Newspaper (recount) / Headline / Catches reader’s attention. / Often has alliteration, might not be in full sentences, short words.
Newspaper (recount) / Fact / Tells the reader something that’s happened. / A description of something that’s actually happened.
Newspaper (recount) / Opinion / Says what the writer’s thinking. Often to persuade the reader to the same opinion. / Might not be true but it’s what someone thinks. Could be reasonable; could be sensational.
Newspaper (recount) / Quotation / To report precisely what someone’s said about a subject. / Inverted commas. Usually short. Name, age and job title of person speaking. Usually someone who knows something about the subject.
Newspaper (recount) / Photo / So the reader can have a visual picture of the news story. Also grabs the attention like a headline. / Picture of the event or a striking image that illustrates the event or news story.
Newspaper (recount) / Caption / To explain the non-text element of the news story. To give additional information. / Sometimes in bold or a different font. Next to the non-text element (eg, a photo).
Newspaper (recount) / First sentence/first paragraph / To summarise the news story quickly so the reader knows whether they want to read more. Or to provoke the reader’s interest. / Usually a short sentence or paragraph with the basic or most interesting information about the whole news story.
Explanation (Non-chronological report) / Title / To introduce the subject clearly or to interest the reader in the subject. / Sometimes a short, straightforward description of the subject. Sometimes a puzzling, exciting statement or a question designed to provoke.
Explanation (Non-chronological report) / First sentence/first paragraph / To summarise the topic quickly so the reader knows whether they want to read more. Or to provoke the reader’s interest. / Usually a short sentence or paragraph with the basic or most interesting information about the whole subject.
Explanation (Non-chronological report) / Facts / To educate the reader & give information; to sound authoritative (the writer knows what s/he’s talking about). / True statements. Often with numbers, names & technical vocabulary.
Explanation (Non-chronological report) / Graphs & charts / To give numerical & factual information in a visual way. To prove a point made in the text. / A type of graph: line graph, bar chart, pie chart, etc. Or a table or photo/drawing with added data. Some visual representation of data.
Explanation (Non-chronological report) / Diagram / To explain a process or a difficult technical idea. To illustrate a point made in the text visually. / A clear, simple drawing that explains an idea in the text in a more visual way. Often has arrows, call-out text, captions, etc to help explain the drawings.
Explanation (Non-chronological report) / Summary paragraph / To draw together the ideas in the other paragraphs of the report. To enthuse the reader about the subject – to say it’s fab! To direct the reader to further sources – eg a website or organisation. / The final part of a report. Often speaks directly to the reader. Brings together the main ideas of the previous paragraphs in a concise (brief) way. Might include exciting language, exclamations hyperlinks.
Instructions / Title / To introduce the subject clearly or to interest the reader in the task. / Sometimes a short, straightforward description of the subject. Sometimes a puzzling, exciting statement or a question designed to provoke.
Instructions / First sentence/first paragraph / To explain what’s going to be done; maybe a description of the final result. / A short sentence/paragraph with a summary of what’s to come.
Instructions / Sequenced points / To explain the order a process happens. What to do first, next, next, etc. / Numbered or otherwise organised paragraphs or sentences/statements. In the order a process/task will happen
Instructions / Diagram / To explain a process or a difficult technical idea. To illustrate a point made in the text visually. / A clear, simple drawing that explains the process/task in a more visual way. Often has arrows, call-out text, captions, etc to help explain the drawings.
Instructions / Summary paragraph / To draw together the ideas in the other paragraphs of the report. To enthuse the reader about the subject – to say it’s fab! To direct the reader to further sources – eg a website or organisation. / The final part of a report. Often speaks directly to the reader. Brings together the main ideas of the previous paragraphs in a concise (brief) way. Might include exciting language, exclamations and hyperlinks.
Instructions / List / To bring together all the things the reader will need to complete the task/process. / Bullet points or in a table. Collection of items clearly stated in an organised way.
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Bias/viewpoint / To persuade the reader towards a single point of view and away from alternative points of view. / A single point of view that ignores other points of view. Often includes facts, emotional language, rhetorical questions (no answer expected) or commands.
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Opening statement(s) / To let the reader know what the points of view are in shot. / Short paragraph/sentence that introduces the subject. Often has a clear and strong point of view. Might be balanced – ‘some think that… however others…’.
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Evidence / Backs up the opinions and makes them more believable. Makes the reader think that the opinion is a good one because it’s based on reality. / Often facts or data. Could be presented in a table or diagram. Could be the thoughts of someone knowledgeable on the subject (an authority).
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Opinion / To provoke or persuade the reader. To get them to change their mind or agree with the writer’s point of view. / Often emotional language. Makes the text sound like it’s obviously the right thing to think. Rhetorical questions (no answers expected). Speaking directly to the reader. Often mixed with evidence/facts.
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Humour / To get the reader onside and be more ready to agree with the point the writer’s trying to make / Funny. Often with exclamation mark. Not too much of this otherwise the point won’t be taken seriously.
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Summary / Brings together the key points of the previous paragraphs & restates the main point of the point of view. Reminds the reader of what’s been said: tell ‘em what you told ‘em. / Collection of ideas brought together in a concise (brief) way. Often includes humour, rhetorical questions (no answer expected) and emotional language. You’d have to be a fool not to agree!
Persuasive (Discussion/
argument) / Plain English / So that even an idiot can understand. To make it seem the writer is talking common sense. / Easy to understand vocabulary (hard or technical vocabulary explained). Uncomplicated sentence structure. Clearly organised paragraphs.
Suggestions for use:
Find example texts & place on A2/A3 paper. Give students envelopes with cut-out boxes & they’ve to find an example of the element & put the purpose & description alongside. Could do activity with all three parts (element, purpose & description), just focus on one part, or join together two boxes to scaffold task (eg, give element & description boxes together & students match purpose).
Could also use for writing as prompts or success criteria.
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