How to Answer Section B: Writing (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Language)

How to Answer Section B: Writing

Section B of Component 2 is called “Transactional and Persuasive Writing”. You are required to complete two writing tasks, each about a different subject and in a different form. For each task, up to 12 marks are awarded for communication and organisation, and up to 8 marks are awarded for vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling.

Each task is therefore worth 20 marks, and you should aim to write 300–400 words for each task (roughly 1–1½ sides of A4 of standard handwriting).

As this is a 2-hour exam, you should allow 1 hour for this section (30 minutes per writing task). This is not long, so it is very important to be prepared and to carefully manage your time in the exam.

The following guide includes:

• Types of transactional and persuasive writing

• How to approach each task

• Transactional and persuasive writing tips

Types of transactional and persuasive writing

You will be asked to write in a particular format, which means the specified genre, or type, of text. The format will determine the layout, structure and context of the writing (where it is used in real life). There are six forms of writing you might be given in the exam. These are:

• An article (newspaper or magazine)

• A letter

• A speech or talk

• A review

• A guide (this will normally be in the form of an article)

• A report

Of these, the most common tasks are to write an article (or guide), a letter or a speech. 

In addition to the format of writing, you will also be given the purpose (why you are writing) and your intended audience in your task instructions.

In addition:

• Each question will provide you with a statement which directs the topic and task:

  • It is best to consider the most effective argument you can make, on which you have plenty to say

  • This does not have to reflect your actual opinion

• You should consider where your writing would appear in a real-life context:

  • A magazine, for example, tends to be more informal than a news article

  • A letter tends to be more formal and, in the exam, written to someone you do not know

• The mark scheme rewards answers which consider how the conventions of form can be used to convey ideas:

  • A letter is more personal than a news article, which targets a large audience

  • A speech is more interactive than a leaflet and will actively attempt to engage and persuade the audience

• Whichever form you are writing in, there are likely to be some elements which you have to make up

• However, your writing still needs to be realistic and believable for the most convincing arguments

It is important that you use the correct form for each task and adapt your style and register appropriately to reach the higher reaches of the mark scheme. For example, for a formal letter, you should include an appropriate salutation (e.g. “Dear Editor”) and salutation (“Yours Faithfully,”), or for an article, it’s great to include a headline and strapline. We have included details of what should be included for the various formats on the following pages:

• How to Write a Letter

• How to Write a Speech

• How to Write an Article

• How to Write a Review

How to approach each task

The first thing you should do is to read the task carefully and, as well as identifying the topic, identify the format, audience and purpose of the task. This is sometimes referred to as a GAP analysis or the “3 Ws”:

For example:

It is important to demonstrate to the examiner from the outset that you understand the purpose, audience and format of each task. You will be awarded the highest marks if you satisfy the demands of the assessment objectives:

AO5: Communication and organisation

• Show a sophisticated understanding of the purpose and format of each task

• Show a sustained awareness of the intended audience for each task

• Use and adapt language confidently to suit the purpose and audience of each task

• Write a response that is ambitious, relevant and sophisticated

• Develop your arguments convincingly and support these with a range of relevant details

• Shape and structure your writing with purpose and intent

AO6: Vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation

• Vary your sentence structures deliberately for effect

• Ensure your sentences are accurate and correctly punctuated

• Use a range of punctuation deliberately for effect

• Spell virtually all of your words correctly

• Use correct grammar and tense throughout

• Use a wide range of appropriate and ambitious vocabulary

You only have 30 minutes per task in which to do all of this, but it is still important to spend 3–5 minutes making a brief plan of your key arguments so that your responses have a clear structure.

Example plan:

When you start to write, you need to “flesh out” each of your points in a separate paragraph. This means you should develop each point to make it detailed, sophisticated and convincing. 

Steps to success

The following steps set out how to approach each task:

1. Read each task carefully:

   • Identify what you are writing, who you are writing for and why you are writing

   • Highlight these things

2. Write down one sentence that sums up your opinion about the topic

3. Spend 3–5 minutes planning your writing:

   • Use the template above to map out your arguments

4. Make your point of view clear in your introduction:

   • State what you are writing about, why you are writing and what your point of view is

5. Start each paragraph with an appropriate connective and topic sentence

6. Develop each paragraph in detail:

   • Make your point

   • Explain it

   • Develop it: use anecdotes, statistics, specific examples, consequences, imperatives and any other relevant persuasive techniques

   • It is the development of your point that gets you the marks

   • Make sure you have developed your point thoroughly before moving on to your next point (which should be a different point or argument)

7. Try to leave 5 minutes at the end to re-read your writing carefully, correcting any obvious mistakes you have made

Transactional and persuasive writing tips

• Do not spend too long on one of the tasks and leave yourself without enough time for the other:

  • They are both worth equal marks, so are both equally important

  • You should try to make sure both of your responses are of roughly the same length

• Equally, do not go over 1 hour for the reading section and leave yourself with not enough time to complete both writing tasks properly:

  • Remember, they are worth 20 marks each!

• Use a variety of techniques to engage your reader:

  • Consider how you can relate to your intended audience and what shared experiences you may have

  • Do not be afraid to have a sense of humour if the topic warrants it, or to show your personality through your writing

  • Rhetorical questions, imperatives and emotive language all help to keep your reader interested

  • Use statistics judiciously and convincingly; the overuse of any one type of technique can make your writing less sophisticated

  • Personal anecdotes or short stories help to complement a point or message

• Use topic sentences at the start of each paragraph to help structure your writing and organise your ideas:

  • In addition, use connectives to link ideas across paragraphs and create overall cohesion

• Avoid repeating the same points, ideas or arguments across multiple paragraphs:

  • Each paragraph should contain a different idea or point

• Avoid getting distracted by your own opinion or feelings about the subject:

  • It is best to avoid a rant or an overly emotional response

  • Your tone should not be irate or aggressive

• Do not over-use lists or bullet points, as they do not allow you to show off your use of punctuation

• Do not draw columns, “illustrations” or text-boxes

• Ensure basic punctuation is correct:

  • This includes end of sentence punctuation and common errors such as comma splicing and run-on sentences