Composition Writing

GENERAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE

Composition (50 marks): The examiners expect an advanced knowledge of

English combined with an ability to put it to effective use in a well-
planned composition. A total of 50 marks is awarded for the
composition, allocated as follows:

Grammatical accuracy (20 marks): here the examiners assess the

correctness and appropriacy of the writing. One mark is deducted for
each serious mistake and half a mark for each minor slip (including
punctuation) or spelling mistake. Candidates scoring zero in this
section through weak command of English will automatically score zero
for the entire composition. A composition which is shorter than the
specified minimum length of 350 words will be penalised 0.2 marks for
each word below the minimum number.
Source: The Candidate’s
Handbook: English
 Composition Writing

GENERAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE

Plan and development of ideas (20 marks): the three main considerations
here are:
(1) the candidate’s ability to think clearly and express
himself/herself logically in English;
(2) the relevance of ideas and exemplification to the subject of the
composition; and
(3) organisation of the text as expressed in features such as adequate
paragraphing. Candidates should aim to make their composition as
interesting as possible. Although the examiners cannot demand novel
ideas, they are likely to be favourably impressed by genuine
originality. Apt illustration is a useful way to achieve this end.
Passages that have patently been learnt by heart and are artificially
engineered into the composition will be penalised.
Source: The Candidate’s
Handbook: English
 Composition Writing

GENERAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE

Quality of language (10 marks): Marks are awarded on a positive basis

in this item for good idiomatic English, varied constructions and a
display of aptly chosen, broad-ranging vocabulary. Candidates producing
correct but pedestrian English of a distinctly elementary nature may
score zero in this section, particularly if this is seen to be playing
safe.
Length: In recent years, the standard length was 350-450 words. Failure
to observe the specified length was severely penalised.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
Composition Writing

Espelho de correção 2016

Composition Writing

Espelho de correção 2017

Composition Writing

Edital 2017
 Composition Writing

STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Planning
Plan what you are going to say before you write.
However well you may write without previous planning
in your own language, you need to plan when you write
in English. First sort out what you want to say, then
decide how you are going to express your ideas
elegantly and correctly.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing

STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Organising ideas
Given that 20 marks are allocated for plan and development of
ideas, you not only need to have a very clear plan, you also need
to make it clear to the examiners
a) that you have a plan and b) what that plan is. Here are some
things you might do.
As you read the list, mark the following
• Instructions you already follow
• Instructions that are not part of your normal
routine, but which might be useful
• The order in which you use / could use the instructions below.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing

STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Organising ideas
• Consider the topic very carefully and make sure you grasp the meaning
• Brainstorm all the ideas you can find on the topic and all the keywords
• Consider the approach you will adopt to the topic and your thesis statement/
problem
• Organise a numbered framework for your paragraphs
• Plan the introduction
• Check that your introduction functions as a road map for your composition
• Plan the conclusion
• Plan ways of illustrating or substantiating each main idea
• Read your draft
• Plan the words and phrases you will use to link your paragraphs
• Start writing, following your detailed plan.
• Correct your English and improve your vocabulary
• Check all your subject-verb agreements and all your possessives (its / their,
etc.)
• Look out for silly mistakes, like ‘de’ instead of ‘the’ Source: The Candidate’s
Handbook: English
 Composition Writing

STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Coherence
The final (linear) plan should contain topic headings and sub-
headings. By looking at these headings before you start to write,
you can see if you have thought of the content in an organised,
logical way. Your composition should have a clear structure. The
skeleton of the composition – the organisation of the ideas –
should be visible to the person reading the text. You should
include a clear thesis statement which provides a road map for
you and your reader to follow.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Cohesion
You should also consider how your paragraphs will be connected to one
another and how the composition will form a complete text with a definite
shape to it.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Introduction and Conclusion

The introduction and conclusion are particularly important, because they
provide the examiner’s first and last impression of your writing skills.
It is worth devoting some time to the content and the language of these
sections. You should make a clear connection between the introduction and
the conclusion, but do not just repeat the same ideas in both. Many
compositions lose impact because the conclusion is (a) absent, (b) a
repetition of what has been said, or (c) not related to the evidence in
the composition.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Introduction and Conclusion

The introduction and conclusion are particularly important, because they
provide the examiner’s first and last impression of your writing skills.
It is worth devoting some time to the content and the language of these
sections. You should make a clear connection between the introduction and
the conclusion, but do not just repeat the same ideas in both. Many
compositions lose impact because the conclusion is (a) absent, (b) a
repetition of what has been said, or (c) not related to the evidence in
the composition.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Stick to your plan

Once you have made your plan, stick to it rigidly. As time is very
limited, you cannot give yourself the luxury of having second thoughts
and starting again. So if you are tempted to tear up your first draft and
start again, resist the temptation and trust to your original idea.

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English
 Composition Writing
STRUCTURE OF THE COMPOSITION

Templates

It is useful to have a few templates, or types of plan, in your head.

Then you can quickly choose an appropriate type of plan and use it

Source: The Candidate’s

Handbook: English