Writing Text Types

Vlog | Embedded Interview 1

Vlog | Embedded Interview 2

Vlog | Embedded Interview 3

Article

Purpose: Inform, persuade, entertain
Structure: Title/headline, introduction, main Body, conclusion
Language: Semi-formal, 1st person, narrative Subject Matter

Analysis and opinion on current issues.
Profiles of, or interviews with well known-people
Humorous reflections
Personal experience or anecdotes
Background information on local, national or international events
Human interest stories

Headline

Grabs the reader's attention and persuades them to read the article
Highlights the main idea or angle of the article.

Introduction

Outlines the subject or theme of the article
Provoke the reader's interest by making an unusual statement.
Provide any necessary background information.
Invite the reader to take sides by making a controversial statement.
Heighten the drama of an event or incident to intensify its appeal.
Establish the writer's tone.
Create a relationship between the writer and the reader

Body of the Article

Subheadings.
Facts and statistics which support the writer's opinion.
Personal viewpoints.
Opinions from authorities and experts.
Quotes and interviews.
Anecdotes and stories.
Specific names, places and dates.

Conclusion

Leave a lasting impression
Reminding the reader of the article's main idea
Suggesting an appropriate course of action.
Encouraging a change of attitude or opinion.

Suggested Phrases

Title or headline : (eg: 3 ways to improve your writing) - catchy
Opening sentence: the only way to… it’s shocking how many people… do you agree that…
Call to action: let’s learn how to…, now is the best time to…, transform how you…
Clear idea: One way to improve… Building on the idea that… Another way to look at this…
Conclusion: brings back the main point, makes a connection, provides insight

Strongly suggest to include:

Facts, anecdotes, quotes, rhetorical questions, emotive words to provoke reader’s personal response
Creates sense of now, dramatic present simple, direct and indirect speech/ active and passive voice
Addressing the audience (we all know/ let’s imagine…), slight flashes of informality

Blog

Purpose: Sharing, thought, factual information
Structure: Introduction, body paragraph (content), conclusion
Language: Semi-formal to informal tone

Blog: like a public diary, written from a personal point of view, but also written to share the writer's thoughts, feelings and beliefs with others.
May sometimes be emotional or reflective.
Purpose: sharing, thought, factual information
Audience: mass media (public) or close members (friends)
Language: semi-formal to informal tone
Usual tone: chatty, conversational, fresh, direct
Must have an engaging style and voice
Show awareness of the reader, through direct address to the reader (“YOU”)
Must include your feelings, thoughts and opinion
Features: title, writer’s name, date posted, pictures or caption (optional)
Content: Introduction (share, overview, main idea, context), Body paragraph (content), conclusion (reflection, hope, encouragement)

Layout

URL of the blog (eg: www.teenaroundtheglobe.com)
Date
Headline for the post

Introduction

Address your followers and tell them what the post will be about.

Eg: Hello my loyal followers ! I am really sorry for the late update, so today’s post will be mainly about…….. (make reference to context and purpose of the blog from question)

Body

Explain your thoughts on the main idea, dive into in-depth details

Conclusion

Final reflection on the experience/ideas

Must include provocative closing statement, invite readers to comment

Eg: “Do not forget to like my post and check out my pics! Leave a comment below and tell me what you want my next post to be about !”

Author's name

Posted by: .....

Tips:

Have a snappy headline
Must have an interesting readable style. Blogs are known for their casual writing.
A blog is a conversation. Try to write the way you speak. Avoid jargon and clichés and don't overuse the thesaurus. It may be helpful to speak your entry out loud before trying to type it or to read it aloud after you've written it. If you find yourself struggling as you read aloud or speaking unnaturally, think about what you might have said if you were talking to a friend rather than writing

Diary/Journal

Purpose: Self-reflection, capturing moments, and expressing feelings.
Structure: Introduction (date, day and time), Heading (descriptive heading), Body (experiences, thoughts, and emotions), Conclusion (summarize or reflect)
Language: Semi-formal to informal tone BEFORE WRITING

A completely personal essay that is intended for students to make essays with no formal language whatsoever
Diary usually used in essays that are required to talk about personal feelings, so it is better to include any words/phrases that show the emotion behind it (irritated, disgusted, etc.)
Written at a 1st person POV, with the purpose of only the writer is the one who can read it
The essay in fully in past tense as it usually is written for questions for recalling and/or reflecting experiences or venting on personal problems

DURING WRITING

Can include any abbreviations such as tbh (to be honest) and ngl (not gonna lie)
Can also include any words that clearly resemble your emotions that are not usually written in essays such as yippee! or ughhh!
Make the essay as informal as possible as it is a personal essay
Can also include modern day slang for words/phrases that is KNOWN to the examiner such as yapping
Even though it is an informal and personal essay, ensure the task is done in an organized manner and the facts are explained clearly as students always stray away from it when they are too into it
Every points/tasks is separated into separate paragraphs for the ease of marking and organization marks
Include hooks that draw in the reader (eg. Can you believe that?!)

Date of writing the journal/diary
Journal/Diary entry
Salutation (Dear diary, or name the journal/diary itself such as Dear Lucky)
The content
Sign off/closure

Don’t use too much/overuse abbreviations as it affects the total word count
Don’t make up any abbreviations on the spot and use abbreviations that are frequently used or well-known
Can include hand-drawn emojis
Curse words are acceptable as long it is light (eg. hell and damn it)
Describe fully of the content itself

Email

Purpose: To communicate information or a message in a clear, concise, and polite manner.
Structure: Greeting, introduction, body, closing.
Language: Formal to informal. BEFORE WRITING AN EMAIL

Identify the context of the message

Who is the sender and receiver(determining the suitable tone & formality of the message)
Is there a specific point to touch on / an important point to be noted when writing?

E-mail is a relatively simple and flexible text type that can be chosen to write all kinds of content

From : shamirhensem@gmail.com

To : hhnim@yahoo.com

Topic : Inquiry About CAS Project Approval Process

-insert content-

Regards,

Shamir — Salutation

Note that if the question provides email as one of the text type but you think that it asks for another type that is not provided in the question, you can always use email as the base and write it in the form of the other text type. (just put the email address and topic on top, [e.g - report in email, Letter to the editor, and more]
Once the context is determined, be mindful to add in some suitable vocabulary to fit with the message. This would help with the mark in Conceptual understanding.
E.g - For informal email with friends, use friendly and expressive vocab and for formal email, use vocabs that are suitable for professional mails.

Proposal

Purpose: To outline a problem, propose a solution, and convince the reader of its viability.
Structure: An introduction to the problem, followed by background/context, objectives/goals, and proposed solutions with supporting evidence45.
Language: Formal. Clear, persuasive, and tailored to the audience’s background and interests.

Plan - Structure your essay proposal outline with an introduction presenting the problem, body paragraphs proposing solutions supported by evidence, and a conclusion summarizing key points and emphasizing the significance of your solution.
Draft - Write your essay clearly, avoiding jargon and ensuring logical arguments. Follow the required proposal paper format.
Revision - Review your draft for coherence, strengthen arguments, correct errors, and ensure clarity.
Proofreading - Finally, proofread your text for minor mistakes or inconsistencies. A polished essay demonstrates your commitment to quality.

Introduction - This section should hook the reader’s attention with an engaging opening or epigraph and succinctly present your thesis statement.
Problem Statement - Delve into the issue you seek to address. Outline its intricacies, origins, and implications what will happen if this issue is not tackled. Highlights the urgency of the problems to set the stage for the significance of the proposal.
Proposal Statement - Present the solution in detail, outlining its merit and potential drawbacks. Emphasize the uniqueness of your proposal.
Implementation Plan - Layout a comprehensive implementation plan detailing the practical steps to execute your solution. Make sure to include potential challenges and offer suggestions to mitigate them.
Expected Outcome - Paint a clear picture of positive outcomes your proposal is expected to achieve.
Evaluation - Provide realistic evaluation of the practicality of your proposal within the current context.
Timeline & Resources - Specify the necessary resources for implementations, such as funding, manpower and equipment.
Conclusion - Summarize the keypoint of your essay proposal. Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion, focusing instead on reinforcing the significance of your proposal.

Dos:

Clearly define your proposal
Provide solid evidence and support
Address potential counterarguments
Use clear and persuasive language
Follow the guidelines and formats

Don'ts:

Ignore opposing view
Rely solely on emotional appeals
Overlook the importance of research
Use vague or ambiguous language
Neglect revision & editing

Letter

Purpose: Professional or personal communication.
Structure: Greeting, introduction, body, conclusion
Language: Formal & Informal

1. FORMAL

Written for official purposes!
Example of Purposes:
- Job Application
- Resignation
- Complaint
- Request
Tone: respectful and professional (polite but firm)
Register: formal
Audience: The intended recipients of the letter
Example:
- senior management
- executives
- higher-ups within an organization
Have structured paragraphs and sections
Include details about why you’re writing, and expression of your appreciation to the recipient for considering your request

2. INFORMAL

Written for personal or social purposes!
Example of purposes:
- Catch up on life events
- Share personal news
- Invitation
- Express gratitude
- Offer congratulations
Tone: Friendly, warm, casual, and respectful
Register: Informal
Audience examples:
- Friends / Close acquaintances
- Family members
- Tend to have a free-flowing and less structured content

FORMAL LETTER:

Sender Address
Date
Receiver Address (AT THE LEFT OF THE LETTER)
A formal greeting : Dear sir/ Madam _______ (STRICTLY FULL NAME)
Subject (sums up the purpose of the letter)
Body
Conclusion
Appropriate sign off : Kind regards/ Yours Sincerely

INFORMAL LETTER:

FORMAL

Avoid slang, colloquialisms, and overly casual language
Clearly state the purpose of the letter in the opening paragraph
Be specific about what you are requesting or communicating (straight to the point)
Ensure your sentences are clear and easy to understand
Use the recipient's full name in the opening address.
Use a new paragraph for each point.
Finish with a concluding sentence, which may be a general statement of your hope that the author will come to your school.

INFORMAL

Tone should be friendly, warm, and relaxed
Acceptable to use colloquial language and slang
Use casual and affectionate sign-offs

Letter to Editor

Purpose: Express opinions, concerns, or suggestions to a newspaper or magazine.
Structure: Introduction (State the purpose and refer to a recent article), Body (Present your viewpoint, evidence, or arguments), Conclusion (Summarize and sign off)
Language: Persuasive, concise, and respectful4.

A letter to the editor follows the format of a formal letter
formal detailed letter addressed to the editor of a specific publication/magazine/newspaper
addresses issues that are to be taken into serious regard.
written and submitted to a magazine or a newspaper to raise awareness of a social issue.

Sender complete address
Receiving editor address
Subject
Salutation
Body of the letter
Complimentary closing
Signature
Name and designation

Formal Language.
Keep your letter short and to the point.
Do not use acronyms or slang.

Speech

Purpose: To address an audience (e.g., public speaking, presentations).
Structure: Introduction (Grab attention and state the topic.), Body (Organize main points logically.), Conclusion (Summarize key points and leave an impact.)
Language: Engaging, persuasive, and suited to the audience. What are the types and purposes of speeches?

Informative

To provide useful information
To explain process/ procedure

A teacher telling students about earthquakes.
A student talking about her research.

Persuasive

Convince people to change in some way.
They think
They do something
They start doing something that they have never done before

Improve your health through better diet
Become an organ donor

Demonstrative

Teaches and demonstrates something

How to start a blog
How to bake a cake

Entertaining

Provides pleasure and enjoyment

After dinner speech
Commencement speech

Title
Content
- Has a purpose
- Attention grabber opening
- A clear organization
- Has an interaction with audience
- Topic is relatable and content is interesting
- Rhetorical questions
- Using statistics
- Quoting experts
- List of three
- Repetition
- Personal experience
- Use uncomplicated sentences
- Use transitional phrases/words
- Use figurative language
- End with a bang

Speech
- choose a clear approach to, or 'angle' on, the topic or issue
- organise explanation and argument to form a lucid and convincing case
- link ideas together effectively and explicitly
- engage the audience through direct address and rhetorical effects
Register-Semi formal to informal
Tone- Appropriately serious tone

Pamphlet/Brochure

Purpose: Inform or promote a product, service, or cause.
Structure: Concise, visually appealing layout with headings, images, and key information.
Language: Clear, persuasive, and visually engaging. Types of folds

half fold
trifold
four fold

Examples:

Promoting fundraising
Promoting activities
Promoting businesses

Catchy titles
Subheadings
Bullet points
Numbering
May include contact information
Short intro and outro
NO mark for Graphic design

HOW TO ANSWER? 2ND picture of informat letter format

When is it appropriate?

Present info clearly and straightforward
Targeted general public
Can be received by anyone, anywhere, anytime

Report

Purpose: To inform about facts, procedures; to provide analysis.
Structure: Title page: Includes title, author, date, etc. Executive summary: Brief overview. Introduction: Context and purpose. Body: Detailed information, data, and analysis. Conclusion: Summary and recommendations.
Language: Formal. Language

Register formal
Language impersonal and factual (avoid first person “I” and emotive vocabulary)
Uses cautious language e.g. “may'” and “could” etc.
Uses straightforward but precise language
Content is logically organised and concise

Audience Authority, general public

Report Title
Name(s) of Author(s)
Short Summary of the Report
Introduction
Headings and Subheadings
Conclusions

Focus on information ('what is being done now,' or 'what the survey/research found’ )
Analysis ('what this information means for future policy,' 'what courses of action should be considered,' 'what action should be taken and why')

Forum

Purpose: Presents both sides of an argument. Concludes by expressing a preference.
Structure: Introduction ( introduce the topic) Main Body ( arguments for positive and negative side.) Conclusion ( summarize & offer recommendations.)
Language: Clear, concise. Separate facts from opinions.

Social media/forum posts are brief messages or updates shared on online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or discussion forums.

Follows the conventions and limitations of the specific social media/forum platform, such as character limits, formatting options, and privacy settings.

Audience Followers, friends, or members of the online community who engage with the platform.

Allows for creativity, humor, or emotive language to capture attention and spark interest among users.

Engagement: Use questions, polls, or calls to action to encourage interaction and participation from the audience. Prompt users to share their thoughts, experiences, or opinions on the topic.

Visual Content:Incorporate images, videos, gifs, or emojis to enhance the appeal and visibility of your post. Visual content can help grab attention and convey emotions or messages more effectively than text alone.

Hashtags and Mentions Use relevant hashtags and mentions to increase the discoverability of your post and connect with users who share similar interests or topics. Research trending hashtags or popular topics to leverage current conversations and trends.

Language:A great text to use various idiomatic expressions and slang. Ex: LOL, FOMO, YOLO, etc.

Set of Guidelines

Purpose: To give advice in a break-down detailed instructions
Structure: Have Intorduction Body and Conclusion
Language: Semi-formal register. Tone is direct, clear and informative Audience: A specific group of people who have an interest in the topic
Tone: Direct, clear and informative

Must have clear and focused heading/title
Must have clearly set-out format e.g. bullets, sub-headings, numbering, etc.
Must have a short introduction and conclusion.

Structure
Introduction states the specific purpose of the guidelines and connects with the audience
Body: develops, explains and illustrates each piece of advice
Conclusion: suggests or urges the audience to take action and implement the advice.

*organized into sections with headlines Formatting 1ST-picture of set-of-guidelines

Style and register:

may use modals such as “should/shouldn't”, “must/mustn't ” “may” etc
may use imperatives especially in the conclusion

Review

Purpose: To inform and communicate an opinion
Structure: Introduction, Summary of Sources, Critical Analysis, Conclusion
Language: Formal or Informal. Evaluative Tone. Audience: Specific group like (Readers or newspapers, magazines or online blog or review sites)
Subject: Book, Film, Restaurant, Documentary, Event

To offer a writer's personal opinion of the qualities of the book, film or other type of text being reviewed.
These views will be supported by reference to details in the book or film that support the reviewer's comments.
A reviewer's overall opinion can be positive or negative
May use first person “I” to personalize the review

Title Catchy and interesting title
Introduction Aims to grab the reader's attention, provides background about the author and gives the writer's overall opinion
1st Body Paragraph Gives some information about the story/book to provide a context for an evaluation of the writer's success (never tell the whole story or give too much away)
Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs each discuss a few carefully selected aspects of the book or film such as plot, characterization, acting, effects, themes, quality of language and other literary devices.
There should be a balance between providing readers with background about the book and evaluating its success. Evaluation is the most important feature of a review

Conclusion A clear recommendation to readers of the review about whether the book/film is worth reading/watching Tips:

Read a lot of reviews example to understand the writing style
Use interesting vocabulary, especially rich adjectives and adverbs in context with the topic

Embedded Interview

Purpose: To inform, discuss controversial issues and entertain
Structure: Introduction ( Introduce the topic or theme you’ll be exploring), Body ( Present the interview content in a coherent and organized manner.), Conclusion ( Summarize key points from the interview)
Language: Formal tone, Quotation and Narrative flow. Audience: Radio audience (BBC Radio)
Context: Assign to interview someone
Tone: Engaging, interested about the interviewee, respectful, fascination How to write?

Write about what happen in the interview
Include direct quotation: “i love books” said the aspiring student
Include indirect quotes: According to Dr Stephen, most of the medical officers faced struggles due to the long working hours
Introduction: introduce about the topic and person
Outro: Last words from the person, and your feeling after interviewing the person

Format

Conventions

will have a relevant headline/title
will have an introduction and a conclusion
will use a style aimed at involving and interesting the reader
will refer to the interview, including direct quotations and/or reported speech; it will not be a verbatim transcript.

News Report

Purpose: A news report essay provides concise and factual information to readers.
Structure: Headline: Main topic. Byline: Indicates the writer of the article. Lead (Introduction): Covers important facts. Body: Detailed account of the event. Ending: Concludes with a solution.
Language: Formal Audience: General public/specific demographic targeted by the newspaper
Language:

Formal and largely factual
Descriptive, Objective & Journalistic Tone
Generally impersonal tone, and neutral style (without personal opinion of writer)

Useful Phrases

This report will describe/ The aim of this report is to…
It has been mentioned/suggested/pointed out that …
The opinion has been expressed by …
It is apparent that …

Social Media Postings

Purpose: Make a public, online statement about one's personal stance.
Structure: Not enough information
Language: Informal to Semi-formal. Tone is Lively/Personal. First person narration. Context: Question will set up a context by explaining what sort of social media or what sort of online forum is involved.
Audience: Likely to be specified by the kind of media/forum
Register: Informal to semi-formal.
Tone: Lively and personal
Language: First person narration/statement

seek to engage the reader, e.g. direct address, lively and interesting style
may include typical online communication techniques, e.g. references to other postings, members and forums, hashtags, @references, and 'likes' etc.

*NO specific format given

Since this is a new class of text types, detailed Format and Approach are not yet fully clear.

InThinking IB

A 'social media posting / online forum' will be appropriate if the task requires you to join in and contribute to an online discussion of some sort. This will mean that you make a public statement of what you think to a fairly undefined audience (or at least, people that you don't know personally) - and the task is likely to specify that you are responding to earlier statements in the forum, either for or against.

Not to be confused with...

... 'blog' or '(informal) email / letter '... a 'blog' is an online statement, but it is essentially your own personal magazine - you decide to select and present some of your personal ideas in a lively entertaining way to a general, undefined audience. You want to entertain, and hook your (unknown) audience by your interesting, even provocative, opinions and experiences. An '(informal) email / letter' is not a public form of statement: it is intended to communicate some personal experiences, thoughts and feelings to somebody you know. This sort of writing is public only in the sense that you are having a conversation limited to a friend - it is a private form of sharing.

Let's Vlog!!!

Item 1: Basic Grammar

Item 2: Vlog & Text Type Info

Item 3: English IB Resources