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Steps to Writing Success
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
PLAN your piece of work. Highlight on the question exactly what information is required of you. Then note down the points you want to make and check them against the highlighted part pf the question to ensure you are answering the question they are asking and make sure it is relevant. In your plan, note down higher level grammar phrases and vocabulary to refer to when writing your piece. Make sure to include Steps 3, 4, 9 and 10 in your plan.
Step 3
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 4
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 5
Use a date and title. For most text types this is appropriate. Even for a speech you should title it something like "Discours sur la façon d'améliorer l'environnement scolaire". Letters and emails should have subject lines instead of titles. Even a personal diary can have an informal title such as "Ma vie au Canada".
Step 6
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 7
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
Belgique La Suisse
Capital: Brussels Capital: Bern
Nourriture: Moules frites Nourriture: Fondue
Musique: Stromae Langues Parlées: Français, Allemand, Italien, Romani
Premier Ministre: Alexander de Croo Premier Ministre: Ueli Maurer
Mers: La Mer du Nord Montagnes: Les Alpes
Step 8
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
Job Titles you could use
Le président / de la France
Journaliste pour Le Monde
Le directeur du Lycée Victor Hugo
Newspaper names you could use
Le Monde
Le Figaro
L'Équipe
School Magazine names you could use
La Revue du Lycée Saint Jean
La Voix des Étudiants
Notre Génération
Email addresses you could use
marinbrunet88@yahoo.fr
jean1234@canada2020.ca
Step 9
Add subjunctive phrases such as:
ll faut que je fasse – it's necessary that I do
il vaut mieux que j'aille– it's better that I go
il est/ c'est important que j'aie– it's important that I have
il est / c'est dommage que je sois – it's too bad that I am
il est / c'est impossible – it's impossible that.
il est / c'est possible que – it's possible that.
Step 10
Use idiomatic phrases
Ça marche - That works
Ça coûte un bras- It is very expensive
Faire une grasse matinée - To have a lazy morning
Appeler un chat un chat- To call a spade a spade (to say it how it is)
Revenons à nos moutons- let's go back to the topic at hand
Tomber dans les pommes- To faint
Se vendre comme des petits pains- To be sold everywhere
Pas ma tasse de thé - Not my cup of tea
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