© Boardworks Ltd 20031 of 16

Conventions and Text Styles

This icon indicates that detailed teacher’s notes are available in the Notes Page.

For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

This icon indicates the slide contains activities created in Flash. These activities are not editable.

© Boardworks Ltd 20032 of 16

Conventions and text styles

English is a foundation skill – we use English in a variety of subjects and situations at school.

What different types of written English do you use at school?

Brainstorm some examples and note them in the box below.

writing a science report.

© Boardworks Ltd 20033 of 16

Activity

© Boardworks Ltd 20034 of 16

Conventions

© Boardworks Ltd 20035 of 16

You need to become familiar with the conventions of the different types of writing you are required to produce at school.

You need to make a variety of decisions. For example:

Specialized

vocabularyWhich tense to use

What must be included

What must not be included

Layout and

presentation

Conventions

© Boardworks Ltd 20036 of 16

Your work might be let down if you are unaware of some of the conventions associated with the type of writing you are asked to produce.

For example, you may be very concerned about the effects of pollution in the environment. Nevertheless, a science essay is not the place to express your anger.

A geography essay on overpopulation should not include the stories a relative told you about their experiences in New Delhi.

Conventions

© Boardworks Ltd 20037 of 16

What’s wrong with this science report?

Sheila Tarpey, 27, ground the off-white rock salt vigorously; the effort revealing her tanned, muscular forearms. She mixed it with some water which was as clear and pure as the mountain spring outside a Zen Buddhist’s hermitage. She stirred it absent-mindedly, thinking of her days as a croupier in a Las Vegas casino. She took a filter, folded it carefully and placed it in a funnel. As she heated it, beads of sweat formed gently on her forehead. It was a hot summer’s day. She was already anticipating a pint of cool lager once work was finished. She left the solution to evaporate like the dreams of youth.

Science report

© Boardworks Ltd 20038 of 16

This report does convey information. You can tell how to purify rock salts by reading it. However, you would think it very odd to read this in a science book. Your teacher would not be very impressed if you wrote up a science experiment in this style.

Why not?

Much of the writing is inappropriate. For example, science reports don’t use the name of the scientists, tell you their ages or comment on their physical features. The writing uses a simile (‘the water was as pure as…’), which is more suitable for creative writing. The scientist’s thoughts are irrelevant. The report does not use the passive voice.

Science report

© Boardworks Ltd 20039 of 16

You may be asked to write a front page report on something from a book you have read in English.

It is also highly likely you will be asked to do the same thing in other subjects, such as History and Religious Studies.

Newspaper writing

Writing a newspaper account of the murder of Duncan in Macbeth requires different choices than, say, writing an essay on how Shakespeare builds tension in the murder scene.

© Boardworks Ltd 200310 of 16

Likewise, writing a newspaper account of the ten plagues of Egypt is different to writing an essay describing the ten plagues.

Newspaper article

News stories try to sound sensational. You could use some of these expressions. Using all of them in one report would be too much.

Dramatic Drama Breakthrough

Desperate Crisis Kiss and tell

ShockHorror Hero

Tragic Tragedy Sensation

© Boardworks Ltd 200311 of 16

Writing a newspaper involves thinking about:

The headline

This needs to be short and snappy yet convey the key information. Only the keywords are included. Often alliteration and puns are employed.

Newspaper article

© Boardworks Ltd 200312 of 16

You will have to decide on the order in which you will present information and what can be included and what can’t.

For example, an essay on Macbeth murdering King Duncan can refer to the witches, his wife’s influence and his indecision earlier in the play. A newspaper report can’t because a journalist would have no way of knowing these things.

The essay could begin sometime before the actual murder but a newspaper account must try to include who, what, where, when and how in the opening paragraph or two.

Newspaper article

© Boardworks Ltd 200313 of 16

In History you might be asked to explain the causes of the World War II.

In Geography you might be asked to explain the consequences of overpopulation.

In Science you might be asked to explain the effects of pollution on an ecosystem.

Quite often you are required to explain the link between cause and effect in your schoolwork.

Cause and effect

© Boardworks Ltd 200314 of 16

Knowing the vocabulary of cause and effect can help your work, too.Here are some useful words and phrases to use in this type of work:

Cause and effect

consequentlyas a consequence ofthereforethis led toleading tothis resulted inthis producedthis createdgenerating.

© Boardworks Ltd 200315 of 16

Sometimes your writing will require you to list points. At times the list needs to be in order of importance.

When the list is in no particular order of importance you can use: First, Second, Third etc.

When the list is in order of importance, you can use:

Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, etc.

Other useful words in this type of writing are:

Next, Then, After that, Later, Finally, Last, Lastly.

Listing points

© Boardworks Ltd 200316 of 16

Activity