CONTINUOUS WRITING CHOOSE ONE OUT OF FIVE TOPICS (50 MARKS) TIME: 1 HOUR
WRITING TIPS
ACCURACY structures
- sentence
- spelling VOCABULARY - wide - precise PUNCTUATION - correctly used ORGANISATION - paragraphs have unity - flow of ideas SUBJECT MATTER - relevant - interesting
1. LENGTH word limit is 350 600 words writing too much more mistakes made lowers the mark short script does not do justice to the subject matter lowers mark too planning is important
2. STANDARD ENGLISH
it communicates clearly to the
examiner it obeys the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar that are accepted and practised in the English speaking world the vocabulary used is suitable for the reader
3. RELEVANCE GOLDEN RULE
dont ever try to avoid the
purpose of the examination by writing a prepared composition or by deliberately twisting the title
4. COMMUNICATION
message conveyed must be
clear and understood by the reader
5. VOCABULARY For communication to be clear, use words that convey intended meaning as exactly as possible.
WALK - SYNONYMS marched toddled hobbled limped rushed staggered strolled
RUN chase
dash
flee
scamper sprint
scoot
6. PUNCTUATION
Very important to ensure your
piece of writing make sense And communication is established
7. ORGANISING SENTENCES avoid writing a long series of short sentences use your sentences to link ideas together so that the reader is carried smoothly from one ideas to another
SCRIPT 1 It was a Monday in June. It was early in the morning. The school was quiet. No one else had arrived yet. Today was an important one. Our exams were beginning today. I was very nervous. I had tried hard. I had revised for several hours each night. I felt ready. I was determined to do well.
SCRIPT 2
It was early on Monday morning. As
no one else had arrived yet, the school was quiet and deserted. Today was very important for me as it marked the beginning of our examinations. I had revised hard, staying up late each night revising, because I was so anxious to do well. I felt confident that I was well prepared, but I was still very nervous.
8. SPELLING Most spelling mistakes occurred in CW are caused by carelessness check your spelling carefully when writing any composition
SCRIPT 3 It was definately not going to be a good day. My mothers aincient vechile had a flat tyre, and nothing could be done imediately to mend it. No one knew how the dammage had occured altough we suscepted the little boy next door, who had been showing more intrest in the car than we thought was necesary. On one ocasion, we had cought him trying to open the car door. I lay on my bed, gazing at the cieling, and hating the tought of having to walk all the way to school, and recieving a lecture for being late.
9. PARAGRAPHS
Most candidates lose marks in CW
due to poor paragraphing. No paragraphs at all mini paragraphs compositions which have a new paragraph for almost every sentence casual paragraphs they begin and end for no obvious reason
A GOOD PARAGRAPH
Is complete in itself Usually summarised in a topic sentence that comes in the beginning or at the end of the paragraph Must not stand alone Must be linked with the paragraph before it and to the paragraph that follows it
10. HANDWRITING & PRESENTATION
Use black ball point pen
Small handwriting is difficult to read Dont cram too many words into one line Spacing between words makes reading easier Dont use liquid paper. Just cross the unwanted word with a single line through it. Be clear where a new paragraph begins.
11. SUBJECT MATTER
When writing a CW, be yourself Use experience, settings and ideas that are familiar to you and that you understand
