The document provides five tips for teaching writing skills to students for the A* level exam: 1. Model writing in the third person to encourage objective analysis. 2. Teach key vocabulary that captures complex ideas concisely. 3. Demonstrate effective introductory and connecting sentences to structure paragraphs and sections. 4. Encourage the use of nominalization to create concise and complex sentence structures. 5. Emphasize the importance of concise writing by eliminating repetition and "waffly" phrases through proofreading.

1. Writing to A*
Five top tips

2. Which answer is better
and WHY?
I have noticed that, although the
mean and median of the male of
female mice are similar, the females’
data is more bimodal (spread out)
with lots of mice with either larger
weights or very small weights The
reason may be that a female’s
weight alters significantly when it is
pregnant. Thus, the two distinct
weight averages within the female
group suggests that a selection of
the sample were pregnant mice. In
contrast, the male mice, have a
much narrower mode, suggesting
that their weight is much more
consistent. This is because they do
not experience the significant weight
gain and loss associated with
pregnancy.
I have noticed that the mean and
median of the males and females is
almost the same. I have also noticed
that the male mice have a large
increase in the middle of the graph
whereas the female mice have
increased at the beginning and the
end. There is a range of light and
heavy female mice but mostly the
males have average weight. The
females could be pregnant.
Some comparison here but no
REASONS offered to EXPLAIN
it. Pregnancy is mentioned
but not linked to the data at
all.

3. Which answer is better
and WHY?
The halogen only costs £1.95,
which is cheaper than the LED
bulb which costs £11.70, but
the LED bulb is more efficient
and lasts 18 times as long as
the halogen does. In the short
term, the halogen bulb is
cheaper but you would have to
buy 18 halogen bulbs in the
space of 36,000 hours. Buying
18 halogen bulbs would cost
£35.10 whereas you would only
need to buy 1 LED bulb in the
space of 36,000 hours which is
£22.40 cheaper than using
halogen bulbs for 36,000 hours.
Unsupported statement about
efficiency. If about energy
efficiency, need to know how it
is more efficient.
Clear analysis of cost in
relation to lifetime in hours
but waffly and repetitive.
No clear statement of best
bulb at the end.
4/6
1

4. Which answer is better
and WHY?
The halogen light bulb is 22% less
energy efficient than the LED light
bulb. Moreover, it does not last as
long. If halogen bulbs were to run
for 36,000 hours – the lifetime of
one LED – 18 bulbs would have to be
bought altogether.
Although one LED, costing £11.70, is
more expensive than a single £1.95
halogen bulb, the 18 that would be
necessary to make halogen last as
long as one LED would cost £35.00.
This is £23.30 more expensive.
Overall, the LED light bulb is the
best because it last 18 times longer,
is more efficient and ultimately costs
less money.
Calculation of efficiency is detailed
comparison.
Connectives make comparisons
clear and guide reader through
reasons for final choice.
Complex sentences allow for
management of lots of information
at once and aid comparison.
Conclusion clearly states which is
best.
Paragraphing gives parts of answer
structure.
2 6/6

5. model and encourage 3rd person
Another reason I am
shocked by Lear’s actions
is that ...
King Lear’s actions are
shocking.
When Goneril says “I love
you more than word can
wield the matter” I think
she is being insincere.
Goneril’s assertion that
she loves Lear “more than
word can wield the
matter” sounds insincere
because...

6. Teach key vocabulary that captures
complex ideas
King Lear
impotent anger – rather than anger that he cannot act
on because he has no power left
beyond reason – rather than not based on any logic so
impossible to make sense of
trappings of kingship – all the things a king expects to
come with his title.
Of Mice and Men – Curley’s wife
painted lady or inappropriately dressed (tart)
of loose morals or Jezebel (!)

7. Teach ways into essays and connecting
sentences for new paragraphs/sections
• Moving on to Curley’s wife in the doorway…
Instead: The first time the reader actually ‘sees’
Curley’s wife is…
• My Last Duchess has a lot of emotion in it.
Instead: The theme of emotion in relationships
is also explored by Robert Browning, a
nineteenth century poet, in his dramatic
monologues. My Last Duchess is
based on...

8. Teach and model nominalisation
Basically, make actions or events into nouns – the subject of
your sentence.
• Several sources show that some people doubted General
Haig’s leadership.
Doubt about General Haig’s leadership is evident in several
of the sources.
• A.J.P. Taylor implies that the Somme was a turning point...
The implication that the Somme was a turning point ...
(The sentence is now freed up to include another idea
based on this implication.)

9. Be concise
• Read through work and eliminate repetition or
waffly expression.
HELPFUL STRATEGIES:
• Teaching key vocabulary to capture complex
ideas will help with this
• Offer appropriate connectives for the style of
writing
• model complex sentences that allow the writer
to manage more than one idea at once.

10. So, to sum up:
1. 3rd person
2. key vocabulary/phrasing
3. introductory and connecting sentences
4. nominalisation
5. proof reading for waffle and repetition