Writing

Surat rasmi dan laporan mempunyai format tersendiri yang perlu diikuti dalam penulisan berformat.

• Surat rasmi bermula dengan salam formal seperti "Dear Sir/Madam," (jika nama penerima tidak diketahui), diikuti perenggan pengenalan tujuan surat, isi kandungan, dan penutup formal seperti "Yours faithfully,".
• Laporan ditulis dalam bentuk ayat pasif dan formal, biasanya mempunyai tajuk, pengenalan (siapa/bila/di mana), isi (dapatan/pemerhatian), dan cadangan/kesimpulan.

Sebuah esei yang baik mempunyai tiga bahagian utama.

• Perenggan pengenalan — memperkenalkan topik dan menyatakan pendirian/tesis secara ringkas.
• Perenggan isi — setiap perenggan membincangkan satu idea utama dengan huraian dan contoh.
• Perenggan kesimpulan — merumuskan hujah utama dan memberi penutup yang jelas, tanpa memperkenalkan idea baru.

An article is a piece of writing for a magazine, school newsletter or website that informs or persuades a general audience through a catchy title, an engaging opening and well-organised paragraphs.

• Title — short and interesting, for example Five Ways to Beat Exam Stress.
• Hook — open with a question, a short scenario or a bold statement to catch the reader: Have you ever stayed up all night revising and still forgotten everything?
• Tone — friendly but correct; you may address the reader as you. Avoid slang and text-message spelling.
• Paragraphs — one main idea per paragraph, with a clear topic sentence and an example.
• Ending — finish with a call to action or a memorable final thought.

A review describes and evaluates something such as a book, film, place or product. Include what it is, what is good, what could be better and a clear recommendation (I would recommend this café to students who want a quiet place to study).

An informal email to a friend uses a greeting such as Hi Aina,, contractions (I'm, can't), a friendly opening line and a closing such as Best wishes, or Take care,. Answer every point your friend asks about.

Always check which text type the question asks for, who the reader is and why you are writing, because these decide your format and tone.

Avoid these mistakes that cost marks in the writing paper:

• Missing content points — if the task gives notes or questions, cover every one of them. Tick each point off as you write.
• Wrong register — do not use Yours faithfully in an email to a friend, or slang in a formal letter. Use Yours faithfully after Dear Sir/Madam and Yours sincerely after a named person.
• Memorised essays — a prepared answer that does not match the task scores poorly even if the language is good.
• Weak linking — vary your connectors (however, as a result, for instance, on the other hand) instead of repeating and and so.

Spend a few minutes planning and a few minutes checking tenses, subject-verb agreement and spelling.