Develop your response by:
Responding to the topic… □ Avoiding generalisations
□ Understanding the requirements of the
topic by identifying key words/concepts in
the topic
□ Presenting a consistent point of view on
the topic
□ Avoiding irrelevant comments: stay
focused on the topic
□ Identifying the topic and text clearly on
your paper
□ Presenting/ formulating a clear point of
view on the topic
Developing your argument …
□ Planning more carefully
□ Providing/explaining reasons for your
point of view
□ Writing more detailed explanations
□ Avoiding a chronological approach
□ Avoiding ambiguous sentences
□ Using the ‘yes, but…’ response
Paragraph and sentence structure…
□ Stating your main contention and main
points in an introductory paragraph
□ Structuring each paragraph carefully
□ Structuring sentences clearly
□ Writing a clear concluding paragraph
□ Writing clear and focused topic sentences
for each paragraph
□ Avoiding sentence fragments (incomplete
sentences)
□ Avoiding running sentences together
□ Writing in a variety of sentence types and
lengths
□ Writing a link or concluding sentence for
each paragraph as appropriate
Using evidence …
□ Selecting effective references to support
your point of view
□ Incorporating quotations into sentences
□ Using more evidence/concise quotes to
support your point of view
□ Using accurate, appropriate references or
quotations
□ Avoiding using examples in the
introduction
□ Punctuating quotations correctly
Spelling and grammar…
□ Spelling words correctly, especially
homophones
□ Ensuring subject-verb agreement in
sentences
□ Using capital letters for proper nouns
□ Ensuring that tense is consistent
(generally, text responses are written in
present tense)
□ Using commas accurately
□ Punctuating the title correctly and
consistently
□ Avoiding using contractions
□ Spelling the title correctly
□ Spelling characters’ names correctly
□ Ensuring correct preposition/pronoun
usage
□ Using apostrophes of possession correctly
□ Using semicolons accurately
□ Using apostrophes of contraction
appropriately. (Avoid using contractions)
□ Using colons accurately
Expression and vocabulary…
□ Using appropriate vocabulary to discuss
characters
□ Using synonyms for the key words in the
topic throughout your response
□ Using a variety of appropriate vocabulary □ Writing legibly
to discuss literary techniques
□ Using a variety of appropriate vocabulary □ Editing your work carefully
to discuss metalanguage
□ Using pen. Pencil is not allowed in the
□ Using a variety of appropriate vocabulary exam
to discuss themes/issues
□ Avoiding repetition of the title and
author’s/editor’s name
□ Avoiding lengthy and wordy sentences
□ Avoiding convoluted expression
□ Avoiding referring to yourself. (I, me,
my, we)
□ Avoiding repetition
□ Referring to chapters in a novel and
scenes in a play or film
□ Avoiding using colloquialisms: use
formal language
□ Using a variety of link
words/conjunctions correctly
□ Expressing yourself clearly and concisely
□ Utilise pronouns to avoid overusing
characters’ names
□ Avoid clichés
Miscellaneous advice…