IGCSE First Language

English (0500)

Tips and Tricks for Paper 2 !

 SECTION A:
DIRECTED WRITING

Types of writings:
● Speeches
● Reports
● Interviews
● Diaries/Journals
● Letters
● Newspaper articles
 1. Speeches
Language features to keep in mind:
▪ Rhetorical questions: asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to
make a point rather than to get an answer.
▪ Hypophora: raising and answering a question.
▪ Emotive language: language evoking an emotional reaction
▪ Imperatives: verb form used to give a command
▪ Anecdotes: short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or
person.

▪Some suggestions:
▪ In the first person point of view.
▪ Address the audience
▪ Use “we” to refer to the audience at times during your speech: evokes a
sense of unity rather than division. It unites the crowd and creates a sense
of oneness in them.
▪ Clear topic sentences with separate ideas for each paragraph. This helps
your speech be coherent.

▪ Informal language is OK to connect with the audience.

▪ Keep the sentences short so you don’t deviate from the topic. Helps the
listener
follow you. It also ensures your sentence structure is perfect.

▪ End appropriately (thank the listeners).

 2. Reports

Language features to keep in mind:

▪ Five W’s: Who, What, When, Where, Why
▪ Third Person
▪ Past tense (usually)
▪ Direct Speech: speech reproduced exactly as it was spoken, in inverted
commas
▪ Reported Speech: He told us not to do that.

Format:
Unlike other accounts of events, which are usually chronological, news
reports generally
follow this order:
1. Summary of recent event
2. Background to event
3. Return to immediate situation
4. Response of those involved
5. Look ahead to near future

Some suggestions:
▪ Include a headline, a summary of the report in note form
▪ Make your headline short
▪ The first sentence should sum up the story
▪ Write in 3rd person, past tense
▪ Break it up into short paragraphs
▪ Use both direct and reported speech
▪ Be objective and formal
▪ Keep opinions and personal reactions out
 3. Interviews

Genre Features:
▪ Purpose: Informative
▪ Structure: The interviewer asks three questions (the question bullet
points
given) and each is answered relatively in about half a page of full
sentences; paragraphs not necessary.
▪ Style: As this is a spoken genre, the interviewee can speak somewhat
informally, using contractions, but must use full and linked sentences for
fluency and a range of vocabulary for interest.
▪ Voice: The personality of the interviewee, as inferred from the passage,
should be evident from their responses to the questions.

Language features to keep in mind:

▪ Rhetorical questions: asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to
make a point rather than to get an answer.
▪ Emotive language: language evoking an emotional reaction
▪ Anecdotes: short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or
person.
▪ Humour: amusing or comic
▪ Idioms: group of words established by usage as having a meaning not
deducible from those of the individual words (Under the weather, Spill the
beans, Break a leg, It’s the best thing since sliced bread).
▪ Colloquial language: informal, everyday spoken language, usually with
emphasis on geographic region (Wicked good, soccer vs football, truck vs
lorry, bloke)
 4. Diaries/Journals
What to include:
▪ First person writing
▪ Use of the past tense when recounting events that have happened
before writing about them
▪ Recounting events that have happened and references to time
▪ Focusing on key moments
▪ Personal feelings
▪ Thoughts/ feelings/actions for the future

How to write a journal entry

▪ Write from a first person point of view; use of the word ‘I’ in your writing.
▪ Self-reflective tone. It should be a recollection of memory; thinking back
on something you’ve done or seen.
▪ Your journal should only reflect on incidents or observations that
happened recently.
▪ Your thoughts and viewpoints should be expressed with emotive
language,giving the reader more insight into feelings.
▪ Past or future tense, depending on whether writing about recent events
or anticipating future events or situations.
▪ Rhetorical questions increase the reader’s curiosity and improve your
work.
 5. Letters

Address and Date (optional)

● Provide the sender's address and date at the top for formal letters.

Salutation

● Address the recipient appropriately (Dear Mr./Ms./Dr., or use first name

for informal letters).

Introductory Paragraph

● Set the tone of the letter (formal, informal, or semi-formal).

● Greet the recipient and state the purpose of your letter.

Body

● Discuss the main points of your letter, ensuring clear and coherent
communication.

Closure

● Summarize and restate the purpose of the letter, if necessary.

● Provide an appropriate ending or conclusion.
Closing Phrase & Signature
● End with a phrase like "Yours sincerely" or "Best regards" and your name.
 6. Articles
▪ Purpose: Discursive (asks you to investigate a topic; to gather, read and
evaluate evidence; and to present a position on your topic based on the
evidence gathered)
▪ Structure: A balanced range of views on a topic; the writer’s opinion may
be stated at the end, but no view is conclusive)
▪ Style: Quotations and reported speech are often included to convey the
views of relevant experts or interviewees
▪ Voice: More colloquial and indicative of personality rather than other
types of response, but still professional

Some suggestions:
▪ Include a catchy title
▪ Write a dramatic opening (hook)
▪ Use sub-headings
▪ Personal/anecdotal style
▪ Repetition to keep the reader engaged
▪ Humor and idioms
▪ Rhetorical questions
▪ Varied sentence structures
 SECTION B:
COMPOSITION:

Types of writings:
● Narrative
● Descriptive
 1. Narrative Writing

1 Setting
Describe the location, surroundings, atmosphere, time of day, season,
weather.

2 Characters
Introduce up to three characters by describing their appearance and
behavior. Make their relationships with
one another clear.

3 Problem
Create a situation requiring decision or action. Build up conflict, perhaps
using dialogue and disagreement
between characters.

4 Climax
Narrate an event or series of events leading to a crisis. Time pressure may
be a factor in causing suspense and
tension.

5 Resolution
Describe the outcome, which may involve an ironic twist or comment.
Tips

● Carefully shape your narratives.

● Carefully plan your characters and plot line, especially the climax
● Make use of settings that are familiar to you.
● Use the setting to build tension.
● Skilfully handle plot revelations.
● Don’t forget to reveal plot details.
● Don’t forget a climax
● Don’t include too many events.
● Don’t include unconnected and far-fetched details
● Don’t use too much dialogue.
● Use lively and varied vocabulary.
● Use a variety of sentence structures to create effects.
● Stay in either the past or present tense.
● Be careful with punctuation. Use capital letters correctly.
● Avoid common spelling errors.
Example Response
 2. Descriptive Writing
1 Setting
Descriptive compositions need some kind of framework to give them a
shape and logical progression to involve the reader. If you are describing a
place, it is appropriate to set the general scene: location, surroundings,
atmosphere, season, weather, time of day. Either time (a short period only)
or distance can be used as the structure for a descriptive composition.

2 Positioning
The observer takes up a position with regard to the object or place being
described, e.g. they are standing outside a room or walking towards a
market. This arouses interest in what will be revealed on closer
inspection, e.g. when the gate into the secret garden or the chest in the
attic is opened. Visual images are used in this section to draw the reader
in. If time is the framework, then this must be established,
e.g. daylight is beginning to fade at dusk or storm clouds are gathering.

3 Approaching
The observer moves towards the object or place being described, which
gives the description logical progression. New details can be revealed
because of the closer proximity, e.g. as the view of the beach
becomes clearer. At this stage the sense of smell can be added to sight
and sound. Alternatively, time has moved on, e.g. darkness is creeping into
the sky and changing the landscape.

4 Arriving
The observer is now part of the scene, e.g. in the heart of the street
market, paddling in the sea, or in contact with the object in the chest.
Close-up details of sight and sound can be used here, as well as the
sense of touch, and taste can also be implied, e.g. food smells, the salty
water. Alternatively, time has moved on, e.g. it is now night and the new sky
and atmosphere can be described, or the storm reaches its climax.

5 Leaving
The observer leaves the scene or the object, with or without a backward
glance. The initial scene may be restored at the end of the description, or
alternatively it may be going home time for the people on the beach or at
the market, so that the final scene is the opposite of the opening one.
Reference to either time or distance can be used as closure.
Example Response