In your copy, write down each of the following questions with brief answers before you begin writing your article. It may seem a little time-consuming now, but you are training yourself to think a certain way and you will reap the rewards when you come to write your Comprehension Question B answer in the exam.
1. What type of article is this? 2. Have I checked exactly what the content is and how many things I must discuss?
3. If this is a feature article, do I know where I stand on the issue? (Decide this in advance so you do not contradict yourself!)
4. Do I have anecdotes, quotes or examples to support my points?
5. Have I decided which elements of the language of information and/or the language of persuasion I will use?
6. Who will be reading my article? 7. How formal or informal should my language be?
8. Do I want my readers to do anything as a result of reading my article? If so, have I included a call to action at the end?
Examination questions Use the following examples from past papers to practise.
2016: Write an article, to appear either in your school magazine or on your school’s website, in which you offer advice to your fellow students on fi nding a part-time job for the summer holidays. Your advice should include tips about where to work, how to make a successful application and how to prepare for an interview.
2014: The characters in Text 3 are interesting for a variety of reasons. Write an article for your school magazine about two interesting people you would like to meet and explain why you would like to meet them.
2007: Write a feature article for a daily newspaper entitled ‘Staying Fit and Healthy’.
2006: Imagine you are a newspaper reporter on the island with Phyl and Mike. Based on some of the events in the extract, write a newspaper report.
