WRITTEN TASK 1
Text Types
Outline
 Letter to the Editor
 Blog
 Opinion Column
 Speech
 Magazine Article
 News Report
Letterto the editor
 As a text type it offers a broad range of
possibilities, as people write such letters in
response to articles, opinion columns, print
ads and TV shows. Though many assume that
the main purpose of the letter to the editor is to
complain, this does not necessarily have to be
the case. One could write such a letter to
praise, point out a hypocrisy, shed light on a
matter, or set the record straight.
Structural features of letters to
the editor
 reference to the original article
 brevity
 rhetorical questions
 an interesting fact or quotation
 a counter argument
 a recommendation
 a clear statement of opinion
 the effect of the original article on you and
others
 emotive language (at the risk of hyperbole)

Advantages of letters to the editor
as written task1
 Students like writing letters to the editor for several
reasons:
1) The letter is in response to a text, therefore it is
relevant to this course and has a clear focus.
2) You do not have to take on a persona, as some
other (creative) text types might suggest. You can
be yourself.
3) They do not require a detailed study of text type
and are less complex.
4) The letter to the editor is a non-literary text type,
which tends to work well for Parts 1 and 2 of the
course.
Disadvantage of letters to the
editoras written task1
 While these points may work to your advantage
there is one disadvantage of this text type: Letters
to the editor are not usually 800-1000 words long,
the required word count for the written task 1.
Blog
 Blogs are not the most advisable text type for
a written task 1. Nevertheless, it is worth
studying this text type for two reasons:
1) Blogging has changed the modern media
landscape.
2) Not everyone listens to advise. So if one is to
going write a blog for a written task 1 (no
matter the advice), then one should at least
learn more about the conventions of blogging.
Defining characteristics
 So what do all blogs have in common? Perhaps
the only uniting feature is that they are streams of
posts that are logged into digital archives, easily
retrievable for anyone looking for anything on any
topic.
Defining characteristics
 Personal anecdote - This may offer the audience a little wisdom on a
particular topic gained from personal experience.
 Newsworthiness - Blogs often refer to people or events, which many
people may find relevant.
 Facts/statistics - Blogs often reiterate a fact or statistic that was
recently reported in the news.
 Personal opinion - These are usually statements tat critique, praise or
comment on something or someone.
 'How to' guidance - Blogs can be instructional, offering their audience a
kind of step-by-step approach on a particular project.
 Call to action - Bloggers may ask their audience to sign a petition,
retweet a tweet or forward a message.
 Review - In response to a book, film or performance, blogs often offer
an analysis or opinion.
 Humor- Blogs may have a humorous undertone.
 Description - Bloggers may describe a product, event or phenomenon.
Is this a blog?
 If you want to work with Blogs in your WT1, keep
the following questions in mind:
1) What is the author's purpose?
2) Who is going to read this text? Who is the target
audience?
3) What kinds of structural conventions should be
used?
Opinion column
 Newspapers and magazines often have
columnists who write for them. Generally
speaking newspapers or magazines want there to
be a cult of personality surrounding these
columnists to generate good sales and brand
loyalty. Columnists may be very outspoken in their
opinions. Nevertheless, their opinions are in tune
with the readership of a particular magazine or
newspaper. Furthermore, their opinions are
newsworthy, meaning that they both comment on
the hot topics of the day, and their opinions are
Interested in writing an Opinion
Column?
 If you choose to write an opinion column for your
written task you may want to consider the
following questions:
1) Which publication would you be writing for?
2) Are you imitating the style of a famous
columnist?
3) What makes your opinion newsworthy?
Speech
 There are as many different kinds of speeches as
there are audiences. Nevertheless, there are some
traits that all speeches have in common, despite their
different audiences. Before we look at these defining
characteristics below, it is important to note that there
are three over arching principles that govern speech
writing in general. The ancient Greeks referred to them
as ethos, pathos and logos.
 Ethos - 'What gives you the authority to speak before
me today?'
 Pathos - 'Why should I care, emotionally, about what
you are saying?'
 Logos - 'How does your speech makes sense,
logically? Give me persuasive arguments to take
Magazine Article
 Writing a magazine article differs from newspaper
articles in that most magazines allow more space
to develop a story (the article is longer) and more
time to research it. It is still important in this form of
journalism to answer the five questions:
     Who?
     What (or what happened)?
     When?
     Where?
     Why?
     How?
Important features that you need to
consider…
 Research. Get more useful and fresh
information that can make your article more
informative and more valuable to the eyes of
your target audience. 
 Create an outline. Next step is to create a
structure that you can follow when writing your
articles. This must contain the ideas that
you're going to discuss on your introduction,
article body, and conclusion.
 Grab the reader's attention. It is called your
lead, and it's the most important paragraph of
a magazine article. If the first paragraph
doesn't convince a reader to keep reading,
then you're sunk. Immediately after catching a
reader's attention, make certain the point of
the article or the theme is evident.
Important features that you need to
consider…
 Compose the conclusion. Next to the lead, the
conclusion is most important. The ending of a
magazine feature should bring the piece to a
satisfying resolution for the reader. You might
return to your opening paragraph so that you
come full circle. Some conclusions summarize
the main points or leave readers with an
anecdote that illustrates the theme.
Important features that you need to
consider…
Last but not least…

Revise yourarticle. Spelling and grammar are
important, but you have to look at the content
as well. Is the point clear?
 Does the article follow a logical sequence?
 Have you chosen strong verbs and specific
nouns?
News Report
 Reports usually appear in newspapers. They tell
readers about events that have been happening in
their local area, or national or international news.
Newspapers are read by people who want
information about something that has happened.
They want details quickly so reports have to be
easy to read.
 When you plan your news story, remember that
newspaper reports usually provide the answers to
the questions WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN ,
WHY, HOW?
Key features of a newspaper
report.
 the headline catches the reader's attention
 the first paragraph gives the main point of the story
and answers the question who
 the following paragraphs provide answers to the
questions what, where, when, why and how
 the paragraphs are short and punchy, giving
information in a clear and concise way
 there are references to what people said, either
using direct speech or reported speech.
 use of past tense because the report refers to an
event which has already taken place
 use of columns in accordance with newspaper
presentation

Text types

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Outline  Letter tothe Editor  Blog  Opinion Column  Speech  Magazine Article  News Report
  • 3.
    Letterto the editor As a text type it offers a broad range of possibilities, as people write such letters in response to articles, opinion columns, print ads and TV shows. Though many assume that the main purpose of the letter to the editor is to complain, this does not necessarily have to be the case. One could write such a letter to praise, point out a hypocrisy, shed light on a matter, or set the record straight.
  • 4.
    Structural features ofletters to the editor  reference to the original article  brevity  rhetorical questions  an interesting fact or quotation  a counter argument  a recommendation  a clear statement of opinion  the effect of the original article on you and others  emotive language (at the risk of hyperbole) 
  • 5.
    Advantages of lettersto the editor as written task1  Students like writing letters to the editor for several reasons: 1) The letter is in response to a text, therefore it is relevant to this course and has a clear focus. 2) You do not have to take on a persona, as some other (creative) text types might suggest. You can be yourself. 3) They do not require a detailed study of text type and are less complex. 4) The letter to the editor is a non-literary text type, which tends to work well for Parts 1 and 2 of the course.
  • 6.
    Disadvantage of lettersto the editoras written task1  While these points may work to your advantage there is one disadvantage of this text type: Letters to the editor are not usually 800-1000 words long, the required word count for the written task 1.
  • 7.
    Blog  Blogs arenot the most advisable text type for a written task 1. Nevertheless, it is worth studying this text type for two reasons: 1) Blogging has changed the modern media landscape. 2) Not everyone listens to advise. So if one is to going write a blog for a written task 1 (no matter the advice), then one should at least learn more about the conventions of blogging.
  • 8.
    Defining characteristics  Sowhat do all blogs have in common? Perhaps the only uniting feature is that they are streams of posts that are logged into digital archives, easily retrievable for anyone looking for anything on any topic.
  • 9.
    Defining characteristics  Personalanecdote - This may offer the audience a little wisdom on a particular topic gained from personal experience.  Newsworthiness - Blogs often refer to people or events, which many people may find relevant.  Facts/statistics - Blogs often reiterate a fact or statistic that was recently reported in the news.  Personal opinion - These are usually statements tat critique, praise or comment on something or someone.  'How to' guidance - Blogs can be instructional, offering their audience a kind of step-by-step approach on a particular project.  Call to action - Bloggers may ask their audience to sign a petition, retweet a tweet or forward a message.  Review - In response to a book, film or performance, blogs often offer an analysis or opinion.  Humor- Blogs may have a humorous undertone.  Description - Bloggers may describe a product, event or phenomenon.
  • 10.
    Is this ablog?  If you want to work with Blogs in your WT1, keep the following questions in mind: 1) What is the author's purpose? 2) Who is going to read this text? Who is the target audience? 3) What kinds of structural conventions should be used?
  • 11.
    Opinion column  Newspapersand magazines often have columnists who write for them. Generally speaking newspapers or magazines want there to be a cult of personality surrounding these columnists to generate good sales and brand loyalty. Columnists may be very outspoken in their opinions. Nevertheless, their opinions are in tune with the readership of a particular magazine or newspaper. Furthermore, their opinions are newsworthy, meaning that they both comment on the hot topics of the day, and their opinions are
  • 12.
    Interested in writingan Opinion Column?  If you choose to write an opinion column for your written task you may want to consider the following questions: 1) Which publication would you be writing for? 2) Are you imitating the style of a famous columnist? 3) What makes your opinion newsworthy?
  • 13.
    Speech  There areas many different kinds of speeches as there are audiences. Nevertheless, there are some traits that all speeches have in common, despite their different audiences. Before we look at these defining characteristics below, it is important to note that there are three over arching principles that govern speech writing in general. The ancient Greeks referred to them as ethos, pathos and logos.  Ethos - 'What gives you the authority to speak before me today?'  Pathos - 'Why should I care, emotionally, about what you are saying?'  Logos - 'How does your speech makes sense, logically? Give me persuasive arguments to take
  • 14.
    Magazine Article  Writinga magazine article differs from newspaper articles in that most magazines allow more space to develop a story (the article is longer) and more time to research it. It is still important in this form of journalism to answer the five questions:      Who?      What (or what happened)?      When?      Where?      Why?      How?
  • 15.
    Important features thatyou need to consider…  Research. Get more useful and fresh information that can make your article more informative and more valuable to the eyes of your target audience.   Create an outline. Next step is to create a structure that you can follow when writing your articles. This must contain the ideas that you're going to discuss on your introduction, article body, and conclusion.
  • 16.
     Grab thereader's attention. It is called your lead, and it's the most important paragraph of a magazine article. If the first paragraph doesn't convince a reader to keep reading, then you're sunk. Immediately after catching a reader's attention, make certain the point of the article or the theme is evident. Important features that you need to consider…
  • 17.
     Compose theconclusion. Next to the lead, the conclusion is most important. The ending of a magazine feature should bring the piece to a satisfying resolution for the reader. You might return to your opening paragraph so that you come full circle. Some conclusions summarize the main points or leave readers with an anecdote that illustrates the theme. Important features that you need to consider…
  • 18.
    Last but notleast…  Revise yourarticle. Spelling and grammar are important, but you have to look at the content as well. Is the point clear?  Does the article follow a logical sequence?  Have you chosen strong verbs and specific nouns?
  • 19.
    News Report  Reportsusually appear in newspapers. They tell readers about events that have been happening in their local area, or national or international news. Newspapers are read by people who want information about something that has happened. They want details quickly so reports have to be easy to read.  When you plan your news story, remember that newspaper reports usually provide the answers to the questions WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN , WHY, HOW?
  • 20.
    Key features ofa newspaper report.  the headline catches the reader's attention  the first paragraph gives the main point of the story and answers the question who  the following paragraphs provide answers to the questions what, where, when, why and how  the paragraphs are short and punchy, giving information in a clear and concise way  there are references to what people said, either using direct speech or reported speech.  use of past tense because the report refers to an event which has already taken place  use of columns in accordance with newspaper presentation