GCSE ENGLISH WRITING TIPS

This is the most common type of question you are likely to face, and requires discussion about how the text is achieving effects, portraying certain themes, or presenting certain characters.

For example, you might encounter a question such as:

Discuss how much you agree with the following statement, based on a sample extract that follows, as well as the novel as a whole:

“Victor Frankenstein is more monstrous than his creation.”

This question will require you to discuss the following elements:

• Evidence of ‘monstrous’ behaviour from Victor Frankenstein.
• Evidence of ‘monstrous’ behaviour from his creation.
• Your personal take on which side of the argument you ultimately agree with more.

Compare and contrast essays involve evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of opposing concepts relative to each other. While you should discuss the merits and shortcomings of these ideas by themselves or in a wider context, the focus of the essay should be on how the concepts relate to each other.

There are a few ways you could go about writing your full response to comparison questions, so you may wish to experiment to discover your preferred method. Or you may find the way you go about answering a question will change depending on what’s being asked of you. Here are two of the ways you could go about answering a compare and contrast question in a GCSE English exam:

• Split your response into thirds.
• Go through point by point.

In an exam situation, there are many types of non-fiction writing task that you might be set. For example, you may have to write a letter or a speech. Of course, these different formats will require distinct approaches, and will often require you to weigh in with personal opinion. This means that you are marked on how well you construct arguments, how relevant your response is to the brief, and how well you satisfy the conventions of the form you’ve been tasked to write in.

Let’s look now at how you can make sure that when you’ve been asked to write a letter, you write a letter!

What Makes a Letter a Letter?

• Addressing the recipient correctly;
• Signing off correctly;
• Formal tone;
• Making the purpose of writing clear.

What Makes a News Article a News Article?

• Setting out the purpose of writing quickly – is it to inform, persuade, or criticise?
• Style appropriate to audience.

What Makes a Speech a Speech?

• Proper introduction;
• Suitable sign-off;
• Set out purpose of speech early;
• Adjust depending on audience.