Writing Skills

Features of Factual description

• An introduction to set the scene and present the characters

• Characters which are of general types

• Characters that the readers can relate to

• Actions of the characters

• Complications or problems that the characters have to overcome

• A climax or the most exciting part of the story

• Resolution showing how the characters react to what has happened to them and how problems are solved

• A moral that is taught by the story

• The use of mixed tenses

• The use of description

• The use of direct speech.

Features of Formal Correspondence

• Sender’s address set out in open punctuation ( note that company letters maybe set on paper with letterheads where the sender’s address would already be reflected).

• Date

• Recipient’s address set out in open punctuation

• Salutation

• Aim of the letter in bold or capital letters

• Body of the letter divided into paragraphs and set out in full block

• complimentary close

• Sender’s signature

• Sender’s full name.

Features of Journals

• Orientation

• A recount of events, names of the places and personals involvement

• Conclusion

• A date for each entry

• Entries in chronological order

• Use of maps, drawings and photographs

• Use of the first person ‘I’.

Features of Science Fiction

• An introduction that present the characters and setting

• A complication - problems that the characters will have to face

• A sequence of events involving the characters

• A climax - the most exciting part of the story

• A resolution – how the characters eventually solve the problems

• The use of mixed tenses

• The use of description and technical terms

• The use of ‘invented’ language.

Features of News Papers

News reports:• Have an eye-catching headline• Provide a concise factual account of a recent event-local national

or international• Are written in an unemotional style• Present essential information at the beginning of the report• Use supporting information to bring the report to a conclusion• Use minimum number of words necessary to provide the

information• Provide information that includes when the event happened,

where it happened, who was involved, what happened, how it happened and in some cases, why it happened.

Feature articles

• Have a headline that attracts readers who have an interest in the topic

• Provide background information, opinion, personal comments and argument on a topic

• May not be about recent news topics

• Are written from a subjective point of view

• Orientate readers to the topic and the writers argument with an introductory paragraph

• Use short paragraphs

• Lead readers to either accept or reject the writer’s opinion

• Use colorful, imaginative, yet simple, language

• Include a by-line, that is, the writer’s name.

Advertisements

• Are visually appealing

• Use few words

• Use headlines, photographs and/or illustrations

• Include a mixture of fact and opinion

• Use persuasive language to appeal to a particular audience.

Personal notices

• Provide specific information

• Usually use unemotional language

• Use very few words.

Poetic devices

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

• Personification

• Hyperbole

• Imagery

• Symbolism