Leaving Cert Notes and Sample Answers

Article: impact of technology for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

  • Post author: Martina
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  • Post category: #625Lab / Article / English / PCLM

Write an article for a popular magazine in which you outline your views about the impact of technology on the lives of young people. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner,…

Article about myths, fairytales and legends for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

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Question B: “We are what we wear” for Leaving Cert English

  • Post published: December 17, 2017
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Students in your school have been invited to contribute articles to the school website on issues relevant to young people. This week’s issue is “We are what we wear”. Write…

Leaving Cert English Opinion Piece #625Lab

  • Post published: September 27, 2017
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Write an opinion piece, for publication in a national newspaper, in which you give your views on the extent to which people today rely on the online world as a…

Leaving Cert English Question B Article #625Lab

  • Post published: September 25, 2017
  • Post category: #625Lab / Article / Question B

Write an article for inclusion in your school magazine on the importance of winning the All-Ireland for Mayo on Sunday. (Question B) #625Lab   How important is winning the Sam Maguire…

Leaving Cert Composition Article for Serious Publication #625Lab

  • Post published: September 19, 2017

Write an article for a serious publication in which you consider whether scientists or writers and artists have made, and continue to make, the greater contribution to society. (2017) (100 mark…

writing a feature article leaving cert english

Really Useful Links for Writers: Leaving Cert Essay Writing

Paul FitzSimons script writer freelance journalist

Paul FitzSimons

  • 29 May 2014

I have good news – the weather will be beautiful next Wednesday. The sun will shine, the skies will be clear, the temperature will be in the twenties. How do I know that? Because it’s the first day of the Leaving Cert Exams.

Besides being the unofficial start of summer, Day 1 of the Leaving is also English Paper 1, the culmination of two years’ work for around fifty thousand English language students.

The Leaving Cert English exam is divided into two papers – Paper 1, which is all about comprehension and composition and Paper 2, which covers The Single Text , The Comparative Study and Poetry. Like the other two-part exams Maths and Irish, English 1 and 2 happen on two different days – the first Wednesday and Thursday mornings of the schedule. Maybe this is to give brains and hands a chance to recover from a hectic morning of essay-writing.

Besides having the aptitude to tell a good story, writing essays at Leaving Cert level requires certain acquired skills, most of which we learn over the years of study prior to the exam. However, there are some aspects of writing the perfect essay that we don’t necessarily pick up or, with the deluge of knowledge that we’re trying to take in, have slipped from our memories. Thankfully, there are plenty of online resources that will fill in those gaps and also offer some additional advice on writing, organisational and time-saving that will prove invaluable on the day.

On the ever useful website LeavingCertEnglish.net – seriously, I wish this had been around in my day – we are given an invaluable guide to preparing for and then sitting down to English Paper 1. Their pages include advice on approaching each essay, what needs to be covered to achieve a passing mark and what flourishes will help to get that all-important A.

After sitting his Leaving Cert in 2011, student and blogger Aidan Curran decided to take the lessons he learned during that traumatic year and share them on his website. His post How To Get An A In English Essay Writing takes us through everything we need to remember coming up to and during the exam. He reminds us that, as essay-writing is not something we can memorize, it makes it both the easiest and most difficult part of the exam.

Most of the above applies to Paper 1 of the exam. Of course, there are also some essays to be written for Paper 2, which deals with curriculum’s prescribed texts, such as the play, novels and poetry. The Clevernotes website offers us some invaluable advice on tackling the second English paper compositions, suggesting that, in order to form a cogent and coherent response to the question asked, an essay must always contain an introduction, a number of well-focused body paragraphs and a conclusion.

For some slightly more tongue-in-cheek advice on essay writing, we can watch video blogger Clisare’s video on Entertainment.ie. She takes us through her unique thoughts on writing both English and Irish essays. She does offer some interesting insight but the fact that she advises us to remind the teacher that ‘Irish is a dead language’ suggests that we should probably take most of her tips with a grán salainn.

If you feel an online tutor will be able to help, check out TutorHunt .

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” – Sydney J. Harris

A Whole Website Dedicated To It.

LeavingCertEnglish.net has all the advice, information and sample exams we need to tackle the Paper 1 essay.

“”Stick to the topic. Have plenty of ideas. Identify problems but also offer solutions.”

http://leavingcertenglish.net/2012/03/inspiration/ .

Them’s The Rules.

LeavingCertEnglish.net takes us through six important rules for writing the perfect essay.

“It’s really important to grab the reader’s attention. Use a quote, or a series of rhetorical questions, a list, or a vivid description.”

http://leavingcertenglish.net/2011/05/six-rules-of-essay-writing/

From The Horse’s Mouth.

Recent Leaving Cert student Aidan Curran takes us his advice on Essay-writing, based on his own experience.

“Obviously, when you get the essay titles first you say “That’s it, I’m screwed, we’ll call it a day”. But if you just look at them, you’ll realise that they can be changed to your strengths.”

http://aidancurran.com/how-to-get-an-a1-in-english-essay-writing-aidan-curran/

It’s Not All About Paper 1, You Know.

English Paper 2, which deals with the subject’s prescribed texts and poetry, also involves some essay writing. Clevernotes tells us how to tackle it.

“The most basic principal of essay writing is that it should be structured. Your essay must form a cogent and coherent response to the question asked.”

https://www.clevernotes.ie/english/hl/leaving-cert/how-to-write-a-paper-two-essay/

And Lastly, Some Proper Serious Advice (Or Maybe Not)

Vlogger Clisare gives us her unique take on Essay Writing.

“Always end English Language essays with ‘…and then I woke up.’ Teachers love that.”

http://entertainment.ie/wtf/WATCH-How-to-write-a-leaving-cert-essay/191520.htm

(c) Paul FitzSimons

About the author

Paul FitzSimons is a screenwriter and novelist and has written the novel ‘Burning Matches’ and a number of scripts for film and TV. He has worked as a storyline writer on RTE’s ‘Fair City’. His short stories are published in ‘Who Brought The Biscuits’ by The Naas Harbour Writers. Paul likes crime thrillers, good coffee and Cadbury’s chocolate. He doesn’t like country-and-western music or people who don’t indicate on roundabouts.

Paul also runs the  Script Editing service Paul | The | Editor .  paulfitzsimons.com

writing a feature article leaving cert english

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Leaving Cert. English, Paper 1 – Part A: The Complete Guide

writing a feature article leaving cert english

What are you being asked to do?

The marker is told to view each question as a task, which you must solve with your answer. Here the task is to show your comprehending skills; you are proving to the marker that you can read or look at a certain text and answer questions based on what you have read or seen. There are three question types used to test this: questions concerning what a written question is about, questions on the style of a written text, and questions on the style of a visual text.

If we look at the 2009 exam we see this. Text A contains three questions:

  • Based on your reading of the above text, outline the views of Veronica Chrisp and Bernie Wright on  animal welfare in zoos.
  • Join the debate. Having considered the views expressed in the text, do  you think zoos should be closed? Give reasons for your decision.
  • Select  four features of argumentative and/or persuasive writing evident in the text and comment on their effectiveness. Refer to the text in support of your answer.

Text B contains the questions:

  • David Malouf evokes a strong sense of place in this extract from his short story. What impression do you get of the Australian town and its people? Support your answer with reference to the text.
  • Do you think the boy has a good relationship with his parents? Give reasons for your answer.
  • Identify and comment on four features of narrative and/ or descriptive writing evident in this text. Support your answer by illustration from the text.

Text C contains the questions:

  • From your reading of this text what do you understand by the term ‘the decisive moment’? Refer to both the  written and visual text in support of your answer.
  • Select  three features of the author’s style in the  written element of the text and comment on their effectiveness. Support your answer with reference to the  written text.
  • Write a personal response to the visual image in Text 3 that makes the greatest impact on you. [You might consider the subject matter, setting, mood, caption, relevancy, photographic qualities/ technique, etc]

As seen, there are three question types throughout the three texts. However, regardless of the question type three things are asked of you to show your comprehending abilities:

  • to give a straight response – you are asked such questions as whether ‘ you think zoos should be closed?’ which require to say whether you think something is so, or is not, or should be so, or should be not etc.
  • you are asked to give reasons for your response – mention is made of e.g ‘Give reasons for your decision’ (the likes of ‘Support your answer with reference to the written text’ etc also indicates this as it asking you to give reasons from the written text).
  • To give examples for your reasons – each question always requires you to e. g ‘ Support your answer with reference to the written text ’ (here referring to examples), ‘ Refer to the text in support of your answer ’ (here answer refers to your straight response and reasons which you use to back it up)

Sometimes you may be asked to give a personal response – questions may appear such as ‘From your reading of the text’, ‘Do you think..’ or ‘Write a personal response’.

The questions in Part A are thus asking for a straight answer to each question, reasons for your choosing of this straight answer, and examples to show that your reasons for choosing this straight answer can be chosen and thus that your straight answer is suitable for answering the question asked of you. Throughout this you may have to respond personally.

What do you need to have in these answers?

As well as the three (or four, if you include a personal response) requirements above, the marker will expect your answers in Part A to include the four qualities of  Clarity of Purpose , Efficiency of Language use ,  Coherence of Delivery and  Accuracy of Mechanics . Hence, in any answer to a question in Part A, you are required to have these seven elements, meaning that you can answer any question on Part A with a suitable answer structure that contains all seven elements.

An effective way to structure your answer so as to contain all seven elements is with the ‘say and show’ method. This involves stating your answer to the question and then showing how this answer is suitable for answering the question with evidence. This method splits your answer into an introduction, main body of three/ four paragraphs and a conclusion. The broad outline of this answer already sets out to answer Part A in the manner required as shown above; the introduction will introduce your answer with your straight response to the question, the paragraphs of the main body of your answer will provide reasons for choosing this straight response and examples to prove that the reasons for and thus the straight response can be chosen, while including a personal response, if needed. The conclusion will conclude your answer. Using this method answers the question and thus solves the task as the marker wishes because it also includes the four qualities looked for by the marker, as shall be shown.

Clarity of Purpose

The  introduction brings about the first quality needed in your answer.

This means that you are engaging with the set task, which here is proving that you can read/look at a text and answer questions based on it. As we have seen, the set task requires several things of you, and the introduction allows you to place the first of these in your answer. To show this, we will take the question: ‘Do you consider the first paragraph to be an example of good descriptive writing?’ (2007, text 1, i)

Any introduction to a piece should tell its reader what it is about. Here, the first few lines of your answer should do this and thus your straight response to the question is suitable, because it will tell the marker in a concise manner what your answer is about. It will do so because the remainder of the answer will back this straight response up because it will be reasons for your choosing of this straight response and examples to back such reasons up – therefore the straight response is the perfect introduction because it tells your marker what the remainder of the answer will be about. A suitable straight response for the question above would be something such as ‘I do consider the first paragraph to be an example of good descriptive writing.’

Immediately your answer has one requirement, the straight response to the question. It now requires reasons to show the marker why you chose this straight response to answer the question (these reasons may involve a personal response; even though the above is a personal response more is needed, as shall be shown). As said, an introduction should inform the reader of what the remainder of the piece is about, and therefore your introduction here should tell the marker of the reasons for why you chose the straight response, such as the one above. Each of these will be used in a paragraph of the main body of your answer, so you should list these to the marker, because they are the rest of your answer, and in your introduction you need to tell the marker what is in the rest of your answer. For the answer above something such as so should suffice:

‘I feel the first paragraph is so because it uses verbs and adjectives to create a vivid energetic picture, imagery which appeals to the sense of sight and sound, and it uses personification of the tree, which adds to the dramatic visual effect.’

Each of your reasons will be used in a paragraph to back up your straight response. In each paragraph a threefold method can be used to show a reason for choosing your straight response.

Firstly, like the first lines of any piece should indicate what the remainder of the written piece is about, the first lines of each paragraph should indicate what the rest of the paragraph is about. You should therefore firstly mention the reason you will concentrate on in the paragraph, such as

‘I do consider the first paragraph to be an example of good descriptive writing, firstly because of its including verbs and adjectives to create a vivid, energetic picture.’

Secondly, you need to say how this reason helped you make your straight response to the question. This is an important part of  Clarity of purpose because you are here showing to the marker that the reasons you have chosen for and thus your straight response do answer the question asked of you; in other words, you are showing that what you are writing is solving the task asked of you. Here you can insert another requirement sometimes needed in your answer, a personal response. You can here say why you chose this reason and thus why you are answering the question with the response you picked. Doing so for the question we have begun answering would continue its first paragraph in such a manner:

‘In doing so I think the first paragraph becomes alive and full of motion; it is not like a picture you would view in an art gallery which captures a specific moment, forever. Here the first paragraph is describing a tree being cut down so I feel it needs to describe the various stage of this, rather than capturing it in a one-off moment. The falling of the tree is not simply a one-off moment; it is a series of events which includes the tree’s struggle to stay up, its fall and after the fall. Therefore I expect a suitable description to be energetic and vivid to convey this variety and multitude of happenings. I felt using verbs and adjectives to create a vivid, energetic picture achieved this easily.’

If a personal response is not required, you can simply say why you chose this reason helps answers the question with your straight response, without inserting ‘I’, ‘me’ etc.

All that is then needed to conclude the paragraph are examples; these will provide evidence that your reason does help answer your question because the text shows instances of how you say it does, thus proving your statement of how it does so to be true.

If you use this threefold method for each paragraph of your main body you will be including the requirements for your answer; you will have given a straight response to your answer, provided reasons for doing so (as well as showing how these reasons prove your straight response to be suitable for answering the question) which can include a personal response, as well as backing up all of this with examples. Having done so in a well-structured and organised manner brings in another of the four qualities looked for by the marker in your answer.

Efficiency of language use

This quality focuses partially on your using of language (/writing) to form a suitably structured answer to the question/task required of you. Using the structure above would show that you are able to control your language to answer the question/task. This quality also concerns your writing/ language use within your answer structure, and that you are using suitable langauge to answer the question within a suitable answer structure, both of which are needed to show that you can use your language suitably to answer the question. Some things to keep in mind so that you are using suitable language are:

  • Correct terminology/phraseology is essential – if you are asked on a certain question, you will be expected to write about material which is in someway suitable; for example if you are asked to talk about a character, the marker won’t expect you to be mentioning such things as setting.
  • Short sentences are best; long sentences may take away from the point you are trying to make and the marker may view this as ‘waffle’.
  • The use of ‘I’ or ‘me’; if the question is aimed at ‘you’, answer accordingly.
  • Engage with the text and use plenty of examples to back up your answer.

Coherence of delivery

This marker will look for your answer to continuously and cohesively answer the question over its entirety without disruption or interruption. Providing your answer with examples will continuously provide evidence for your straight response and reasons for this – so use plenty of examples.

The other way to continuously and cohesively answer the question is to ensure that when you move from one part of your answer to another, such as a different part of the paragraph, or another paragraph, you link this new part of your answer to the previous part. This ensures that your answer remains unified and gaps do not form. There are two places in your answer to do so:

1) In paragraphs when different examples are used to provide evidence that your reason does help answer the question through the response you used. Use linking phrases to link your examples and present them as unified, all serving the same function, showing that your reason does help answer the question with your response. Use such phrases as ‘We see this again with..’, ‘We see more of the same’ etc.

For example, in the paragraph which we have been answering, after introducing the point about the verbs and adjectives and showing how this reason helps you answer the question with your response, you could use such examples and link them as so:

‘This is seen with the mention that the tree ‘twisted’ but later ‘keeled over’ and finally fell to the ground ‘with a thunderous hurricane crash’ all in the space of a couple of moments.  However the description does not stop there ; even after the tree has fallen the description continues and we hear how the boy saw ‘light flood in to the space where the tree had stood.’ I felt that the effect is that the description is alive and energetic, with a variety of happenings occuring in a small space of time which, when forcing these all together in one short paragraph, creates an intense feeling of energy, which the description (as shown above) aimed to convey.’

The linking phrase ‘However the description does not stop there’ links the first example, of the tree’s fall, to the second, of the boy’s viewpoint of the fall. In doing so, it shows both examples to be doing the same thing, showing that the verbs and adjectives present the fall as vivid and energetic, through portraying the fall as a series of happenings, and thus showing a suitable reason for answering with your straight response to the question asked, which furthermore presents your straight response a a suitable for answering the question.

2) In-between paragraphs; again linking phrases can be used to present your answer not as a group of separate paragraphs providing reasons for your straight response to a question, but a unified answer which makes a response to a question and then exapands upon this statement by providing reasons which all show why chose to respond to the question in the manner you did so. At the beginning of paragraphs you can link each paragraph to the last through linking phrases such as ‘Another reason I’, ‘As well as..’ etc.

For example, if you were to begin the next paragraph after the one just mentioned above, you may want to link it in such a way as ‘As well as its including verbs and adjectives to create a vivid energetic picture, another reason I consider the first paragraph to be an example of good descriptive writing is its including of imagery which appeals to the sense of sight and sound.’

This, as said, achieves the same effect as linking examples in your paragraphs; it shows each paragraph linked to another to be doing the same thing, providing reasons for choosing to respond to the question in the way you chose to.

After completing the main body of the answer, all that is left is the  conclusion . The purpose of the conclusion is to conclude your answer so here you should be reminding the marker of your response to the question, your reasons for doing so and how this suitably answers the question. Therefore, you should list your response, your reasons for this response and finally a couple of lines stating what these have shown over the entire answer; how your response and reasons are a suitable answer to the question. An example for the question we have been answering throughout could be:

‘As shown, I do consider the first paragraph to be an example of good descriptive writing. This is because the first paragraph uses verbs and adjectives to create a vivid energetic picture, it uses imagery which appeals to the senses of sight and sound and finally because of its personification of the tree, which adds to the dramatic visual effect. All of these combine to make the first paragraph an example of good descriptive writing because they allow the paragraph to show, rather than simply tell, what happened (the falling of the tree).’

Finally, with regards to the final quality needed, Accuracy of Mechanics , spelling and grammar should be of a high standard, with very few mistakes allowed before marks are deducted (this occurs when mistakes hamper the marker’s of your answer).

All in all, when you are answering your question for the part A/ comprehension section you should be focusing on:

  • Providing a response to the question
  • Providing reasons for this response
  • Stating why you can use these reasons
  • Evidence that proves your reasons are relevant
  • Clarity of Purpose: that you are answering the question (providing a response to the question)
  • Coherence of Delivery: that you are continuously answering the question
  • Efficiency of Language Use: that you are using the appropriate language (structure included) to answer the question
  • Accuracy of Mechanics: While doing all of the above you are using correct spelling and grammar
  • Introduction: list response and reasons for this
  • Main body: three paragraphs, each of which has linking phrase to the last paragraph to achieve coherency. Each paragraph should state the reason for your response in the introduction, explain why this reason justifies your response, while also giving examples to provide evidence of your reason.
  • Conclusion: Sum up your response and state its significance.

Enda's English Notes

Junior and Leaving Cert English Notes

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Summary of information, argument, persuasion etc…

NOTE: This article was originally published in the Irish Independent Written Word Supplement, March 2014.

Language Types

The way we use language changes depending on the situation. The words you use in a job interview are obviously more formal than the words you choose when chatting to your mates. If you write a fawning comment to win a competition you’ll use lots of superlatives (think ‘biggest’, ‘best’, ‘brightest’) but for a political speech on bank debt you’ll use financial terminology.

The division of Paper 1 into language categories (information, argument, persuasion, narration/description and aesthetic language) reflects the fact that we use language in different ways in different contexts. These categories aren’t absolute, in fact they often overlap, but understanding the basic rules for informing, arguing, persuading, describing and narrating will make you a more discerning reader (i.e. better at comprehensions) and a more skilled writer (i.e. better at QB & composing).

Language of Information

What is it? Writing whose main purpose is to communicate information.

Examples: Report, leaflet, instructions, travel guide, encyclopaedia.

Layout: The reader wants to glance at the page and select the information they are looking for instantly. Present the facts using a logical, easy to follow structure. Use headings, sub-headings and bullet points or numbering. However, if you are writing an informative essay, full prose paragraphs, rather than bullet point lists, will be expected.

Style: Your focus needs to be on facts and statistics. Every point you make should be backed up by a specific example. If you are giving advice, it needs to be specific – think “count your daily fruit and veg intake and try to gradually increase by one a day until you reach your target” rather than the so-vague-as-to-be-almost-completely-useless “eat more healthily”. You can make statistics up, but you’ll have to make them sound believable. One way to do this is to name the source of the statistic – researcher, title & institution e.g. “According to research carried out by Dr. Hazel Nolan, sociology professor at Harvard University, one reason for the increase in smoking amongst teenage girls is because it is perceived as a good way to control weight gain”. However, your statistic must be convincing! I once had a student write that “92% of teenage girls in Ireland are now smokers”. You only need to look around you (or sniff those around you!) to know this couldn’t possibly be true.

Your language must be appropriate to your audience. Reports commissioned by the government or by an organisation such as the Central Statistics Office (CSO) or the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) adopt a very formal and professional tone and use subject-specific vocabulary. However, a leaflet offering advice to teenagers on staying safe online would need to adopt a much less formal approach, otherwise the people it’s aimed at (teenagers) would stop reading.

Language of Argument

What is it? Writing which offers personal opinions & refutes opposing views logically is argumentative.

Examples: Speeches, debates, opinion pieces, letters to the editor, election material.

Layout: The headings and bullet points you used for the language of information are generally speaking not appropriate here. You are expected to write in complete sentences, alternating between short snappy sentences and longer more complex ones. You need to build up a series of inter-connected ideas paragraph by paragraph, with each one flowing into the next. Election leaflets, however, will use headings, bullet points, etc…

Style: Argumentative language is logical, rational and convincing. Obviously there is a certain amount of overlap with the language of information, with a focus on facts, statistics and examples. However, unlike the language of information, you are not presenting all of the facts and allowing the reader to decide for themselves. Instead, you are emphasising only those facts which support your point of view and offering logical reasons why those who disagree with your viewpoint are wrong.

A strong argument uses logic and reason: 1. to arrive at a particular point of view 2. to defend this position and 3. to refute counter arguments.

Once a person stops utilising the facts to prove their point and resorts to personal insults, they are no longer arguing, they are now persuading.

Language of Persuasion

What is it? Writing which draws you in emotionally to manipulate how you feel and how you think is persuasive.

Examples: Advertisements, competition entries, sermons, inspirational speeches.

Layout: It depends on the genre. Advertisements pay close attention to layout and use a wide variety of headings and font sizes for captions, slogans, statistics etc. A persuasive speech will use a traditional essay-style layout. A competition entry or proposal will have a clear structure – introduction; details (3 – 4 paragraphs); what you expect to happen next.

Style: Rather than purely factual (information) or logical (argument), persuasion manipulates your emotions to make you feel strongly about an issue. The writer draws on personal experiences to lure the reader or viewer into feeling certain emotions – sympathy, distress, disgust, admiration, pride, anger, fear, amusement. Once you are emotionally ‘hooked’ it becomes harder to analyse, assess and accept or reject the writer’s message logically because the heart, not the head, is now in the driving seat! Asking rhetorical questions, making urgent references to time, using emphatic, superlative and emotive words, repeating a key phrase, adopting collective personal pronouns, creating vivid imagery, hyperbole, contrast and humour are all effective ways of manipulating people’s feelings. Argument & persuasion often overlap – logic and emotion is a great combination if you want to win people over. You’ll also find significant overlap between the language of persuasion and descriptive writing, which also draws people in emotionally.

Language of Description / Narration

What is it? Narrative language tells a story, descriptive language paints a picture using words.

Examples: Novels, short stories, memoirs and diary entries narrate. Travel writing, personal essays and feature articles describe.

Layout: All stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. Hemmingway’s six word short story “For sale, baby shoes, never worn” has all the ingredients of a compelling story: set the scene, rousing the reader’s curiosity (for sale) draw the reader into the action emotionally (baby shoes) finish with an unexpected development (never worn) Obviously you need a more fully developed plot, setting and characters for a 1,000 word short story. Descriptive essays are less demanding because they do not require a plot, but they too must draw the reader in emotionally to what is being described.

Style: To write descriptively, you must choose specific verbs. Rather than writing “Susan walks over and says she’s really excited ” select verbs which add energy and movement: “ Susan bounces over, squealing with excitement ”. Adjectives add details about the size, shape, texture, location etc of the noun being described. Rather than writing “ As rain fell from the sky, my daughter began to cry ” include adjectives which add vivid detail “ As heavy rain thundered from the dark grey sky, tiny tears flooded my daughter’s pale face ”. However, be careful not to overload your sentences – too many adjectives can make your writing slow and cumbersome. Evoke all five senses (sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch) to add depth to your writing. Rather than writing “ A van pulled up and a burly man jumped out, ran into the shop, pulled out a gun and demanded that the shop assistant open the till ” instead create a multi-sensory experience for the reader: “ A shiny black van screeched to a halt and a burly man jumped out, bursting through the double doors and barrelling into the shop. Reaching for the cold metal butt of his revolver, he growled at the trembling shop assistant “open the f**king till! ”.

Aesthetic Language

What is it? Language which is crafted to create something beautiful. Only the language of information deliberately avoids trying to be beautiful & engaging, choosing instead to present the facts in a purely objective fashion. All other types – argumentative, persuasive, narrative and descriptive – aim for beauty as well as clarity.

Examples: Poetry, song lyrics, novels, plays. Any great work of art: think William Shakespeare, James Joyce, Seamus Heaney or equally Emily Bronte, Sylvia Plath, Eavan Boland.

Layout: There are no rules, there is only beauty. Emily Dickinson ignored all the ‘rules’ of grammar to create an aesthetic effect; so did James Joyce. Great writers master their craft by obeying the rules at first but they will also experiment and play with language to create something new.

Style: Similes, metaphors, personification, symbolism, contrast, alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhyme, rhythm, recurring motifs, pathetic fallacy, allusion, foreshadowing, dramatic irony, poetic justice. However, just using literary techniques won’t necessarily make your writing aesthetically pleasing and beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, so what I might consider beautiful, you might consider boring.

3 responses to “ Summary of information, argument, persuasion etc… ”

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  • Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2012: Paper 1 Section II Composing
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Preparation

  • Information
  • Clarity of purpose (30%).
  • Coherence of delivery (30%).
  • Efficiency of language use (30%).
  • Mechanics — grammar and spelling (10%).
  • This title gives you the opportunity to take a number of different approaches but remember it must be a personal account. Your ideas should be at the heart of the essay.
  • The essay should reflect your own views on the subject. Show a personal outlook.
  • If you are passionate about the subject, you are more likely to write a good essay. Passion can be very persuasive. You can employ language of persuasion and/or argument in this essay as you could argue or persuade the reader of your personal view on the matter.  
  • Think about what you consider to be a ‘marvel’ of today’s world. Why do you feel this way?
  • You may use the texts in the paper to give you ideas for your essay.
  • You will be rewarded for employing some of the conventions of a magazine or newspaper layout, e.g. headline, sub-headings, etc.
  • Shape your response in a manner appropriate to the register of a magazine or newspaper.
  • Think about the role played by memory and the past in our lives. Some ideas could include how we are shaped by our childhood, the importance of history to a nation, the negative or positive effects of holding onto the past, etc.
  • Try to make your article interesting and entertaining.
  • Provide a ‘hook’ at the start of the article to make your reader want to read your piece.
  • Be careful with structure. You should have a clear introduction and a firm conclusion.
  • Never forget your purpose, your audience and your language register (appropriate style, vocabulary and tone).
  • Read the above quote. Your story must be inspired in some way by it.
  • You must write a short story. You can take a variety of approaches but generally, all short stories have a beginning, middle and end, have at least one character, have some sense of tension, climax and resolution.
  • Ask yourself questions to create ideas — where, what, who, why, when and how?
  • Plan your answer carefully and methodically.
  • Beware of creating an overlong timeline. You have limited space and time. It would be impossible to cover a character’s entire life in 2-4 A4 pages.
  • Try to stick with 1-3 main characters.
  • You have a long time to write this essay. Re-read what you have written quickly to check it for mistakes.
  • Create atmosphere and images for the reader — it will improve your writing.
  • Share your main character’s thoughts with the audience. It is interesting when the character is saying one thing and thinking something else.
  • Good short stories always have some kind of tension. The tension could be within the character or it could arise from a situation or challenge.
  • If you like literature this may be the essay for you.
  • Think about the importance of literature in people’s lives. Some ideas could include immersing oneself in another world, allowing people to explore ideas and concepts safely, a means of escape, a way to enjoy language, as a way to create empathy, etc.
  • Remember your task is to persuade. Convince your audience.
  • Remember to pay attention to the genre — a popular magazine.
  • The language you use should reflect the genre in which you are writing.
  • Identify purpose, audience, language, style, register and tone to give you a clear idea what is needed.
  • Try and draw the reader into the piece through anecdotes or amusing observations.
  • Remember, your answer should be light-hearted and entertaining, not serious, but it can also be reflective.
  • Try and make links between your paragraphs in terms of ideas so that your essay flows.
  • Remember your audience and adapt your language accordingly. You are addressing an international gathering of young people.
  • You must tell the audience what you believe helps to define Ireland’s distinctive national identity. Some ideas could include the fact that we are an island, our troubled history, an obsession with the weather, emigration, etc.
  • It would be wise to greet the audience initially, give them your name and tell them why you are speaking.
  • Reach out to the audience and ensure they are listening. A good way to do this is to ask real or rhetorical questions. Another effective way to maintain audience engagement is by using humour.
  • You must have a definite end to your speech. You could thank the audience for their attention and open for questions. However, there are many other effective possibilities.
  • Your story must include a young character that is eager to leave home.
  • Remember your central character must be faced with making an important decision. Try to create a scenario that would interest the reader.
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  • Exercise Files

This lesson will teach you how to write clear, concise and well written introductions for essays in papers 1 and 2 of the English Leaving Cert exam. It will identify the features of a good introduction, show you examples of good introductions and give you the task of writing an introduction for a single text essay.

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IMAGES

  1. Leaving Cert English Paper 1 Sample Answers

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  2. Personal Essay Leaving Cert Samples

    writing a feature article leaving cert english

  3. Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert English 2024

    writing a feature article leaving cert english

  4. how to write a feature article

    writing a feature article leaving cert english

  5. Student Submitted Essay Sylvia Plath

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  6. How To Write An Article Format

    writing a feature article leaving cert english

VIDEO

  1. 25- article ||use of the||

  2. IA SCHOLAR LECTURE SERIES#021: Easy Writing 6: How to Write a Strong "Conclusion" in Article

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Introduction to the Composition

    Feature Article - Structure There is no set structure for a feature article, but there are a few tips that can help you to plan your composition. Strategies for writing good introductions to discursive essays Sometimes more than one method can be used to start your essay. 1. The funnel method In this method, the first sentence is broad and general.

  2. Feature Article example

    Writing a feature article: here is the process I went through to create this piece. Preparation. Choose a topic; Brainstorm ideas; Decide a basic paragraph plan & sequence for your ideas. Writing - a step by step guide. HEADLINE + SUB-HEADING. BYLINE (journalist's name) INTRODUCE AN IDEA = try to grab the readers' attention from the get go.

  3. Article Writing

    However, as higher level Leaving Cert English students you should all be capable of writing an excellent article for either a Q.B answer, or as an essay. You have all attained a...

  4. Article Archives

    Write a feature article for a magazine about the importance of myths, fairytales and legends. The article may be serious or light-hearted. (100 marks) Excellent essay via #625Lab. If you want to… Continue Reading Question B: "We are what we wear" for Leaving Cert English Martina December 17, 2017 #625Lab / Article / English / Question B

  5. PDF Examining The Five Language Genres

    Examining The Five Language Genres Paper One requires students to know the difference between the five language genres and to be able to write a composition in the genre appropriate to the set task.

  6. Articles

    Magazines usually have a target market and are aimed at a particular category of people. If writing for a magazine targeting a particular group you may use jargon specific to that hobby or topic. e.g. golf, fashion, knitting, gardening,scuba diving, adult, kids, t.v., photography, wedding, movies. Magazines are often more informal than newspapers.

  7. PDF Essay Writiing

    Write a feature article for a popular magazine in which you discuss the competing attractions of both urban and rural lifestyles. (2013 Theme: Story-telling) 'Memory is a ghost train too.' Write a feature article for a newspaper or magazine on the role played by memory and the past in our lives. (2012 Theme: Memory)

  8. Composing

    Writing a feature article: here is the process I went through to create this piece. Preparation. Choose a topic; Brainstorm ideas; Decide a basic paragraph plan & sequence for your ideas. Writing - a step by step guide. HEADLINE + SUB-HEADING. BYLINE (journalist's name) INTRODUCE AN IDEA = try to grab the readers' attention from the get go.

  9. Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2020: Paper 1 Section II Composing

    Question Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2020: Paper 1 Section II Composing Back to the question > answer Preparation Throughout your Leaving Certificate studies, be curious in all of your subjects. Read widely and write regularly.

  10. PDF English (Higher Level

    these features are employed by John Banville to tell the story of his childhood trips to Dublin. Support your response with reference to the text. (20) QUESTION B - 40 Marks You have been invited to write a feature article, entitled Monumental Matters - The Story of Statues, to appear in the magazine supplement of a weekend newspaper.

  11. Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2013: Paper 1 Section II Composing

    Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2013: Paper 1 Section II Composing ... Write a feature article for a popular magazine in which you discuss the competing attractions of both urban and rural lifestyles. 'There's a lot to be said for city life,' I used to murmur wistfully when I lived in the countryside some years ago. Now that I live in the ...

  12. Really Useful Links for Writers: Leaving Cert Essay Writing

    The Leaving Cert English exam is divided into two papers - Paper 1, which is all about comprehension and composition and Paper 2, which covers The Single Text , The Comparative Study and Poetry. Like the other two-part exams Maths and Irish, English 1 and 2 happen on two different days - the first Wednesday and Thursday mornings of the ...

  13. PDF Introduction to Comprehension Question B

    When writing formal letters, skip a line before beginning each new paragraph. In the third and subsequent paragraphs, you should continue to develop the theme of the letter, giving any facts that you think relevant. Four or five points should be sufficient for the Leaving Cert letter. Remember to avoid slang,

  14. Language of Persuasion

    2011 Write a feature article for a travel magazine about a place you have never been but would like to visit. In your article explain what you find fascinating about this place and why you would like to go there.

  15. Question B Paper 1

    In this tutorial our English teacher Gavin gives an overview of how to approach and prepare to answer Question B on Paper 1 in the Leaving Cert English Exam....

  16. Leaving Cert. English, Paper 1

    Select three features of the author's style in the written element of the text and comment on their effectiveness. Support your answer with reference to the written text. Write a personal response to the visual image in Text 3 that makes the greatest impact on you.

  17. Blog Writing

    Previous Post Previous post: Writing Tasks for Junior and Leaving Cert Next Post Next post: Speech on the Value of Education One thought on " Blog Writing "

  18. Summary of information, argument, persuasion etc…

    Use headings, sub-headings and bullet points or numbering. However, if you are writing an informative essay, full prose paragraphs, rather than bullet point lists, will be expected. Style: Your focus needs to be on facts and statistics. Every point you make should be backed up by a specific example.

  19. Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2012: Paper 1 Section II Composing

    2. Write a feature article for a newspaper or magazine on the role played by memory and the past in our lives. You will be rewarded for employing some of the conventions of a magazine or newspaper layout, e.g. headline, sub-headings, etc. Shape your response in a manner appropriate to the register of a magazine or newspaper.

  20. Lesson 1

    This lesson will teach you how to write clear, concise and well written introductions for essays in papers 1 and 2 of the English Leaving Cert exam. It will identify the features of a good introduction, show you examples of good introductions and give you the task of writing an introduction for a single text essay.

  21. Leaving Cert English Composition

    Composition - Aoife O'Driscoll - Personal and Discursive Essays. Comprehension B and Composition Slidesshow - Aoife O'Driscoll. Debate Speech Layout - Slideshow. Essays 2014. How to Write A Feature Article. Quotes for use in compositions. Speech writing. Revision Notes for Leaving Certificate English Students.

  22. Write a News/Magazine Article..

    Websites from the community (1) Find Irish (Gaeilge) past exam papers broken into topics such as poetry or prose. Listen to Aural exams. Prepare for Irish oral with videos and notes on sraith pictiur.

  23. PDF Writing an Editorial

    Make it clear what the topic. is, give some background to it, say who it affects and why it. should be discussed. In other. words, give the 'who, what, when, where, why'. Outline the key points of the. issue or controversy in an.