AS Level English Language

Extended Writing

1. Which of these questions would you choose to respond to? Highlight your answer.

a. Write the opening of a story called ‘The Return’. The story is about a character
who returns to a place they have not been for many years. In your writing,
create a sense of mystery and surprise.
b. A new live music show on television for teenagers and young adults has
recently been launched. Write a review of the show, which will be published in
your school newsletter.
c. Your head teacher is considering banning all ball games on school premises
for safety reasons. They have asked you to write a full report evaluating the
impact of the ban.
d. Write a descriptive piece called ‘The Old Bookshop’. In your writing, create a
sense of atmosphere, focusing on colours and textures to help your reader
imagine the scene.

2. What’s your reason for choosing such question? For example, was it because you
could visualize something easily? Or was it because you prefer to work on more
factual writing? Or was it for another reason?

Not only I could visualize it the most, I am also more familiar with this text types which
is a “narrative” type of text. The other options require me to have a prior knowledge
about certain topics. For example, option B requires me to have at least a background
knowledge about the latest TV shows in general, how TV shows work, what do they
present, etc.

3. Decode your chosen question.

Copy-paste the question.

What form of the text is the Narrative Text

question asking you to write?

What will be the theme or A story which focuses on a character returning

focus of the text? to a place he had not returned to/ been to after
a while. With an emphasis on the mystery and
surprise elements that should be created in the
story.

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 What will its purpose be?
Entertaining the readers.

Who will it be for?

(Who is the audience?) Young Adults or Adults in general who has
interest in reading mystery fiction books.

4. Generate and list down at least 7- 10 ideas that you will use in your response.

Copy-paste your questions here.

Then list down the details below.

• After returning 25 years, main character return to his hometown.

• Prior to returning, he got a phone call from an unknown number.

• The call was from an old friend’s wife . He didn’t even have any memories
of that old friend until that moment.

• The old friend’s wife telling him that the old friend had just committed
suicide in an unusual manner and she was in terrible shock.

• Describing how his life has been so peaceful lately until that very phone
call and all his child nightmares and bad memories came rushing to him.

• 25 years ago, he used to be close friends with 6 other children around his
age in the same town until something happened.

• Not long after the first phone call, Another old friend from home called

• This old friend was the only one out of the 7 children who is still staying in
that town even after 25 years later

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 • That Old friend told the main character that it was “time”.

When generating ideas for an extended writing response, always remember the following key
points:

1. Always consider as wide a range of ideas as possible.

2. Make sure your ideas match what you know about the audience and purpose for your response.

3. Use what you know of text conventions to guide what you need to include.