This book is a superb all-in-one guide to success GCSE English Language and English Literature - GCSE English 2003

Warm-up Questions and Short Tasks
Section One — Writing Essays

These warm-up questions should ease you gently in and make sure you've got the basics straight. If there's anything you've forgotten, go back through the section to check what you need to know. This section covers the essential skills you'll need for doing English answers well, so make sure you go through every single one of these warm-up questions.

Warm-up Questions

1) Re-write the following statements using formal English. (Note the writing style.)

a) Persuasive — Well, I reckon it's flipping obvious; only an idiot thinks school uniform is a good thing. For a start kids hate it so it just causes aggro.

b) Informative — Make sure your kids turn up with the proper kit: none of these scruffy jeans and trainers. Let the side down, they do.

c) Discursive — I can see both sides. On one hand uniform is dead expensive, but then, so is trendy gear.

2) Match each sentence with a style of writing from the box below. All statements are about fire.

a) 'I stumbled, terrified, fleeing the inferno behind...'

b) 'The third reason why smoke is more dangerous than the actual fire is...'

c) 'Steve Knight, 37, witnessed the blaze...'

d) 'The percentage damage caused by the smoke is greater than the damage caused by the fire which indicates...'

e) 'Another way to reduce the risks of having a fire at home is to install and regularly test smoke alarms...'

3) Un-jumble the words to show when you should begin a new paragraph in creative writing, (i.e. when any of the following things change.)

a) miet

b) htaerccar

c) etgistn

d) kpaeers

4) Write the opening of a story where you use all four types of paragraphing (as you answered for Q3).

5) Imagine you are writing a persuasive essay about the dangers of teenagers listening to pop music, based on the following quote:

"Loud music can give you hearing problems, rap lyrics encourage violence and pop idols are negative role models. And all pop music seems to be the same style so teenagers have a very limited experience."

Write topic sentences to show how you would split your essay into paragraphs.

6) Think of counter arguments for the points in Q5 above. Write topic sentences for a discursive essay about the benefits and dangers of pop music to teenagers.

7) Read the following extract:

'Why study English?

English is essential for communication as it equips you with life skills, but, much more than that, it has the power to develop both mind and character. On a practical level, it gives you the skills essential for everyday life, whether letter writing or reading a report. Doing well at English can improve your life chances after school and enable you to obtain a good job.

English also instils confidence, especially through speaking and listening activities where you get used to thinking laterally, arguing your opinion and listening sensitively.

English is much more than just practical skills though, it also deals with the essence of life. Issues are explored, varying perspective analysed, different cultures observed and much, much more. It is the gateway to other worlds.'

a) Find two different quotations to show that English broadens the mind.

b) Find one quotation to show that English is of use every day.

c) Rephrase one statement about the benefits of speaking and listening activities.

8) Does the writer of the passage above think that English is essential for all aspects of life? Using two quotations, show the writer's point of view. Remember to work your quotations into your answers so that they flow.

9) Match the following ways to organise writing to a possible essay:

In order of importance     "account of an event"

For and against alternated    "creative writing"

Sequential       "discursive writing"

Flashback       "instructional writing"

Chronological       "persuasive writing"

10) Rewrite the following sentence, correcting all the spelling and grammatical errors:

"Kieron never realised how much his life would changed after selling his his comic book script. Now people every where would read his comics. He was starting to believe that he could accomplish anything.