Week 5: Non-Fiction Creative Writing

• This week, we are going to look at the non-fiction creative writing question

• We will examine the format of this question, as well as the AOs involved

• We will review some strategies from Year 11 Paper 2 Question 5

• It will become clear how this question builds and expands upon some of the skills you

already have

• As always, take notes and continue to complete the tasks

Before we proceed any further, let’s review these 5 rhetorical techniques/strategies from Year 11 non-fiction persuasive writing

1. Personal story / anecdote

2. Quote a university

3. Quote an expert (direct speech)

4. Picture this:

5. The counter argument

Strategy 1: Anecdotal story

Alexandra Johnson, a student at Harrow high school, was teased by the boys in her class on sports day because she did not do well at tug-of-war; in fact, she slipped instantly. She felt humiliated that she was discriminated against simply for being a girl, as all her other teammates were boys. She trained for a year, and the following year she knocked Valentino out cold in a boxing match. Gender-based discrimination is wrong, outdated, and toxic. Do you want to live in a world where boys and girls are incapable of reaching the same potential heights?

Strategy 2: Quote a University

According to a 2017 study done by Oxford University, 33% of students felt anxious about writing exams.

33% of students felt anxious about writing exams.

Date of publication

Name of university

Strategy 3: Use direct speech and quote an expert

John Smith, a researcher at the University of Harrow, said, ‘1 out of 4 children suffer from social anxiety.’

Michael King, a professor at LSE, remarked, ‘President Trump is entirely wrong on this issue.’

The counter argument

Topic: bullying

It is useful to consider the other side of the argument. There are some who consider bullying to be a normal part of the student experience and would even suggest that it builds resilience and toughness. For all the reasons I have stated, however, the negative effects of bullying far outweigh any good, and it should have no place in our schools.

Show you understand the other side’s argument

Reinforce how you still stand by your argument

Picture thisTopic: bullying

Picture this: a young student is smashed up against a locker and blood begins to trickle down his forehead. Defenceless and afraid, he fights for his life as the bullies mockingly taunt him. He lays disoriented and defeated as the bell rings and the corridors become flooded with students on their way to class.

EMOTIVE

Let’s now have a look at how this question might appear on the exam

• You will have to choose one of three options

• The different forms are based on the different forms of the non-fiction anthology

• The best approach is to choose the option that you feel you can answer with the most confidence

Either.

Write a script for a presentation to representatives of a local business. Your purpose is to persuade them to sponsor a charitable event. [20]

Or

Write a magazine article using irony and exaggeration to ridicule the view that young people spend too much time on mobile phones and social media. [20]

Or

Write a letter offering to work for a charity as a volunteer. Your aim is to explain why you want to help, and describe the qualities that will make you suitable.

SAMPLE

For this question, you will be assessed on two of the AOs:

• AO5: Creative expression in the English language

• AO3: Context

In this case, how well you understand the form / audience

This is what the mark scheme will look like for this question.

Let’s now look at an exemplar

• This document is entitled ‘Week 5 Attachment 1’

• As you can see, this student responded to one of the three options listed on slide 8

• This exemplar is a student’s real work, which appeared on an exam

• The student earned close to perfect marks (17 /20)

1. Good understanding of form (AO3)

Having now read the exemplar, write a list of success criteria.

In other words, write a list of aspects or qualities which make this an exceptional piece of writing.

Success Criteria

1. Good understanding of form and purpose (AO3)

2. Good understanding of audience (AO3)

3. A well-developed and detailed backstory (AO5 / AO3)

4. AFOREST + other rhetorical devices (AO5)

5. Sophisticated vocabulary and phrasing (AO5)

6. A variety of sentences / punctuation (AO5)

7. Multiple paragraphs and excellent organisational structure (AO5)

Success Criteria

Did you come up with similar success criteria?

Your task

• Re-read the exemplar again and print it out

• Re-read the success criteria

• Annotate the exemplar and highlight (underline etc.) any evidence to suggest that the exemplar met the success criteria

• For example, if you spot a rhetorical question, make a note of it on the page

• If you do not have a printer, simply write a list of quotes which prove the exemplar met the various success criteria