FS English Level 2 - May 13, 2023 (Writing Forum Contributions).

1. Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills English
Level 2
Writing a forum contribution

2. Exam information
One of the exam writing tasks is to write a contribution to a web
forum.
There are no formatting requirements for this writing task. Pearson
Edexcel provide the necessary formatting.
Depending on the task, you may be asked to give information or
opinions on a particular topic or give advice to others.

3. Online forums are public spaces where people can
exchange views or opinions on a particular topic.

4. Contribution to a web forum
You may be asked if you agree or disagree with someone
else’s opinion. This means that you need to express your own
opinion or viewpoint.
Opinions are not right or wrong because they are based on an
individual’s beliefs or life experience — but you have to support
your opinion with evidence: this might be something you have
read, seen or observed.

5. For example...
As you can see, your opinion will seem more persuasive if it is
supported by evidence.
Parents, not schools, should be responsible for
teaching their children to read. In my experience,
children learn more quickly when they are
taught one-to-one.
This is the
writer’s opinion This is evidence
to back up the
writer’s opinion

6. Another example...
Looking at both sides of an argument gives a more balanced
approach. This makes your own opinion seem more persuasive.
I think that the new supermarket will bring
employment to the area and cheaper prices for food.
Unfortunately, it will also bring more traffic, and it will
force local businesses to close. As a result, I am
opposed to the new supermarket, because it will bring
more negatives than positives to the area.
This is another
opinion that is
opposed to the
new
supermarket
This is one opinion
that is in favour of
the new supermarket
Here the writer has
chosen one opinion
over the other

7. Words/phrases you can use to make your argument or opinion more persuasive
Surely...
For sure...
Definitely...
Without a doubt...
Without question...
Absolutely...
Undeniably...
Clearly...
Certainly...
I’m sure we can all agree that...
We can all agree that...
It stands to reason that...
No one would doubt that...

8. Now let’s look at an example of an exam writing task for a web
forum contribution...

9. Contributions to web forums are always a Task 2
writing activity.
In the exam, you will be given at least two
contributions to respond to, and both will usually
express opposing points of view.
The bullet points tell you that you need to
respond to both contributors before giving your
own viewpoint. You may choose to agree with
both contributors or agree with one and disagree
with the other.
It is important for the marks you receive that you
refer to both contributions before expressing
your own opinions.

10. Now let’s take a look at an exemplar response to the writing task...

11. Firstly, Dara makes a good point about the lack of suitable housing for
college students in his local area. As he rightly points out, it means
that students often end up having to live in properties that are sub-
standard and in areas that aren’t safe. But I don’t agree that the
solution is to just to blame those who happen to live in “enormous
houses” and expect them to give up their homes so that they can be
turned into student flats!
Secondly, I also think that Merrin has a point about the negative impact
that students can have on local areas. From my own experience of
living in a university town, I can agree that noise and litter can
sometimes cause problems on streets where student housing is
situated. However, I disagree that “students shouldn’t be allowed to
live in nice houses if they can’t take care of them”. It isn’t fair to believe
that all students are irresponsible tenants and should be given only
run-down properties to live in!
I’m sure we can all agree that student accommodation in the private
sector has always been a problem. Student numbers are increasing
each year but new housing for them has not kept pace. Without
question, the only practical solution is for the government to fund more
purpose-built accommodation for students in reserved areas with 24-
hour monitoring to ensure safety. It stands to reason that this would
cause less friction among students and local residents, keeping
everyone happy on both sides of the argument!
[254 words]

12. Firstly, Dara makes a good point about the lack of suitable housing for
college students in his local area. As he rightly points out, it means
that students often end up having to live in properties that are sub-
standard and in areas that aren’t safe. But I don’t agree that the
solution is to just to blame those who happen to live in “enormous
houses” and expect them to give up their homes so that they can be
turned into student flats!
Secondly, I also think that Merrin has a point about the negative
impact that students can have on local areas. From my own
experience of living in a university town, I can agree that noise and
litter can sometimes cause problems on streets where student
housing is situated. However, I disagree that “students shouldn’t be
allowed to live in nice houses if they can’t take care of them”. It isn’t
fair to believe that all students are irresponsible tenants and should
be given only run-down properties to live in.
I’m sure we can all agree that student accommodation in the private
sector has always been a problem. Student numbers are increasing
each year but new housing for them has not kept pace. Without
question, the only practical solution is for the government to fund
more purpose-built accommodation for students in reserved areas
with 24-hour monitoring to ensure safety. It stands to reason that this
would cause less friction among students and local residents,
keeping everyone happy on both sides of the argument!
[254 words]
Phrases to show agreement
Phrases to show disagreement
Phrases to persuade/convince the reader

13. Recap
The main purpose of a forum contribution is to express
opinions and persuade other people to agree with you.
Opinions are based on an individual’s beliefs or life experience
— but you have to support your opinion with evidence: this
might be something you have read, seen or observed.

14. Homework
1. Read the contributions from Ana and
Lee.
2. Write a short paragraph responding to
Ana’s viewpoint - do you agree or
disagree?
3. Write another short paragraph
responding to Lee’s viewpoint - do you
agree or disagree?
4. Write a final paragraph to explain your
own opinions.
If you prefer, you can combine your
responses to Ana and Lee in a single
paragraph instead of two separate
paragraphs - it is a matter of preference.
Use the checklist at the end of this
PowerPoint to make sure you have
included all the necessary details.
Homework

15. Connectives help to give your writing a logical
order which makes it easy for the reader to
follow your argument when you express your
opinions on something.
As you can see, they all perform different
functions (e.g. showing time sequence or
writing instructions; showing similarity or
difference, etc.).

16. Checklist for a web forum contribution
Have I... Tick if
applicable
referred to the other contributions (either agreeing or disagreeing)?
expressed my own opinion?
given reasons for my opinion?
given evidence to support my opinion?
used persuasive language to make my argument convincing?
used paragraphs to organise my writing?
used linking words to structure my argument?