Section B Skills: Transactional Writing (Edexcel IGCSE English Language A)

Revision Note

Deb Orrock

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Section B of Paper 1 will require you to complete one writing task out of a choice of two. The task will be a non-fiction, transactional writing task in response to a statement. The format you should write in will be given to you in the task, and the purpose of your writing will be to argue, persuade or explain something to an intended audience. You will therefore need to carefully consider the language you use and how you structure your writing to suit the form, audience and purpose given to you in the task.

In your response you must:

  • Adopt a convincing tone of voice

  • Use language techniques relevant to the purpose and style

  • Ensure you use the correct form of writing

The following guide will therefore cover:

  • Form

  • Audience

  • Purpose

  • Persuasive language techniques

  • Exam tips

Form

  • This task will ask you to write in a particular form which will determine the layout, structure and context of the writing (where it is used in real life)

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

    • It is best to construct the most effective argument you can

    • 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 newspaper article

    • A letter tends to be more formal and, normally 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

  • You may be asked to write in the form of: 

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

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

While your choice of register will largely be dictated by the task, the following guidelines are always helpful:

Type of writing

Form, language and tone

Letter

  • It’s important to use an appropriate greeting and sign off:

    • Remember, if you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, then use “Yours faithfully”

    • If you do know the name of the person, then use “Yours sincerely”

  • The level of formality will be dependent on who you are writing to (your intended audience)

  • Write in the first person (“I”, “my”, etc.)

  • There is no need to include an address or date

Article

  • This format will normally be a magazine article

  • It could be written from a first-person (“I”, “my”, etc.) or from a third-person perspective

  • The language and tone will be more formal, suitable for a printed publication

  • It’s good to write an interesting title or headline

  • You could also use sub-headings to organise arguments or ideas

Leaflet

  • This is similar to an article, but often focuses on providing information or advice

  • It should have a title and use sub-headings to guide the reader through the information

  • You can also use bulleted or numbered points to organise steps or pieces of advice

  • However, do not attempt to divide your answer booklet into columns - this is not necessary

Speech

  • This type of writing may use more persuasive techniques

  • It will be written in the first person (“I”, “my”, etc.), but will address the audience directly (“you”)

  • The language of a speech tends to be friendly and relatable - you need to keep the audience engaged

  • Do not use sub-headings for a speech, and make sure you begin by greeting the audience

Guide

  • This type of writing could again be considered an article, using a title and sub-headings to help guide the reader

  • It will provide information, advice and recommendations

  • It may be humorous or serious, depending on the topic

  • However, it is not an advertisement, so do not go too heavy on the persuasive techniques

Review

  • This format will normally be written for publication

  • The language and tone will be more formal, suitable for a printed publication

  • Reviews are normally written in the first person, but in an impersonal way

  • This format will provide information, opinion and recommendations

Examiner Tips and Tricks

The most effective responses to this task will demonstrate a well-planned answer covering a range of points written in the correct form. It is important not to forget to sign off your letter or give your article a headline. Make sure you have correctly identified the form required in the task, and avoid writing letters to indiscriminate recipients, or writing speeches for unspecified events. Respond to what the task is, rather than what you hoped it would be.


Audience

  • This task assesses the ability to use sophisticated language:

    • It is important, however, to consider your audience in terms of your ideas, language and overall tone

  • Remember, you are being assessed on your ability to adapt your language and tone to suit your intended audience

  • For example:

    • A parent will have different concerns and values to a student

    • A local MP would need convincing using facts and evidence to support your arguments

    • Readers of a local newspaper would be more persuaded by emotive language

    • A letter to a headteacher or someone in authority requires formal, respectful language which is not aggressive or inappropriate

    • Teenagers would need something to relate to, so personal anecdotes would work well

  • Addressing your audience or reader specifically is a convincing technique to persuade people to agree with your point of view, or at least to acknowledge its validity

  • You can use inclusive language, such as “we” and “us”

  • You can also make your audience feel involved by using terms such as “fellow students” or “parents”

  • The judicious use of colloquial language is fine, depending on the topic, but avoid using slang or terms not common to Standard English

Below are some examples of language that has been adapted to suit a target audience:

Target audience

Language adaptation example

Teenagers

I’m sure we’ve all had our parents or guardians moan at us for how long we spend on our gaming machines. However, gaming can help us develop important skills, such as teamwork, as well as being an awesome way of connecting with friends from all over the world!

The use of inclusive pronouns and colloquial language, such as “awesome”, demonstrates that this example is aimed at teenagers or younger people

Adults

Using animals for sports, such as fox-hunting, has been debated for many years, and it is an issue which elicits strong emotions from both sides.

The use of more sophisticated vocabulary, such as “elicits”, as well as complex sentences, demonstrates that this is aimed at adults reading about a serious topic

Older people

The purpose of wearable technology, such as smart-watches and fitness trackers, is to make staying connected as easy and hands-free as possible. In addition, wearable technology can have important health benefits, as they can monitor your blood sugars, heart rate, blood pressure and quality of sleep.

The simple explanations and examples show that this is written for people who might not know much about wearable technology

Examiner Tips and Tricks

As part of your planning and preparation for this task, you should write a summary of your argument in a single sentence. This should be included in your introductory paragraph, establishing your position, and confirmed in the concluding paragraph. The highest marks are achieved when you are able to establish a central argument and sustain this throughout your writing. 

Purpose

The question will ask you to write for a specific purpose. This means you are required to deliberately use language to achieve that purpose and that you will be rewarded for the ability to select relevant language techniques appropriate to this purpose. The question asks you to organise your writing in a way that conveys your opinions and ideas convincingly. It will generally be necessary to use persuasive devices in order to achieve the purpose of the task.

Generally, the purpose of the task will be one of the following:

  • Explain your point of view

  • Argue your point of view or your opinion

  • Persuade

  • Advise or guide

Purpose 

Devices and techniques to demonstrate you understand the purpose of the task

Write to explain:

  • Explain your point of view about…

  • Explain your attitude to…

  • Explain your thoughts on…

  • Provide reasons for your ideas

  • Offer examples and anecdotes:

    • Use imagery to describe experiences 

  • Provide facts and statistics:

    • In the exam you can use those provided in the reading section, or make up credible research of your own     

  • Use present-tense verbs:

    • Usually you are explaining about something that is currently the case

  • Use either first or third person consistently

  • Use appropriate connectives:

    • Words like “moreover”, “furthermore”, “however” and “on the other hand” provide cohesion and fluency

Write to argue:

  • Argue your point of view about…







  • Write in the first person as you are putting forward your thoughts and opinions

  • Use personal and inclusive pronouns:

    • Using words like “we” and “us” builds rapport between you and your reader and makes them feel involved 

  • Present your opinions as facts - as a truth that shouldn’t be challenged

  • Be persuasive and passionate about your argument, but not aggressive:

    • Readers do not respond well to an aggressive tone

  • Use emotive language and rhetorical questions to persuade your reader of the validity of your argument

  • You can present both sides of an argument, but decide on your position and maintain it throughout:

    • This means that you can start your counter-argument with phrases such as “While I acknowledge that some people might think…”

    • Then circle back to your original position

Write to persuade:

  • Persuade the audience of your point of view about…

  • Write in the first person as you are putting forward your thoughts and opinions

  • Use personal and inclusive pronouns:

    • Using words like “we” and “us” builds rapport between you and your reader and makes them feel involved 

  • Present your opinions as facts - as a truth that shouldn’t be challenged

  • Be persuasive and passionate about your argument, but not aggressive:

    • Readers do not respond well to an aggressive tone

  • Use emotive language and rhetorical questions to persuade your reader of the validity of your argument

  • Use imperatives to call your audience to action

  • Use rhetorical techniques such as a triplet to convince the reader of your argument

  • Decide on your position or opinion and stick to it throughout

  • Avoid sounding like an advertisement

Write to guide or advise:

  • Write a guide to a great day out for all of the family

  • Write an article to advise teenagers about how to manage exam stress

  • Use the passive voice and a more detached tone - you are not writing an advert

  • Use imperative verbs and bullet points for tips, e.g., “exercise”, “eat”, “sleep”

  • Use modal verbs, e.g., “may”, “should”, “could”

  • Employ facts and statistics

  • Address your audience directly by using personal pronouns such as “you”

Persuasive language techniques

Persuasive language techniques, or rhetorical devices, are the linguistic devices that make your language more persuasive and convincing. 

There are lots of techniques you can use, so it is important to utilise them in a sophisticated and integrated way in order to add impact to your argument. For example, political speech writers use lots of rhetorical devices to convince their listeners that the speaker is correct and should be agreed with. It is, however, important to remember that you are not trying to sell something; instead, you are trying to convince your readers to accept your views or ideas.

For example, if the task requires you to argue, it is important to remember to:

  • Employ an assured and confident tone of voice without being rude or aggressive:

    • Using inclusive pronouns builds rapport and sounds less aggrieved, such as “we” and “us”

  • Convince your reader or listener by constructing a balanced argument using both facts and opinions

  • Acknowledge a counter-argument:

    • This means you predict your reader’s possible reasons for disagreeing and offer an argument against them 

    • Consider your audience carefully to understand where their values and concerns may lie

When planning your answer to your Section B task, it is vital to spend time thinking about your brief (your task), just as a journalist would do. The information given in the question is a bit like a journalist’s brief: it will give you instructions, such as whether to write in a formal or informal style. 

The following can be useful to think about in your planning:

  • Consider what your readers’ opinions may be on the subject

  • Think about how you will use persuasive techniques to offer a convincing argument

  • Consider whose perspective you will write from and how you can build rapport with your reader or audience:

    • It may be more effective to write from an adult’s perspective if your intended audience is made up of adults

  • Plan the tone of voice you wish to adopt:

    • Use sophisticated vocabulary and avoid slang

  • Use modal verbs to construct a tone:

    • Words like “must” are more aggressive than “could”, or “should”

  • Vary your punctuation and sentence lengths to avoid a monotonous voice

The acronym DAN FOREST PIE can be useful to help you remember some of the key devices, but there are many other techniques you can employ for effect:

Device

Definition

Example

Direct address

Addressing your audience directly to build rapport

When it comes to the issue of animal cruelty, you cannot stand back and not take a stand. This is your fight as well.

Audience

Acknowledging the whole of your audience in your writing

Parents, you must surely agree that banning mobile phones in classrooms will improve concentration and enable your children to make better progress in their studies.

Not only, but also

Used as part of your sentence to add to an argument

Not only does this issue affect local communities, but also it has wider implications for the whole of the country.

Facts

Something that can be proven to be true

London Zoo is the oldest zoo in the UK.

Opinions

What you believe or think, often presented as fact

In my view, banning fox hunting with hounds is the best thing to have happened for a long time.

Rhetorical questions

A question which does not require an answer

Is it right that reality TV stars are paid vast amounts of money while not actually having any skills?

Emotive language

Language deliberately chosen to make the audience or reader feel a particular emotion or have an emotional response

The horribly cruel, brutal and violent manner in which hunting hounds murder a fox when caught, ripping them apart, is completely wrong.

Statistics

Factual data used in a persuasive way

Eighty percent of commuters agree that rail fares currently do not represent good value for money.

Triplets

Three ideas or examples in a sentence used to emphasise a point

Nutritious, delicious and environmentally conscious, plant-based eating is the only way to reduce our impact on the environment.

Personal and inclusive pronouns

“I”, “you”, “we”, “us”

We must act now on climate change, as it matters not only to us, but to our children and children’s children.

Imperatives

Command verbs

Act now, as further delay could be catastrophic.

Exaggeration

Also known as hyperbole - exaggerated language or examples used for effect

If we do nothing, we will regret our inaction for the rest of eternity.

You could also consider using:

Flattery

Complimenting your readers or audience

As well-educated and intelligent people, you will agree that this situation must not continue.

Alliteration

Two or more words that begin with the same consonant sounds - the words do not have to be consecutive

Is fast food making us fatter, or is this idea just a fad?

Antithesis

Opposing words or ideas presented together to show a contrast

Just a small act of defiance could have a huge effect.

Double adjectives

Starting your sentence with two adjectives

Smart and exciting, new wearable technology is the latest craze.

However, using too much of any one technique can actually weaken your argument, so make sure you are using persuasive devices judiciously. As you read the short example below, consider which persuasive techniques have been used and how they contribute to the writer’s arguments:

Task: “Some people believe it is preferable to holiday at home rather than travel abroad on holiday. Travelling abroad is expensive, damaging to the environment and takes away important income from local tourism businesses.” 

Write a letter to a newspaper giving your views on this topic.

Dear Editor,


I am writing in response to the opinion recently expressed in your newspaper that holidaying at home is preferable to holidaying abroad. I am the first person to express a love for my country, as we have amazing countryside and some beautiful beaches. However, I simply cannot agree with the idea that holidays abroad should be avoided. Surely this takes away one’s right to choose how to spend their free time and money?


While I am very mindful of the environmental impact of air travel, this must be utterly negligible compared to the hundreds of coal-based power stations around the world that pump millions of tonnes of toxic waste into our atmosphere every year. Let me make it clear to every one of your readers: I am passionate about the natural world and I am not one of those people who claim that global warming is a myth. I recycle. I never drop litter. I have solar panels on my roof at home. But these measures are still a drop in the ocean compared to the collective impact of humanity on the health of our planet. I hardly think that one family spending their hard-earned money on a flight to Spain and back once a year is the biggest contribution to climate change, do you? So you can keep your wet weekends in Weston-Super-Mare; I’d rather be sipping cocktails on a beach in Greece, as I am sure would 90% of your readers!

Exam tips

  • Plan your response:

    • Alternating facts and opinions throughout your writing will be more effective than producing a purely emotional response

    • One way to do this is to consider how your paragraphs will use persuasive techniques to convey your points in a more developed and convincing way

  • Focus on the effects of your choices:

    • Using too much hyperbole and emotive language will weaken your argument

    • Rhetorical questions which are not answered with facts or an anecdote will lose their impact

    • Statistics can be made up for the purposes of the exam, but keep them credible and believable

  • Avoid placing all your facts in one paragraph:

  • Plan how you can convey facts across your writing using:

    • Polls and studies

    • Expert quotes or witness statements

    • Statistics 

  • Remember to use anecdotes and personal examples or stories to bring your ideas alive: 

    • The examples do not have to be based on your real experiences

    • Being humble and showing your reader you are not perfect is a great way to build rapport

  • Using emotive language is effective as long as it is not overused:

    • Emotive language can highlight your attitude and present your ideas passionately, but it should not take the place of facts

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Deb Orrock

Author: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.

Kate Lee

Author: Kate Lee

Expertise: English and Languages Lead

Kate has over 12 years of teaching experience as a Head of English and as a private tutor. Having also worked at the exam board AQA and in educational publishing, she's been writing educational resources to support learners in their exams throughout her career. She's passionate about helping students achieve their potential by developing their literacy and exam skills.