Year 3 English Writing non-fiction: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Look at what the sentence does.

1. Look at the sentence. It gives a fact that the reader can learn.
   a fact
2. Name the purpose. Giving facts is the purpose to inform.
   to inform
3. Write the answer.
   to inform

Check. The sentence gives a fact. ✓

Method. A sub-heading names the topic of the paragraph.

1. Find the topic. The paragraph is about where frogs live.
   where frogs live
2. Write the sub-heading. Keep it short and name the topic.
   Where frogs live
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any short sub-heading about where frogs live, for example: Where frogs live.

Check. The sub-heading names the topic. ✓

Method. Change the verb to the present tense.

1. Find the verb. Warmed is the past tense of warm.
   warmed
2. Change it. The present tense of warm, for the sun, is warms.
   warms
3. Write the answer.
   The sun warms the soil.

Check. The fact is in the present tense. ✓

Method. The imperative verb is the first word of a step.

1. Find the first word. The instruction starts with Fold.
   Fold
2. Check it is a command. Fold tells the reader to do something.
   a command
3. Write the answer.
   Fold

Check. Fold starts the first step. ✓

Method. Think about which sign-off is polite.

1. Look at each one. See you soon! is friendly; Yours sincerely is polite.
   friendly; polite
2. Choose the formal one. Yours sincerely is the formal sign-off.
   Yours sincerely
3. Write the answer.
   Yours sincerely

Check. Yours sincerely is formal. ✓

Method. Look at why the letter is written.

1. Find the request. The letter asks for something.
   asks for something
2. Name the purpose. The purpose is to ask for a school garden.
   to ask for a school garden
3. Write the answer.
   to ask for a school garden

Check. The letter asks for something. ✓

Watch out. Accept any: to ask, or to request a school garden.

Method. Think about which word shows what ought to happen.

1. Look at each word. Might shows a possibility; should shows what ought to happen.
   possibility; ought
2. Choose the word. Should fits a persuasive writer who wants the reader to act.
   should
3. Write the answer.
   should

Check. Should shows what ought to happen. ✓

Method. Check the spelling against the usual pattern.

1. Look at each one. Beleive has the letters i and e in the wrong order.
   the letters i and e
2. Choose the correct spelling. The correct spelling is believe, with e before i.
   believe
3. Write the answer.
   believe

Check. Believe has e before i. ✓

Method. Think about which one is more polite.

1. Look at each one. Can you is a plain question; Could you please is more polite.
   more polite
2. Choose the formal one. Could you please come to my party? is the more formal sentence.
   Could you please
3. Write the answer.
   Could you please come to my party?

Check. Could you please is more polite. ✓

Method. Think about how a list is printed.

1. Think about the shape. A list is often marked with a small dot or dash.
   dot or dash
2. Think about the content. Each bullet point is short, with one thing in each point.
   one thing
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any: a short point in a list, often marked with a dot or a dash.

Check. A bullet point is a short list item. ✓

Method. Look at what the text asks the reader to do.

1. Look at the command. Wash is a command, so the text tells the reader what to do.
   Wash
2. Name the purpose. Telling the reader what to do is the purpose to instruct.
   to instruct
3. Write the answer.
   to instruct

Check. The text is a command. ✓

Method. The imperative verb is the first word of the instruction.

1. Find the first word. The instruction starts with Wash.
   Wash
2. Check it is a command. Wash tells the reader to do something.
   a command
3. Write the answer.
   Wash

Check. Wash is the command. ✓

Method. A heading names the main topic of the text.

1. Look at each choice. Dinner time is not about flowers.
   not about flowers
2. Choose the heading. Flowers names the topic of the text.
   Flowers
3. Write the answer.
   Flowers

Check. Flowers names the topic. ✓

Method. Remove the words that name the reader, and start with the verb.

1. Remove the words. You need to is not needed in an instruction.
   You need to
2. Start with the verb. Water is the imperative verb.
   Water the plant once a week.
3. Write the answer.
   Water the plant once a week.

Check. The instruction starts with the command Water. ✓

Method. Think about the words and the tone of formal writing.

1. Think about the words. Formal writing uses full words, such as cannot and do not.
   cannot; do not
2. Think about the request and the sign-off. It uses polite requests and a formal sign-off.
   Could we; Yours sincerely
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any two, for example: no contractions; polite requests such as Could we ...?; full words; a sign-off such as Yours sincerely.

Check. Any two features of formal writing. ✓

Method. Think about what must happen first when making the mixture.

1. Find the first step. The eggs go in first, before the milk.
   Break the eggs into the bowl
2. Find the last step. Stirring the mixture is the last step.
   Stir the mixture
3. Write the answer.
   Break the eggs into the bowl. Pour the milk into the bowl. Stir the mixture.

Check. Eggs, then milk, then stirring. ✓

Method. Use a contraction and a friendly tone.

1. Shorten the verb. I am writing can be written as I'm writing.
   I'm writing
2. Keep it friendly. An informal version is friendly and short.
   I'm writing to tell you about the party.
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any informal version, for example: I'm writing to tell you about the party.

Check. A contraction makes it informal. ✓

Method. A formal letter to someone whose name you know uses a formal sign-off.

1. Look at A. Love from is warm and informal.
   warm and informal
2. Look at B. Yours sincerely is formal, so it is correct.
   Yours sincerely
3. Write the answer.
   B: Yours sincerely

Check. Yours sincerely is the formal choice. ✓

Method. Write each thing needed as a short item.

1. Choose three things. The seed, the soil and a watering can are all needed.
   seed; soil; watering can
2. Write them as short items. Each item is short, so the list is easy to read.
   short items
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any three items, for example: a bean seed; a pot of soil; a watering can.

Check. Three short items, one for each thing. ✓

Method. Check the first letter and the verb.

1. Change the first letter. Every sentence starts with a capital letter, so W is needed.
   W
2. Change the verb. An instruction uses the command form, Water, not waters.
   Water
3. Write the sentence. Put the two changes together.
   Water it every day.
4. Write the answer.
   Water it every day. Accept any answer that says the capital letter was added at the start, and waters was changed to Water, because an instruction uses the command form.

Check. The sentence is now a correct instruction. ✓