Writing to Inform GCSE English language Effective information

Writing to Inform GCSE English language

Effective information writing • When writing to inform, you should concentrate on: – Choosing information to suit your purpose – Organising your ideas into clear paragraphs – Writing an effective opening and ending – Including facts and opinions – Creating the right tone for your audience and purpose

Selecting the information • Focusing on the main purpose, think first about the types of information you will provide to your reader. Come up with 5 -6 main ideas and produce a clear plan. Spider diagrams work well but it could also be a simple list. • Better answers will develop some of these main ideas in detail rather than include lots of undeveloped material

Spider Diagram Example • Write a report for a teen magazine to inform readers about a topic you are interested in Taking part in competitions Facts and figures, statistics Health benefits Running Fitness levels Equipment needed

Developing the structure • Group your ideas together and link them effectively, unless you plan carefully, you risk a disjointed piece of writing, which lacks direction!

Planning • Here is a more detailed plan of this piece of writing Plan Intro-Why I have chosen this topic Background information – why I like it, when I started Para 2: What running involves Time commitment, equipment needed, how to start Para 3: Making progress Health benefits, how to make progress, how running improves fitness (stats/figures if possible) Para 4: taking it further Getting into club running, training for races, competitions Conclusion-Passing the baton Why starting running changed my life, why I recommend it to others

Making the information clear • When you are writing to inform, you must make the information clear and accessible for your audience. You should assume the reader knows nothing about the subject about which you are providing information • Give as many details as possible!

Making the information clear • Decide how well the two extracts from the “How to start running” article offer clear, relevant information to an audience who have no knowledge of the subject.

Extract 1 • “It is really important to take it easy when you first start running. Don’t go for a run too often and don’t go out every day. Depending on your fitness level and your previous sporting history, you need to adapt your training to suit your body. ”

Extract 2 • “It is really important to take it easy when you first start running. For instance, deciding on running every day is not a good idea, and can lead to injury as your muscles will not have the chance to recover and get stronger between runs. Think “time on your feet” rather than “distance covered”running for fifteen minutes without stopping at a steady pace is far more beneficial than aiming to run for 4 miles if you have never run before. Lots of elite runners began their careers by adopting the “ 10% rule”- in other words, increasing their weekly run time by 10%. For example, if you are starting for a position of never having run before, aiming to run three times a week for fifteen minutes each is a fantastic goal in itself! Keeping that up for two weeks and then adding two minutes to each fifteen minute run in the third week is a sensible target. Your body needs time to adapt and listen to the new messages you are giving it. ”

Extract 1 • “It is really important to take it easy when you first start running. Don’t go for a run too often and don’t go out every day. Depending on your fitness level and your previous sporting history, you need to adapt your training to suit your body. ” GRA DE C Advice for improvement The information doesn’t really provide any detail about why it is important to do what is suggested and offers advice rather than information More precise information is needed

Extract 2 • “It is really important to take it easy when you first start running. For instance, deciding on running every day is not a good idea, and can lead to injury as your muscles will not have the chance to recover and get stronger between runs. Think “time on your feet” rather than “distance covered”running for fifteen minutes without stopping at a steady pace is far more beneficial than aiming to run for 4 miles if you have never run before. Lots of elite runners began their careers by adopting the “ 10% rule”- in other words, increasing their weekly run time by 10%. For example, if you are starting for a position of never having run before, aiming to run three times a week for fifteen minutes each is a fantastic goal in itself! Keeping that up for two weeks and then adding two minutes to each fifteen minute run in the third week is a sensible target. Your body needs time to adapt and listen to the new messages you are giving it. ” GRA DE A

Creating a strong opening • A vivid opening will immediately attract the attention of the examiner. Unusual or inventive approaches can gain you marks • For example, when writing to inform you could start with: – Some humour to engage your audience, for example a description of you at the end of a run: I heave myself up the road, gasping, dripping in sweat, legs trembling with the effort it takes to make it to the front door. . . Ye, you’ve guessed it- I've been for a run – An account from a personal expirience which gives a context for your writing, for example: The day I started running was the day that the TV remote broke. Flat Batteries. Unable to move from the sofa, too flabby to stir. . .

Task- Answer this question • Write a report for a teen magazine to inform readers about a topic you are interested in • You may use the example (previous slides) to help you, but may not use the topic of running

Task 2 • Write an article for a year 7 student brochure informing new students about their first term at your school, from the perspective of an older student

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