In preparing for this task you need to consider Form, Purpose, Audience and Register.

Form: What am I required to write? Is it a report, letter, diary entry etc?

Purpose: What is my objective in writing this piece? Is it to persuade, to give information, to offer an opinion etc?

Audience: Who is this piece of writing aimed at? Audience may be specific, e.g. 'a group of foreign students' or implied e.g. 'write an article for a broadsheet newspaper'.

Register: Style. How should I write this piece? Formal or informal. Serious or humorous.

Section 2: Composing

The composition carries more marks than any other question in English. At 100 marks, it accounts for 25 per cent of the overall mark. No need to stress its importance then. You should only attempt the essay when you have completed Section One.

You will have a choice of seven compositions. The titles will be suggested by quotations from the texts in Section 1. All of the language genres will be represented here. Many students believe that it is possible to have a prepared 'one-size-fits- all' essay going into the exam. It is really not a good idea to learn off an essay and plan to find an essay title in the exam to which it might or might not be vaguely relevant. The best preparation is to have written many different essays in the year leading up to the exam, parts of which may be useful in your exam composition.

Structure of Your Essay

Opening Paragraph

The opening and closing paragraph are the two most important paragraphs in your essay. The opening paragraph of your essay is your sales pitch. Its purpose is to introduce your material and also to capture the reader's interest and attention; to make them want to read on. Your teacher or examiner will read on anyway because they have to! How much better it will be for you if they read on willingly because you have captivated them with your opening paragraph rather than reluctantly with a groan because your opening paragraph is dull and predictable!!

Closing Paragraph

The purpose of your closing paragraph is to bring your essay to a satisfying conclusion and to leave a good last impression.

Consider one of the following types of ending for a narrative essay.

• Twist in the tale; unexpected ending
• Cliffhanger;
• Resolution: Tie up all the loose ends

To conclude an argument or persuasive essay consider:

• Relevant quotation
• Answer a question posed perhaps in you opening paragraph
• Powerful image