Checkpoint ESL

Paper 3 Writing Revision: Parts 1&2

Paper 3
There are two parts to the paper:

PART 1: Email – write an email to a friend, covering information given in

three bullet points (45 words max).

PART 2: Story/ Essay – write a short story OR a short essay (130 words max)
Part 1
Email
Part 1
Part 1 consists of one task, a 45 – 55 word email to a friend.

In order to do well you have to:

• Cover the information in the three bullet points
• Use appropriate vocabulary
• Be accurate with your grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Use linking words and cohesive devices
• Write a friendly email
Email Mark Scheme

This is the description of a top-level answer, one that would score 15/15.
Imagine the bullet points were: Dear Pat,I apologised for missingB
your party on sunday, how about
• Apologise for missing Pat’s Birthday party I will take you out for lunch this
• Explain why you missed it weekend instead? Yours sincerly,
• Suggest what you could do instead Anh
24
How would you score Answers A-C: Words

Hi Pat, A Hi Pat C

How are you? I’m very sorry for miss I hope you are doing well. I’m so sorry for missing
your party yesterday. My neighbours your birthday party last night. I lost my phone, so
I didn’t have your address! Maybe I could make it
cat was stucked up a tree and we had
up to you with a trip to the cinema this Friday?
to got her down. Come to my house
for lunch at 11am tomorrow. Don’t be
late! Thanks,
See you then. Anh 45
Words
Your friend,
Imagine the bullet points were: Dear Pat I apologised for missingB
your party on sunday, how about
• Apologise for missing Pat’s Birthday party I will take you out for lunch this
• Explain why you missed it weekend instead?
C= 3/5 Yours sincerly,
• Suggest what you could do instead O= 3/5
Anh L= 3/5
24
Words BP2 not attempted
How would you score Answers A-C: Not a very friendly email!
Some language errors
Hi Pat
A Hi Pat C
How are you? I’m very sorry for miss
I hope you are doing well. I’m so sorry for missing
your party yesterday. My neighbours
your birthday party last night. I lost my phone, so
cat was stucked up a tree and we had I didn’t have your address! Maybe I could make it
to got her down. Come to my house up to you with a trip to the cinema this Friday?
for lunch at
C= 11am
4/5 tomorrow. Don’t be C= 5/5
late! O= 4/5 O=5/5
L= 4/5 Thanks, L= 5/5
See you then.
Three BPs covered. Well organised
Anh Three BPs clearly covered 45
BP3 – should be a suggestion
Your friend, Friendly coherent email
Some language errors Words
46 Accurate language
Tips for Part 1 - Email
• Make sure you address each of the three bullet points as clearly as
possible
• Include a friendly email greeting and sign off
• Don’t be too bossy or demanding
• Don’t over-complicate things or add irrelevant information
• Check your work carefully: tenses, subject-verb, single/plural
• Set the email out properly and include linking words
• Take care with sentence punctuation: full stops
• Aim to write about 45-55 words
Practice Part 1 Question
Question 6
Your English-speaking friend Toni has invited you to either go swimming or play
tennis on Saturday.

Write an email to Toni. In your email you should

• thank Toni for the invitation
• explain whether you would prefer to go swimming or to play tennis on Saturday
• suggest a place to meet.

Write 45 – 55 words.
Part 2
Story or Essay
Part 2
Part 2 consists of one task, a 110 – 130 word story or essay.

In order to do well you have to:

• Plan
• Know what makes a good story or essay
• Structure your ideas
• Develop your ideas
• Use language as accurately as you can
Story/ Essay Mark Scheme

This is the description of a top-level answer, one that would score 20/20.
Part 2
Story
Story Task

Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.

Your story must begin with this sentence:

Marco was surprised when he saw the small green door.

Write your story in 110–130 words in an appropriate style

below.
Story Task
A reminder Notice the
to use verb tenses in
Standard Your English teacher has asked you to write a story. the first line –
English and continue in
avoid Your story must begin with this sentence: the same
swearing etc tense (past)
Marco was surprised when he saw the small green door.
The opening Use details
line you are like this as
given is not
Write your story in 100–120 words in an appropriate style
inspiration
optional –
below.
for your own
remember to ideas
copy it
down! Aim for 120 words
Story Plan
Plan your story in three parts:

Beginning
Describe the setting/ describe the character/ introduce the situation (30 words)

Middle
Add a problem, difficulty, obstacle, complication, puzzle, mystery etc (60 words)

End
Resolve the problem, mystery etc to arrive at a satisfying ending (30 words)
Example Story
Marco was surprised when he saw the small green door. It was about the same height
as him and made of brightly coloured plastic. But there was something even stranger
about it.
He had seen it somewhere before, though he was sure that it used to be much smaller.
And there were other strange things. Although the furniture in the room looked
antique, it was all made of glossy plastic too. Even the food on the table didn’t look
quite real. There was a clock on the wall, but Marco noticed that its hands never
moved.
Suddenly, the house split open and a giant face appeared, the face of his sister!
‘Hello Marco,’ she whispered. ‘Welcome to the Doll’s House.’
120 words
Story Plan
Plan your story in three parts:

Beginning
Describe the setting/ describe the character/ introduce the situation (30 words)
More detail about the door – plastic.
Middle
Add a problem, difficulty, obstacle, complication, puzzle, mystery etc (60 words)
Other strange things in the room. Furniture, clock.
End
Resolve the problem, mystery etc to arrive at a satisfying ending (30 words)
His sister! Doll’s house
Example Story: KEY
Content
Beginning Communicative Achievement
Organisation
Descriptive detail Language

Descriptive detail
Marco was surprised when he
saw the small green door. It was
A ‘hook’ to build
interest about the same height as him
and made of brightly coloured
Descriptive
language plastic. But there was something
Linking word even stranger about it.
(it’s usually ok
to start a
sentence with
But or And in
story-writing) Write about 30 words
Example Story: KEY
Content
Beginning Communicative Achievement
Organisation
Language

Marco was surprised when he

saw the small green door. It was
Descriptive detail
about the same height as him
Descriptive
Descriptive detail and made of brightly coloured language
plastic. But there was something Linking word
A ‘hook’ to build even stranger about it. (it’s usually ok
interest to start a
sentence with
But or And in
story-writing)
Write about 30 words
Example Story: KEY
Middle Content
Communicative Achievement
Builds mystery Organisation
He had seen it somewhere Language
Descriptive detail
before, though he was sure that
it used to be much smaller.
Descriptive detail And there were other strange
Builds mystery things. Although the furniture in
Short paragraph
the room looked antique, it was
Builds suspense all made of glossy plastic too.
Even the food on the table didn’t
Linking word look quite real. There was a clock
on the wall, but Marco noticed
Linking word
that its hands never moved.

Linking word
Write about 60 words
Example Story:
Middle Short paragraph
Builds suspense

He had seen it somewhere

Linking word
before, though he was sure that
Descriptive
it used to be much smaller. language
Builds mystery
And there were other strange
Linking word
things. Although the furniture in
Descriptive
Descriptive detail
the room looked antique, it was language
all made of glossy plastic too.
Even the food on the table didn’t Linking word
look quite real. There was a clock
Descriptive detail
on the wall, but Marco noticed
Builds mystery
that its hands never moved.

Write about 60 words

Example Story: End
Short paragraph
Builds drama

Builds drama Suddenly, the house split open Dramatic adverb

Descriptive detail and a giant face appeared, the Descriptive language
face of his sister! Exclamation mark

Dialogue ‘Hello Marco,’ she whispered. New line for

Twist ending/ new speaker
resolves part of ‘Welcome to the Doll’s House.’
Punctuation of
the mystery
direct speech

Write about 30 words

Tips for Part 2 – Story-Writing
• Spend 5 minutes planning – you should still have time to write 120 words
• Try to structure your story into 3 parts: beginning, middle, end
• Write at least three paragraphs
• Don’t over-complicate things: just 1-2 characters, settings, events
• Include some description – use some descriptive language
• Include a little dialogue – correct punctuation and paragraphing
• Try to build interest in the story
• Use linking words
• Stick to the same tense as the first line – usually past
• Spend 5 minutes checking and correcting your work at the end
Part 2 Practice Question - Story

Your English teacher wants you to write a story.

Your story must begin with this sentence:

The ball flew through the air and landed in a tree.

Write your story in 110 – 130 words in an appropriate style below.

Part 2
Essay
Essay Task (from the Grade 8
Mock)
In your English class, you have been talking about what
people should and shouldn’t say to each other.
Your teacher has asked you to write this essay:

‘People should always be completely honest and say

exactly what they think.’ What’s your opinion?

Write your essay in 110–130 words in an appropriate style

below.
Essay Plan – 4-5 Paragraphs
Introduction
Introduce opposite point of view to your own (about 20 words)

Other Plans
Body Paragraph 1 • You could give a third
reason and add an extra
First reason for your viewpoint (about 40 words) paragraph, but you need to
make sure you develop your
ideas properly.
Body Paragraph 2 • It is also possible to take a
Second reason for your viewpoint (about 40 words) more balanced approach,
and spend one paragraph on
each side of the argument
Conclusion
Offer a next step/ solution/ compromise/ way forward (about 20 words)
 Essay Task (from the Grade 8
Mock)
General
In your English class, you have been talking about what focus of the
An essay for essay
your people should and shouldn’t say to each other.
teacher: a Your teacher has asked you to write this essay:
fairly formal
style is Specific
required statement
‘People should always be completely honest and say you need to
exactly what they think.’ What’s your opinion? discuss. The
focus is on
saying what
Write your essay in 100–120 words in an appropriate you really
style below. think, rather
than on
honesty
Aim for 120 words (or just over!) generally
Essay Plan – 4 – 5 Paragraphs
Introduction
Introduce opposite point of view to your own (about 20 words)
Some believe in honesty at all times. Exceptions?
Other Plans
Body Paragraph 1 • You could give three reasons
and add an extra paragraph,
First reason for your viewpoint (about 40 words) but you need to make sure
Don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings you develop your ideas
properly.
Body Paragraph 2 • It is also possible to take a
Second reason for your viewpoint (about 40 words) more balanced approach,
and spend one paragraph on
Avoid conflict each side of the argument
Conclusion
Offer a next step/ solution/ way forward (about 20 words)
Be honest generally, but don’t always say what you think
Example Essay
Some people believe that we should always tell the truth and speak our minds.
However, there may be occasions when honesty is not the best policy.
Firstly, in certain situations, being too honest could hurt someone’s feelings. For
example, a friend might turn to you on their wedding day and ask you how they
look. Even if you thought they looked awful, it would be a bad idea to say so.
A second reason to keep quiet might be to avoid conflict. If an argument became
very heated, it might be best to keep an opinion to yourself and wait for tempers
to cool.
In conclusion, of course being open and honest is generally the right approach,
but that doesn’t mean we should share every thought and opinion.
128 words
Example Essay: KEY
Content
Introduction Communicative Achievement
Organisation
Introduction to
Language
outline viewpoint
Some people believe that we should
Idea from the
always tell the truth and speak our
question in own Linking word
words minds. However, there may be
occasions when honesty is not the Clear and appropriate
Opposite idea best policy. phrasing

Approximately 25 words
Example Essay: Body
Paragraph 1
Builds a logical case
Firstly, in certain situations,
Discourse marker
being too honest could hurt
First main idea
Topic sentnce someone’s feelings. For
example, a friend might turn Discourse marker

to you on their wedding day Compound sentnce

Development with and ask you how they look.
an example
Even if you thought they Complex sentence
looked awful, it would be a
Further
development bad idea to say so.

Approximately 40 words
Example Essay: Body Paragraph
2
Continues to build
Discourse marker
logical case
A second reason to keep quiet Linking word
Second main idea might be to avoid conflict. If an
Topic sentence
argument became very heated, Range of appropriate
vocabulary
Development with it might be best to keep an
a general example/ opinion to yourself and wait for Complex sentence
explanation
tempers to cool.

Approximately 40 words
Example Essay: Conclusion
Discourse marker
Logical conclusion –
follows from essay
In conclusion, of course being
Balance of ideas – open and honest is generally Balancing language
a compromise
the right approach, but that
doesn’t mean we should share Linking word
every thought and opinion.

Approximately 25 words
Tips for Part 2 – Essay-Writing
• Spend 5 minutes planning – you should still have time to write 120 words
• Structure your essay into 4-5 parts: introduction, main body (2-3 paras), conclusion
• Write at least four paragraphs
• Include an introduction and a conclusion
• Aim for at least two main ideas in the main body
• Use examples to develop your ideas
• Try to build a logical case
• Use discourse markers to start of paragraphs – firstly, furthermore, finally, in conclusion
• Use linking words – but, because, so, therefore, however
• Spend 5 minutes checking and correcting your work at the end
Part 2 Practice Question - Essay

In your English class, you have been talking about sport.

Your teacher has asked you to write this essay:

“Some people say that all teenagers should do sport. Do you agree?”

Write your essay in 110 – 130 words in an appropriate style below.