Writing Paper

                                                     Steps to Writing Success

Step 1

Read the whole question carefully. Don't rush your reading of the question, it's important you understand the content of the question as much as possible. If there are any words you don't understand either (1) consider choosing a different question or (2) use reading exam techniques to try and work out the meaning.

Step 2

Identify the audience for your written text. This will inform what type of word you use for 'you' and the tone and register you will use in your written text.

​Examples:

ami / camerades de classe- tu (ton/ta) - informal tone and register

director  - vous (votre) - formal tone and register

amis/amies / camerades de classe - vous (vos) - informal tone and register

adultes / police - vous (vos) - formal tone and register

Step 3

Choose the most appropriate text type from the three options. Knowing who the audience for your written task is will help inform your choice of text type. For example, if the audience is your classmates, a personal diary or a formal letter would not make a great text type. On the other hand, if you're communicating with the school principal a formal letter/email is probably the best choice.

Add lots of features of the text type to your writing. For example, if it's a publication on social media make sure to include 'like' and 'share' buttons and hashtags.

This website shows all the types of text necessary and what you need to include

Step 4

Use a date and title. For most text types this is appropriate. Even for a speech you should title it something like "Discurso sobre como mejorar el medio ambiente del colegio". Letters and emails should have subject lines instead of titles. Even a personal diary can have an informal title such as "Mi viaje a Ecuador".

Step 5

Use paragraphs. Due to the length of the text you are writing (250-400 words) paragraphs are a must. Use the paragraphs to structure your text effectively. Have an introductory and concluding paragraph. Your middle paragraphs should follow the PEE (point, evidence, explain) formula as much as possible.

Use structure words such as: d'abord (first), puis (next), entonces (then), de plus (furthermore), donc (therefore), cependant (however), dernièrement (lastly), en résumé (in summary) etc.

Step 6

Situate your writing in a French-speaking country. Make it obvious and don't mix up the different countries. You are able to choose which country you write about, so choose one you feel confident about - you know the name of a city there and some cultural knowledge about food, geography, history and/or names of famous people to include.

France Canada

Capital: Paris Capital: Ottawa

Nourriture: Les cuisses de grenouilles Nourriture: Poutine 

Musique: Rap Musique: Justin Bieber, Bublé, Drake, Celine Dion

Président: Emmanuel Macron Premier Ministre: Justin Trudeau

Mers: Atlantique et Méditerranéenne Langues parlées: Anglais et Français (au Québec)

Montagnes: Alpes et Pyrénées Mers: Atlantique et Pacifique

Step 7

Use a French-speaking identity such as a name, school name, job etc. In the IB exams you are not supposed to identify yourself by name or school, so use a French name and a French school name if the task requires it.

French Names you could use

  Marine Brunet Marie Garnier

  Alexandre Blanchet Jean Bouchet

  Léa Dupont Philippe Moreau

  French School names you could use

  Lycée Saint-Louis

  Lycée Albert Camus

  Lycée Charles de Gaulle

    Newspaper names you could use

  Le Monde

  Le Figaro

  L'Équipe

​    Email addresses you could use:

    Emilie.lebon@sfr.fr

   maria.Dupont@hotmail.fr

Step 8

Add subjunctive phrases such as:

• il faut que – it's necessary.

• il vaut mieux que – it's better.

• il est/ c'est important que – it's important.

• il est / c'est dommage que – it's too bad. ...

• il est / c'est impossible – it's impossible that.

• il est / c'est possible que – it's possible that.

Step 9

Use idiomatic phrases

1. Ça marche

Literal translation: it walks.

Figurative translation: 'it functions', but also 'got it' or 'okay'.

2. Ça roule

to say 'got it' or 'okay'.

3. Être dans la lune

Literal translation: to be in the moon

Figurative translation: to daydream, to pay zero attention.

4. Ça coûte un bras

Literal translation: It costs an arm.

Figurative translation: It's super expensive.

5. Coup de foudre

Literal translation: a lightning strike.

Figurative translation: to fall madly in love at first sight.

6. Être sage comme une image

Literal translation: to be reasonable like an image.

Figurative translation: it's usually used to define kids who are very calm.

 7. Faire la grasse matinée

Literal translation: to do a fat morning.

Figurative translation: to stay in bed until late in the morning.