Mount Grace English and Media Department

GCSE WRITING SKILLS

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Writing to Argue

1. Write an article for a magazine read by parents in which you argue the case for the abolition of homework.

2. Write an article for a teenage magazine in which you argue the case for more help to be given to the homeless.

3. Write an article for a magazine aimed at parents. Argue the case either for or against children being allowed to have a television in their bedrooms to watch whatever they like, whenever they like.

4. Write a letter to your MP in which you argue either for or against animal experimentation.

5. Write an article suitable for a school magazine in which you argue that more should be done in school to improve the health and fitness of pupils.

6. How useful do you think it is to know about the past? Write an article for a newspaper for a newspaper in which you argue your case.

7. Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you argue the case for more money being spent on up-to-date equipment for schools. Remember:  Write an article  Write the text for a broadsheet newspaper  Use language appropriate for an argument

8. There are competitions every year for Sportsperson of the Year. Write the script for a radio programme where you argue the case for your choice to be made Sportsperson of the Year.

Writing to Persuade 1. Write a letter to your headteacher persuading him or her to improve the facilities for Year 11 students in your school.

2. Write a leaflet to persuade parents to bring their children to a tourist attraction near to where you live.

3. A friend has written you a letter saying he or she is thinking of leaving home and is asking for your advice. Write a reply trying to persuade him or her not to leave home.

4. Your Headteacher has decided not to spend any m ore money on buying televisions for use in school classrooms. Write a letter persuading him or her that television plays a very important part of your education.

5. Write an article for newsletter in which you aim to persuade your readers that animals should be released from any form of captivity.

6. Write a letter to your local newspaper in which you try to persuade the readers more bike-friendly measures should be introduced in your area.

7. Write a speech for your MP to use when he or she is going to persuade fellow MPs to vote for more money being made available for foreign aid.

8. Write an article for a television magazine to persuade readers to watch a programme called The Death of the Dinosaurs: a Mystery Solved.

9. Write the text for a travel brochure published by a run-down seaside resort which aims to persuade holiday-makers to return by using an original and imaginative selling point.

10. You have undertaken some research among pupils in your school about the length and organisation of the school day. Write a report for the Chair of Governors in which you persuade him or her that particular changes should be made. Remember to:  Write a report  Use language appropriate for the Chair of Governors to read  Use language to persuade

11. Imagine that you are a television presenter. Write a script for a programme where you persuade the viewers that your choice of person should be made Sportsperson of the Year. Writing to Advise

1. Write a report to the manager of your school’s catering service advising him or her of the need to provide a different range of food during the course of the school day. Remember to:  Write a report  Use language appropriate for the catering manager to read  Use language to advise

2. Your class has been invited to the local TV studio to form part of the audience in a discussion programme. Write a set of guidelines in which you advise the students on exactly what they will need to do on the day of their visit.

3. Write a leaflet for pedestrians and road users in which you advise them about road safety.

4. Write a leaflet for a new pet owner in which you advise them on the requirements of looking after an animal of your choice.

5. Write a leaflet in which you advise students how to use the facilities of a library, or resource centre, for a research project.

6. Write a leaflet for the public, advising them how to have a safe day out at the beach. Writing to Inform

1. Write an article for a newspaper where you inform the readers about the achievements of a particular Sportsperson whom you think is worthy to be called the Sportsperson of the Year.

2. Write a letter to s friend who has recently moved away from your area, informing him or her of recent events in your life and the plans for the next few months. Your letter should be lively and interesting.

3. People often enjoy reading about the interests and hobbies of others. Choose something you are interested in and know a lot about. Write about this in a way which will inform other people.

4. People of the future may well wonder what life was like at the start of the new millennium. Write an informative article for teenagers to read in a hundred years’ time. The subject of the article is ‘The Life of a Teenager in the year 2000.’

5. Write an informative article for teachers about ‘Clothes and Today’s Teenager.’

6. Your Headteacher has asked Year 11 students to write something for a magazine for new Year 7 students and their parents. Write an article for this magazine in which you inform them of the things you think they need to know about your school.

7. Many people are fascinated by animals. Write an article for a wildlife magazine in which you inform the readers about the reasons for this fascination and about your own feelings about the animals. Writing to Explain

1. Your aunt has two children, a boy and a girl, who are about to become teenagers. She has asked you to explain to her, based on your own experience of being a teenager, what she should look out for as her children grow up, what you think are the main challenges of being and bringing up a teenager and what she should do about the likely situations that might arise. Write a letter to her explaining these things and what you think she should do about typical situations that might arise. Remember to:  Write a letter  Use language suitable to explain

2. Explain clearly why you think your choice should be made Sportsperson of the Year.

3. Many families have their own particular traditions. These may be to do with how they celebrate holidays, religious festivals, or particular times of the year. Write about your family traditions and explain their importance to you.

4. Choose an event from your past that has particular significance for you. Explain what happened and your feelings about it.

5. Decisions can be difficult to make. Think about a difficult decision you have had to make. Explain what the decision was and what happened as a result of it.

6. There are many pressures on young people today. Explain what you think are the main pressures and how they affect your life and the lives of people you know.

7. Friend’s sometimes play an important part in people’s lives. Explain what part they play in your life, and explain how important friends are to you.

8. Choose someone or something about which your views have changed as you have got older. Write about what you used to think and feel, what you now think and feel, and explain how the change has come about.

9. Choose a person who has played an important part in your life. Explain how this person has been important to you. Writing to Describe

1. Write a non-chronological newspaper report of any episode from history, legend, mythology or fiction.

2. Describe the room you are sitting in.

3. Describe one of the following in such a way that it can easily be imagined by your reader: a city at night; a deserted beach; a busy shopping centre.

4. Journeys can be exciting, boring or a mixture of both. Describe a journey you have made, so the reader can imagine it clearly.

5. Describe your ideal home.

6. Describe your ideal holiday place.

7. Places can seem different at different times of the year. Choose one of the following places: a school playground; a High Street; a pond; a country lane. Describe it in winter and summer.

8. To be part of a crowd can be exciting, frustrating or frightening experience. Describe a crowd scene, focusing on the people, the atmosphere, and the emotions. It could be: at a football ground; at an open air concert; at a demonstration; somewhere else.

9. Describe someone you admire. Make sure that you include in your description something about:  What he/she looks like  How he/she dresses  His/her behaviour  His/her interests  His/her response to other people