes Assessment Booklet with DVD and

a Using Dictionaries booklet

You have received an email from your English-speaking friend, who is planning to visit you next month. Read her email and the notes you have made. Then reply in an email in 120 -150 words

FCE Result page 79 by Falla and Davies – OUP

FCE Result page 79

Content - depends on the question but content is determined by what is requested

Length determined by the question. Stick to the word limit!

(120 -150 / 120 – 180)

For an email….

Consider:

Style: ? Organisation: ?Register: ? Complexity / Range: ?

Style – It is a friend so more informal so contractions, short sentences etc Organisation - 3 or 4 paragraphs. What goes in each paragraph? Register - language of directions, places to visit (language to describe them), Complexity / Range - Use of synonyms, lexical

cohesion, language for suggestions and

recommendations etc

Motivate students to write

Generating ideas

Organising and ordering ideas

Make a first draft / write the letter

Consider the layout, language etc and if necessary practice

Based on Hedge / Lindsay and Knight

Edit content, language and spelling

Thank you for listening

slides and references on my blogshaunwilden.com

Email: shaunwilden@gmail.com