This document provides guidance on writing non-fiction pieces for exams, including tips for openings, punctuation rules, and past exam questions. It offers 10 strategies for grabbing the reader's attention in openings, such as using imagery, dialogue, or unusual scenarios. Common punctuation marks and their purposes are defined. Finally, a variety of past exam questions are presented in different categories like inform, explain, describe, argue, and persuade.

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Section B
Non Fiction Writing
24 Marks
40 minutes
5 minutes planning
30 minutes writing
5 minutes checking

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3 golden rules
for successful
writing

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Writing top tips:
The opening
Aim = set the tone and grab the reader by the throat. Scream out = I am confident and in
control here.
How?
a. Start by using Imagine (or Picture if it is easier for you)
E.G. When answering the question ‘Write a letter to a friend describing your favourite
holiday destination’ you start by writing:
Imagine the happiness you felt at Christmas when you were young. Combine that with the
excitement you experienced when learning to ride a bike unaided and then place these
feelings into the most beautiful scenery you can picture. This is what a holiday to Thailand
is like.
b. Use 3,2,1 or 1,2,3 (particularly for describe questions)
E.G. When answering the question ‘Write an extract for a leaflet in which you describe
your school’ you start by writing:
The bell rings. Lunch time. Battle. OR School. Our school. The battle ground.
c. Start with dialogue
E.G. When answering the question ‘Write a speech for your local MP to use to persuade
fellow MP’s that more money needs to be made available for foreign aid’ you start by
writing:
“We are all equal. It is just that some of us are more equal than others.” And that’s exactly
the problem.
Currently, as the local MP for Witney, Tom Smith, said last Friday there is a difference in
the value of a human life depending on where in the world you are born.
d. Describe a place or idea without saying it (like a riddle)
When answering the question ‘Write an article for a magazine read by parents in which
you argue the case for the abolition of homework’ you start by writing:
Sweat pours from his head as he tries to recall what his teacher said; what they wanted to
hear. Time ticks on. Doodled figures in various stages of tortured pain form a small army

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at the side of his pages. A few more minutes pass. Inside his head he imagines scenarios
preferable to this one: death by blunt pencil or rabid hamster. It is useless. For him the
sentence has been passed: death by homework.
You could have saved him from this savage end…
e. Do something unusual or ironic with a dull task.
When answering the question ‘Describe a place that his special to you’ start by writing
that:
• My favourite place is the library
• I like Slough (ironic)
• The beach is special for me—for a tragic reason
Write as if you were another person – don’t get pulled into a teenage rant.
f.Exaggerate and use humour - where appropriate. Rhetorical question and triadic
structures (list of three) can help here. E.G. When answering the question ‘Write the
script for a radio programme in which you argue for the person you think should be
named Sportsperson of the Year.’ You start with:
A hero amongst us mortal men. Whilst we have been eating, gossiping and sleeping, this
superhuman has been preparing for victory. Victory that was always going to be theirs.
It wasn’t close. And it wasn’t by chance.
Mo Farah the legend must surely win Sports-person, no, Sports-star of the Year. Surely?
g. Use an extended metaphor or simile to capture the feeling
E.G. When answering the question ‘Write the script for a radio programme in which you
argue for the person you think should be named Sportsperson of the Year.’ You start
with:
Like a lion released from captivity, I found myself roaring at the television screen at
7.30pm on the 4th August. As Farah reached the final 800m I padded up and down, up and
down, watching intently. Missing nothing.
h. Use repetition to build layers of meaning (like Dickens does)
E.G. When answering the question ‘Describe a place that is special to you’ you choose
something unusual (see suggestion e) and then start with:

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Picture a blue sea: not the deep blue of your eyes, but the blue of the sky on a sunny day.
Picture the shore that it laps against; the little waves moving to and fro on the warm sand.
Picture the people walking on the beach, hand in hand. They laugh to each other. Then
picture the swift death that comes towards them.
i. Start with an adjective and jump right into the heart of the piece.
E.G. When answering the question ‘Describe a place that is special to you’ you start with:
Amber flecks surround the last thumbnail of light before she disappears.
This moment and this place are mine. It has always been that way.
The first time I every found that place was …
j. Start with a very short sentence or paragraph – even a question which you then
answer (although this often works well in the middle of your piece to break it up and
change the tone or pace a little. Hint – repeat a word form the question in the answer.
E.G. When answering the question ‘Write a letter to your MP in which you argue for or
against animal testing’ you start with:
If a guinea pig could test on you to prevent pain and suffering in its own breed, would it?
Of course,
It wouldn’t hesitate.

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PUNCTUATION
Used to introduce a list of items COLON
Used to separate individual clauses,
phrases or items in a list
COMMA
Used to indicate an abrupt expression
of emotion, surprise or excitement
EXCLAMATION MARK
Used to show the omission (missing
out) of a letter or letters in a word e.g.
don’t
APOSTROPHE
Used to include extra information
within a sentence
Extend – in informal writing?
- in formal writing?
BRACKETS, PAIRED DASHES (least
formal) or PAIRED COMMAS (most
formal)
Used to enclose a quotation or a
passage of direct speech
SPEECH MARKS
Used to join together two closely
related complete sentences
SEMI COLON
Used to show a request or enquiry QUESTION MARK
Used in the same way as a comma in
informal writing
DASH
Used to leave a sentence unfinished,
perhaps to create a cliff-hanger
ELLIPSIS
Used to sum up or conclude a
sentence
COLON
Used at the end of every sentence
(unless there’s a question mark or
exclamation mark)
FULL STOP

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PAST EXAM QUESTIONS

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Nov 2013
Jun 2013

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Jan 2013
Nov 2012

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June 2012
Jan 2012

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June 2011

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Generic Mark Scheme

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INFORM
1. Write a letter to a friend who has recently moved away from your area,
informing them of recent events in your life and the plans for the next few
months.
2. People often enjoy reading about the interests and hobbies of others.
Choose something you are interested in and know a lot about. Write about
this in a way that will inform other people.
3. People of the future may well wonder what life was like at the early
years of the new millennium. Write an informative article for teenagers to
read in a hundred years’ time. The subject of your article is ‘The Life of a
Teenager in 2012’.
4. Write an informative article for teachers about the importance of
fashion and appearance to today’s teenagers.
5. Your Head teacher has asked year 11 students to write an article for the
school magazine aimed at new year 7 students and their parents. Write an
article which informs them of the things you think they need to know
about your school.
6. Many people are fascinated by animals. Write an article for a wildlife
magazine in which you inform readers about the reason for this fascination
and inform them about your own feelings on the subject.
7. Write an article for a school or college website in which you inform
other students about a recent school or college event.
8. Write a letter to a teachers’ magazine in which you inform teachers
about what life is really like for people of your age.
9. Write a letter for the governors of your school informing them of the
changes you would like to be made in your school and the reasons for
these changes.
10. Write a letter to a friend who has moved away from your area a few
months ago. Inform them of the things that have been happening to you
over the last few months.
11. Write the text for an information leaflet on an area you know well. You
could include information on places to visit and things to do there.

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EXPLAIN
1. Many families have their own particular traditions. There may be to do
with how they celebrate holidays, religious festivals or special times of the
year. Write about your family traditions and explain their importance to
you.
2. Choose an event from your past that has particular significance to you.
Explain what happened and your feelings about it.
3. Decisions can be difficult to make. Think about a time then you have had
to make a difficult decision. Explain what the decision was and what
happened as a result of it.
4. There are many pressures on young people today. Explain what you
think are the main pressures and how they affect your life and the lives of
people you know.
5. Friends often play an important part in our lives. Explain the part friends
play in your life and explain how important they are to you.
6. Choose someone of something about which your views have changed as
you have got older. Explain what you used to think and feel, what you now
think and feel and explain how or why this change occurred.
7. Choose a time when you have been very happy or very unhappy. Explain
why you felt that way.
8. Given a choice, who or what would you most like to be? Explain the
reasons for your choice.
9. Explain your hopes and ambitions for the future. Explain also how you
could achieve them.
10. Explain what you think is needed to build a good relationship between
parents and teenage children and explain why you think this is.
11. Write a letter applying for a part-time job of your choice. Explain why
you would like the job and why you are the right person for the role.

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DESCRIBE
1. Write a letter to a friend describing your favourite holiday destination.
2. Write an article for a local newspaper in which you describe a hobby or
interest.
3. Write an extract for a leaflet in which you describe your school.
4. Write an e-mail to a friend describing a positive or negative experience.
5. Write an article for a magazine in which you describe a person who is an
inspiration to you.
6. Write a diary entry in which you describe an important moment in your
life.

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ARGUE
1. Write an article for a magazine read by parents in which you argue the
case for the abolition of homework.
2. Write an article for a teenage magazine in which you argue the case for
more money to be given to the homeless.
3. ‘Children should never have televisions in their bedroom. They should
have restrictions on what they can watch and how long they can watch.’
Write an article for a magazine aimed at parents in which you argue for or
against this view.
4. Write a letter to your MP in which you argue for or against animal
testing.
4.

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5. ‘More needs to be done in school to improve the health and fitness of pupils.’ Argue for or
against this view.
6. How useful to you think it is to know about the past? Write an article for a newspaper in which
you argue your case. Remember to:
7. Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you argue for more money being spent on
up-to-date equipment in schools. Remember to:
8. Write the script for a radio programme in which you argue for the person you think should be
named Sportsperson of the Year.
PERSUADE
1. Write a letter to your head teacher persuading him or her to improve the facilities for year 11 at
your school.
2. Write a leaflet to persuade parents to bring their children to a tourist attraction in your area.
3. A friend has written you a letter saying he or she is thinking of leaving home and asking for your
advice. Write a reply trying to persuade them not to leave home.
4. Write an article for a newsletter in which you try and persuade readers that no animals should
be kept in captivity.
5. Write a letter to your local newspaper in which you try and persuade readers that more bike-
friendly measures should be introduced in your area.
6. Write a speech for your local MP to use to persuade fellow MP’s that more money needs to be
made available for foreign aid.

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7. Write an article for a magazine in which you persuade readers to watch your favourite film or
television programme.
8. Write the text for a travel brochure for a run-down seaside resort, persuading holiday-makers to
return.