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A scenerio. Imagine this scenario: You feel ill and go to see a doctor. Which of the following is informing, explaining or describing?. Describing - you are telling the doctor how you feel. Informing - the doctor gives you the facts.
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A scenerio... • Imagine this scenario: • You feel ill and go to see a doctor. • Which of the following is informing, explaining or describing?
Describing - you are telling the doctor how you feel. • Informing - the doctor gives you the facts. • Explaining - the doctor explains what a cold is and tells you a little bit more about it. These areas do tend to overlap, but you should keep in mind that: • Information is factual. • Explanation is factual, but with more detail. • Description is usually about how something makes you feel.
Informing • To inform means to give facts to another person. • When informing, you should: • Use straightforward language to convey essential information, eg what is involved in this job. • Give the readers a bit more information, eg what is interesting about the job and what you enjoy about it. • Remember you are giving information. Imagine that someone asked about your job because they are thinking they might like a similar one. • Question: Write informatively about a job you have now, you have had in the past, or are interested in.
Explaining • To explain means to make clear, show the meaning or to account for. • When explaining, you should remember: • Who you are writing to. This question does not give you a specific audience so you must assume you are writing for anyone who might be interested, eg parents and children. • Why you are writing to them, eg "being fair is a good quality in a carer because...". • Question: Being a parent or guardian is never easy. Explain what you think makes a good parent or guardian.
Describing • To describe is to give a description of what something or someone is like. • When describing, you should: • Remember that your thoughts and feelings are important in this sort of writing, eg how does this place make you feel and why? • Try and think about using the sorts of devices you have seen in poetry and literature, egmetaphor, simile, imagery etc. • Question: Places can seem different at different times of the day. Choose a place you know well and describe it at two different times of the day.
Question: Write informatively about a job you have now, you have had in the past, or are interested in. • Question: Being a parent or guardian is never easy. Explain what you think makes a good parent or guardian. • Question: Places can seem different at different times of the day. Choose a place you know well and describe it at two different times of the day.
Write a letter from the headteacher of your school to parents of Year 11 students, informing them about a planned trip, explaining why the trip will be useful and describing the activities that will take place.
Answer • Newtown High School • Newlands Road • NEWTOWN • Barsetshire • NN1 1NN 12 October 2005 Dear Parents We are having a trip to Newtown Outdoor Pursuits Centre on 10 December for all Year 11 students. We shall leave at about 9 o'clock and will be back during the evening. At the Centre, students will be able to do whatever they want, eg rock climbing, orienteering, abseiling and canoeing. They will need a packed lunch but no special clothes. We think they will have fun there, and the cost will be £10 each which you should send in to school as soon as you can. Please let me know if your child does not want to go. Yours sincerely M Jones Headteacher How can we improvethis?
Examiner's verdict • The examiner's verdict demonstrates how the student could have answered the question better. These are some of the faults in the original letter, with suggestions about how you could improve it. • A title to the letter would be helpful, so that readers know what to expect and what information to look for. • The information given is too vague, eg parents need to know the exact times and places of departure and arrival. • It's also helpful to state the day as well as the date of the trip, and to give more details of special arrangements, eg about safety, what will happen if the return is delayed, etc. • The description of what takes place at the Centre is too brief, eg there is no information about supervision of the students, or what specific clothing is needed for the activities. • The explanation of why the trip is taking place is vague and is also mixed up with information about the cost. • Information about paying is vague, eg who should the money be sent to? Should it be cash or a cheque? • There is no explanation about what will be done with students who don't go on the trip, or what will happen if not enough want to go. • Parents are not given information about how to find out more about the trip. • The language is too simple, eg 'child'. Although the letter is polite, it should be more detailed and informative
Foundation Tier paperYou would get a grade C if you can:Convey your meaning simply and accurately to readers.Use language that is right for the particular audience.Set out your writing clearly and helpfully. • Write a letter from the headteacher of your school to parents of Year 11 students, informing them about a planned trip, explaining why the trip will be useful and describing the activities that will take place.
