Section A: Directed Writing (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language): Flashcards
Exam code: 0500 & 0990
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Evaluation
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Cards in this collection (30)
Evaluation
Making a justified, well-reasoned judgement about a text, e.g. deciding how convincing a writer's argument is.
Bias
Presenting only one side of an argument, e.g. using selective evidence or presenting opinions as facts.
Purpose
What the writer aims to do: inform, persuade, entertain or argue.
Credibility
How far a text can be trusted, e.g. statistics can make it more credible.
Fill in the gap: Evaluation asks you to act like a judge: the text provides the evidence, and you provide the ＿＿＿＿＿.
Answer: Evaluation asks you to act like a judge: the text provides the evidence, and you provide the verdict.
Fill in the gap: A text is more ＿＿＿＿＿ when it presents balanced information, uses a neutral tone and offers credible evidence.
Answer: A text is more objective when it presents balanced information, uses a neutral tone and offers credible evidence.
What three steps help you form a strong judgement?
Identify the focus of the question → consider the evidence (language, tone, organisation) → reach a clear conclusion
How do you link a piece of evidence to your judgement?
Say what it suggests, then why that supports your judgement, e.g. statistics can make a text more credible.
True or False?
Use your own outside knowledge of the topic to support your judgement.
False.
Your judgement must be based on the passage, not your own external knowledge.
How long should your Question 1(a) answer be?
Concise: 3–4 distinct points, each supported by a detail from the extract; no introduction or conclusion, as it's only 5 marks.
Inclusive pronouns
Words such as 'we', 'us' and 'our' that make the audience feel involved and build rapport.
Formal letter
A letter to someone in authority (e.g. a headteacher, a manager or a newspaper editor), with tone and language adapted to that audience.
Strapline
A line underneath an article's heading that summarises your point of view, e.g. 'Why keeping animals in captivity has fallen out of favour'.
Report
A fact-based piece that presents information, analyses a situation and makes recommendations in a clear, objective way, e.g. 'Report on workplace attitudes for new employees'.
Fill in the gap: If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, end a formal letter with 'Yours ＿＿＿＿＿'.
Answer: If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, end a formal letter with 'Yours faithfully'.
Fill in the gap: A report should use ＿＿＿＿＿ to group information from the texts and organise your writing.
Answer: A report should use subheadings to group information from the texts and organise your writing.
Which four forms could Question 1(b) ask you to write in?
Speech, letter, article or report; up to 10 marks for reading and 25 for writing.
How should you end a speech?
Circle back to your original argument with an emotive plea, calling your audience to action if appropriate.
True or False?
In an informal letter to a friend, you can use slang such as 'OMG!'.
False.
Keep a light, friendly tone, but avoid slang and abbreviations: it's still an exam.
How should you structure an article?
Separate paragraphs of varied length, each developing one point without repeating ideas.
Sentence demarcation
Starting each sentence with a capital letter and ending it with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.
Colon
A punctuation mark that introduces a list, a quote or a long explanation, e.g. 'Pack three things: a map, water and a torch.'
Complex sentence
A sentence with one main clause and at least one dependent clause, e.g. 'Although it was raining, we went out.'
Standard English
The accepted 'correct' form of English used in formal writing, e.g. 'we were', not 'we was'.
Fill in the gap: Joining two sentences with a comma instead of a full stop creates an error called a comma ＿＿＿＿＿.
Answer: Joining two sentences with a comma instead of a full stop creates an error called a comma splice.
Fill in the gap: You can use ＿＿＿＿＿ to connect two related sentences instead of a full stop or a conjunction.
Answer: You can use semicolons to connect two related sentences instead of a full stop or a conjunction.
What does assessment objective W5 test?
Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar, in both Question 1(b) and Section B.
Name five ways to vary your sentence openers.
An adverb ('Suddenly'), a preposition ('In the distance'), a verb ('Having had…'), a double adjective ('Strong and powerful…'), a connective ('Furthermore')
True or False?
Use semicolons and colons as often as possible to show a range of punctuation.
False.
Using them accurately a few times is better than using them often and incorrectly.
Which two grammar errors do examiners frequently flag?
Subject-verb agreement, and inconsistent tense (only change tense on purpose, for effect).
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