This document provides guidance on answering Question 6 from the AQA English Language Unit One exam. It discusses that Question 6 is the longer writing task, worth 24 marks, and requires arguing or persuading a viewpoint over 4-5 paragraphs. It emphasizes organizing ideas clearly with accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Sample exam questions and an exemplar paragraph are included to demonstrate developing a point with examples and language devices. The document concludes with a skills checklist and mini-assessment practice question.

1. AQA English Language Unit One
Understanding and Producing Non-Fiction Texts
QUESTION 6
Main menu:
 overview
 understanding the question
 planning the longer task
 Q5 i,ii useful language devices
 Q5 iii Spelling, punctuation and grammar
 question 6 exemplar
 skills checklist
 mini-assessment

2. Overview
Question 6 is the longer of the writing tasks. It will ask you to argue,
persuade or take a viewpoint which you must try to sustain. They can a take
a variety of different forms, including letters and articles. Two well planned
sides of writing, shaped, structured and paragraphed is sufficient to do well
You are being assessed on your ability to communicate your ideas
clearly and effectively in well organised paragraphs with largely
accurate spelling, punctuation and interesting word choices.
Key information
 write about 4-5 paragraphs (about two sides of A4)
 a total of 24 marks; you need to score a minimum of 18 marks:
- 12 out of 16 for communication and organisation (i,ii)
- 6 out of 8 for spelling, punctuation and grammar (iii)
spend about 35mins on this question, including planning
focus on the audience and purpose in the question set
Allow sufficient time to answer this question fully – 5% don’t answer!
Back to main menu

3. Understanding the question
Back to main menu
6. Choose an activity or hobby that you are interested in.
Write an article for your school or college magazine persuading other
students to try it.
Remember to:
write an article for students
write to persuade. (24 marks)
(16 marks)
The following text is taken from the June 2011 Foundation Level exam.
Look at how the question guides you to what to write about.
Main
focus
The
Task
The
Format The
PurposeThe
Audience

4. Planning the longer task
Back to main menu
Once you understand what you need to do, plan out about 4-5 main
ideas with very brief notes on how to develop them in each paragraph.
Quickly decide upon your approach
Write article for students about a hobby: clear and sustained point of view
4-5 different reasons that are fully developed and linked together
Some use of different persuasive methods (see next slide)
Take up cycling
1. Good exercise
- build leg muscles
- increase stamina
- stay healthy
2. See new places
-long rides in country
-new places to see
-lots of venues
3. Meet friends
-male / female sport
-social events
-regular races
2. Personal goals
-win races
-Olympic champion
-possible career

5. Q5 i,ii Useful language devices
Back to main menu
The following are some useful devices that you may wish to use in
your writing to make your response more interesting to read.
Persuade (this is not a checklist and do not over use!)
 One point of view
 First person or second person pronouns for effect e.g. I, us, our, you, yours
 Rhetorical questions to engage e.g. Have you tried something fresh and new?
 Repetition for style e.g. it builds stamina, muscles and confidence
 Emotive words to convince e.g. you could power your way to new heights
 Linking words t develop whole writing e.g. in addition, furthermore, moreover
Argue
 Awareness of alternative views to show understanding of others
 More neutral tone to sound unbiased e.g. use of third person (he, she, they
 Contrasting words to show views of others e.g. whilst, whereas, although
 Modal verbs to show likely possibility e.g. might, could, should
Always:
 Clear paragraphs or other evidence of structure e.g. linking words
 Develop point with examples or lots of details
 Varied and interesting word choices

6. Q5 iii Spelling, punctuation and grammar
Back to main menu
Here are some guidance notes on how to make your writing more
accurate. Remember there are 6 marks available for this section.
Spelling
Make sure you spell commonly used words correctly and allow time to check
Remember there are lots of complex words already spelt correctly for you in the
Reading Section, so use some of them in your answer
Punctuation
Make sure each sentence has a subject and a verb
Each sentence should begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop
Use a comma before the word ‘but’*
Use apostrophes for possession or omission (be aware of its and it’s)
Start a new sentence when using ‘moreover’, ‘however’ and ‘furthermore’*
Avoid overuse of exclamation marks and question marks (once or twice)
Grammar
Use a range of simple, complex and compound sentences

7. Question 6 exemplar
Back to main menu
Look to see how you develop notes into a clear and effective paragraph.
Focus – persuading other students to take up a new hobby
Things to include – exercise, meet friends, see places, set personal goals
If you are tired of washed up sports like football, cricket or
tennis, then cycling might be just your cup of tea. Whilst most
young people are dull and unoriginal, you could be brave and
plump for something new like cycling. Getting out on a bike is a
great way to see different parts of the country. On the saddle
you can get close to the nature that you might miss when you
are being driven around by your parents. There are lots of
exciting places to visit, and it does not cost anything to get their
on your by bike.
Topic
sentence
The
Audience
Word
choices
Full
stops
and
capitals
Complex
sentence
Compound
sentence
Emotive
words
Activity: Write one of the other points into a developed paragraph

8. Skills Checklist
What you need to do:
 plan out 4-5 main points with some ideas
 develop writing with examples and details
 include some relevant language devices
 make interesting and varied word choices
 use capitals, full stops and commas
 vary your use of sentence types
Back to main menu

9. January 2012
Time Allowed 35mins
‘Sports stars are good role models for young people.’
Write an article for a magazine of your choice arguing for or against
this view.
Remember to:
write an article
argue your point of view.
Try to write about two pages in your answer booklet. (24marks)
Assessment practice
Back to main menu

10. January 2012
Time Allowed 35mins
‘Sports stars are good role models for young people.’
Write an article for a magazine of your choice arguing for or against
this view.
Remember to:
write an article
argue your point of view.
Try to write about two pages in your answer booklet. (24marks)
Assessment practice
Back to main menu