Questions 8 and 9: Transactional Writing Flashcards
All 22 cards in this deck
What do form, audience and purpose mean in a Paper 2 Question 8 or 9 task?
Form: the type of text. Audience: who will read or hear it. Purpose: what it must do (inform, explain, advise, argue, persuade). The task gives all three.
What are the main conventions of a written article?
A headline, an optional standfirst, perhaps one or two subheadings, then developed paragraphs. No columns or pictures.
What is a standfirst?
A sentence or two below the headline that sums up the article's angle.
What layout features show you are writing a formal letter?
Your address and the date, a salutation ("Dear…"), paragraphs, and a sign-off with your name.
When do you sign off a letter "Yours faithfully" and when "Yours sincerely"?
Yours faithfully after Dear Sir or Madam (name unknown); Yours sincerely after a name (Dear Mrs Hale).
What are the main features of a speech?
A greeting, direct address, signposting, rhetorical devices for the ear, a memorable ending, often thanks at the close.
What do inclusive pronouns (we, us, our) do in a speech?
They make speaker and audience a team with a shared problem.
What is a review?
A piece judging how good something is (a film, restaurant, product), mixing brief description with a clear opinion and a verdict.
What is a guide, and what features does it use?
A text that informs or advises: a clear title, sections with subheadings, second person ("you") and imperatives ("Start with…").
What features suit the text of a leaflet?
A clear title, short sections with subheadings, perhaps a few bullet points, and a closing next step. Text only; no pictures.
What does a rhetorical question do in persuasive writing?
It implies the answer is obvious, so the reader feels they've agreed with you.
What is the rule of three, and what does it do?
Grouping ideas in threes ("cheaper, cleaner, safer"), so the point feels complete and memorable.
What is hyperbole?
Deliberate exaggeration, used to emphasise a point or add humour.
What is antithesis?
Setting opposites side by side ("This is not a cost; it is an investment") to sharpen the choice.
What is a counter-argument?
A fair statement of the opposing view.
What is a rebuttal?
Your response to the counter-argument, explaining why it is wrong or weaker.
What is a concession?
Admitting part of the other side is true ("Admittedly, cars are convenient…") before going on.
What is the difference between writing to inform, to explain and to advise?
Inform: give facts. Explain: help the reader understand how or why. Advise: help them decide what to do, with practical suggestions.
What language suits writing to advise?
Second person (you), imperatives (Try…), modal verbs for options (you could, it's worth), and reassurance.
What does a section for a guide mean?
One part of a larger guide, with its own heading, a short introduction, then organised information and advice.
What is a section for a textbook?
One part of a book that teaches a topic: a clear heading, an introduction, subheadings, and facts explained step by step in an impersonal, formal register.
What is a section for a booklet?
One part of a short printed guide on a single topic for a named audience: a heading, short sections with subheadings, and an informative or advisory tone.