Year 6 English Writing for purpose: narrative, non-fiction, persuasive and discursive: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Name the reader and the aim.

1. Reader. The manager can act on the complaint.
   the manager
2. Aim. To ask for a refund or a fix.
   a refund
3. Write the answer.
   The shop manager, to ask for a refund or a fix.

Check. The audience and purpose are named. ✓

Method. Compare the two words, and decide which gives the stronger picture or feeling.

1. Compare the words. The two sentences differ in one word choice.
   The dog barked. / The dog snarled.
2. Explain the effect. snarled is fiercer
   The dog snarled.
3. Write the answer.
   The dog snarled.

Check. The word choice changes the effect. ✓

Watch out. Choose the word whose meaning suits the picture the writer wants to create.

Method. Think about the exact meaning.

1. Compare. Big is general; grand is precise.
   precise
2. Choose. Grand is the more precise word.
   grand
3. Write the answer.
   grand

Check. Grand is more precise. ✓

Method. Look for the detail that creates mood.

1. Find the mood. A muffled sound creates a quiet atmosphere.
   muffled
2. Choose the detail. The fog muffled every sound.
   the fog muffled every sound
3. Write the answer.
   the fog muffled every sound

Check. The detail creates a mood. ✓

Method. Keep the key points, and write them in fewer words, in your own words.

1. Find the key points. Each key point is one idea from the passage.
   key points
2. Write the summary. The summary has at most 25 words.
   The mill was built to grind corn in the eighteenth century, turned for a century, closed in 1950, and was restored by volunteers.
3. Write the answer.
   The mill was built to grind corn in the eighteenth century, turned for a century, closed in 1950, and was restored by volunteers.

Check. The précis keeps the key points in 25 words or fewer. ✓

Watch out. A précis leaves out examples and repeated words. It keeps the main points only.

Method. Decide which point is a key point.

1. Compare. The red door is a small detail, not a key point.
   small detail
2. Choose. The red door can be left out.
   the mill had a red door
3. Write the answer.
   the mill had a red door

Check. The small detail is left out. ✓

Method. Think about the purpose.

1. Think about the argument. It explores both sides.
   both sides
2. Name the type. The type is discursive.
   discursive
3. Write the answer.
   discursive

Check. discursive is the term. ✓

Method. Write a question that makes the reader agree.

1. Choose the idea. Litter is the idea.
   litter
2. Write the question. The question makes the reader think.
   Who wants
3. Write the answer.
   Who wants to walk past rubbish every day?

Check. The question makes the reader think. ✓

Method. Look for the most detail.

1. Compare. The second gives place, weather and time.
   place, weather, time
2. Choose. The second has the most detail.
   a harbour town in thick fog, before dawn
3. Write the answer.
   a harbour town in thick fog, before dawn

Check. The second has the most detail. ✓

Method. Think about what dialogue shows.

1. Think about the event. Dialogue can show what happens.
   what happens
2. Think about the story. It moves the action on.
   moves on
3. Write the answer.
   Dialogue shows what happens and what the characters want, so the action moves on.

Check. Dialogue moves the action. ✓

Method. Think about who can act on the request.

1. Find the reader. The head teacher can change the lunch break.
   the head teacher
2. Write the answer.
   the head teacher

Check. The head teacher can act on the request. ✓

Method. Compare the two verbs.

1. Compare. Snarled is a fiercer verb.
   fiercer
2. Choose. Snarled gives the stronger picture.
   snarled
3. Write the answer.
   snarled

Check. Snarled is fiercer. ✓

Method. Write words that make the characters act.

1. Choose the action. The doors are closing, so the characters must act.
   must act
2. Write the line. The shout makes the action move on.
   The doors are closing!
3. Write the answer.
   "The doors are closing!" shouted Mum.

Check. The dialogue moves the action on. ✓

Method. Keep the key points, and cut the rest.

1. Find the key points. The mill, the date and the purpose are key.
   mill, date, purpose
2. Write the précis. The mill was built in the eighteenth century to grind corn.
   built in the eighteenth century
3. Write the answer.
   The mill was built in the eighteenth century to grind corn.

Check. The précis keeps the key points. ✓

Method. Think about the purpose of explaining facts.

1. Find the purpose. The purpose is to explain facts.
   explain facts
2. Choose the form. A report suits factual writing.
   a report
3. Write the answer.
   a report

Check. A report suits factual writing. ✓

Method. Use the phrase, then give one side fairly.

1. Use the phrase. On the one hand begins the first side.
   On the one hand
2. Give the reason. Homework helps pupils to practise.
   practise what they have learned
3. Write the answer.
   On the one hand, homework helps pupils to practise what they have learned.

Check. One side is given fairly. ✓

Method. Name a feature, and say what it does.

1. Name the feature. Opinions and a rhetorical question.
   opinions
2. Say the effect. It tries to change the reader's mind.
   change the mind
3. Write the answer.
   It uses opinions and a rhetorical question to try to change the reader's mind.

Check. The feature and its effect are named. ✓

Method. Look for the detail that creates a mood.

1. Find the mood. A muffled sound creates a quiet atmosphere.
   muffled
2. Choose the detail. The fog muffled every sound.
   the fog muffled every sound
3. Write the answer.
   the fog muffled every sound

Check. The detail creates a mood. ✓

Method. Plan the form first, then write the four lines.

1. Plan the form. A repeated line gives the poem a clear shape.
   repeated line
2. Write the lines. Four lines, with the planned form.
   four lines
3. Write the answer.
   Four lines about a harbour, with a repeated line at the end.

Check. The poem has a planned form. ✓

Method. Think about what each part decides.

1. Think about the audience. The audience decides the tone.
   tone
2. Think about the purpose. The purpose decides the content and form.
   content and form
3. Write the answer.
   The audience and purpose decide the tone, content and form.

Check. The plan guides the choices. ✓