Year 4 English Writing non-fiction and editing: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Test each choice against the text or the situation.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the text or the situation needs.
2. Test the choice. A recipe tells the cook what to do, step by step.
   to instruct fits
3. Reject the other choices. A recipe is not mainly giving facts to learn, or an opinion for the reader to agree with.
   to inform and to persuade do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   to instruct

Check. The choice fits the text or the situation. ✓

Method. Choose a word that introduces the effect of the less chlorophyll.

1. Find the cause and the effect. The less chlorophyll is the cause; the fading green is the effect.
   the fading green
2. Choose the connective. As a result shows the effect.
   As a result
3. Write the answer.
   As a result.

Check. The connective shows the effect. ✓

Method. Test each choice against the text or the situation.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the text or the situation needs.
2. Test the choice. A sub-heading names one part of the text, such as staying safe.
   Staying safe fits
3. Reject the other choices. Tides on the coast is the title of the whole text, so it is the main heading.
   Tides on the coast do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   Staying safe

Check. The choice fits the text or the situation. ✓

Method. Remove the words You must and start with the command.

1. Remove the subject. An instruction does not name the reader.
   You must
2. Start with the verb. Close is the command word.
   Close the lid.
3. Write the answer.
   Close the lid.

Check. The instruction starts with Close. ✓

Method. Find the opening words, then put a comma after them.

1. Find the opening word or words. Next is a time connective at the start of the sentence.
   Next
2. Put a comma after them, before the main part of the sentence. The comma shows where the opening words end.
   Next, we fold the top corners in.
3. Write the answer.
   Next, we fold the top corners in.

Check. The comma comes after the opening words. ✓

Method. Think about the words that put steps in order.

1. Think about the order. A time connective shows when a step happens.
   when a step happens
2. Name one. After that shows that the step comes next.
   After that
3. Write the answer.
   After that.

Check. The connective shows the order of the steps. ✓

Method. Choose the pronoun that stands for a thing, the big wheel.

1. Find the repeated noun. The big wheel is a thing, and the phrase is repeated.
   The big wheel
2. Choose the pronoun. It stands for the big wheel and links the two sentences.
   It
3. Write the answer.
   It

Check. It matches the big wheel, and it removes the repetition. ✓

Method. Test each choice against the text or the situation.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the text or the situation needs.
2. Test the choice. It uses a polite request and full words, which suit a formal register.
   Could you please come to the meeting? fits
3. Reject the other choices. Hi, can you come? and See ya later! are informal and chatty.
   Hi, can you come? and See ya later! do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   Could you please come to the meeting?

Check. The choice fits the text or the situation. ✓

Method. Find the verb that does not agree with They.

1. Find the verb. Hunts is singular, but They is plural.
   hunts
2. Write the correct form. The plural form is hunt.
   hunt
3. Write the answer.
   hunts; hunt

Check. They hunt agrees with the plural pronoun. ✓

Method. Think about how a neat page looks to the reader.

1. Look at the letters. Letters should be even and a steady size.
   even letters; a steady size
2. Look at the joins. Joins help the writing flow, where they are easy.
   joins where easy
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any two features: even letters, a steady size, joins where they are easy, or even spaces between words.

Check. Neat handwriting is even and legible. ✓

Method. Think about the heading at the top of an information text.

1. Recall the part. The heading that names the whole text is the main heading.
   the whole text
2. Name it. At the top of the text, this part is called the main heading.
   main heading
3. Write the answer.
   main heading

Check. The main heading names the whole text. ✓

Method. Find the opening words, then put a comma after them.

1. Find the opening word or words. Finally tells the reader when, and it comes first.
   Finally
2. Put a comma after them, before the main part of the sentence. The comma shows where the opening words end.
   Finally, we packed the bags.
3. Write the answer.
   Finally, we packed the bags.

Check. The comma comes after the opening words. ✓

Method. Test each choice against the text or the situation.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the text or the situation needs.
2. Test the choice. Finally shows that the step comes last.
   finally fits
3. Reject the other choices. Then shows a step in the middle, and because gives a reason.
   then and because do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   finally

Check. The choice fits the text or the situation. ✓

Method. Remove the subject, and start each step with a time connective and a command.

1. Find the two actions. The actions are fold the paper in half, and open it out.
   fold; open
2. Start each step with a connective. First and Then show the order, and each step starts with a command.
   First, fold ... Then open ...
3. Write the answer.
   First, fold the paper in half. Then open it out again.

Check. Two steps, each with a connective and a command. ✓

Method. Name the topic of the paragraph in a few words.

1. Find the topic. The paragraph is about the rise and fall of the sea, and its cause.
   the rise and fall of the sea
2. Write a short sub-heading. The Moon's pull names the cause in three words.
   The Moon's pull
3. Write the answer.
   The Moon's pull

Check. The sub-heading names the topic in a few words. ✓

Method. Give the effect, then the cause after because.

1. Write the effect. Puddles dry up is the effect to explain.
   Puddles dry up
2. Add the cause after because. The sun warms the water, so it changes into vapour and goes into the air.
   because the sun warms the water
3. Write the answer.
   Puddles dry up on a sunny day because the sun warms the water.

Check. The cause follows because and explains the effect. ✓

Method. Ask the reader to do something, using a request.

1. Choose an action. Recycling is the action the reader can take.
   recycling
2. Write a request. Start with Please, and say what the reader should do.
   Please start recycling
3. Write the answer.
   Please start recycling your bottles and cans this week.

Check. The request asks the reader to act. ✓

Method. Use a polite request, with full words and no chatty phrases.

1. Change the greeting. A formal request to a teacher uses full words and a polite phrase.
   Would you be able to
2. Add a polite word. Please makes the request more polite.
   please
3. Write the answer.
   Would you be able to come to the park with us, please?

Check. The request is polite and uses full words. ✓

Method. Check the verb, the spelling and the apostrophe.

1. Check the verb. Mo and Ali is a plural subject, so the verb is were.
   were
2. Check the word. Bred is a different word, and the food in the shop is bread.
   bread
3. Check the apostrophe. Its means it is here, so it needs an apostrophe.
   It's
4. Write the answer.
   Mo and Ali were at the shop. They bought some bread. It's very cold outside, so they wore coats.

Check. The verb, the word and the apostrophe are all corrected. ✓

Method. Check the fact, then the verb form that agrees with They.

1. Check the fact. Penguins are birds, not fish.
   birds
2. Check the verb. They is plural, so the verb is live.
   live
3. Write the answer.
   Penguins are birds. They live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.

Check. The fact is accurate and the verb agrees. ✓