Cambridge IGCSE
ENGLISH FIRST LANGUAGE
PAPER 2
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Paper 2
SECTION 1 SECTION 2
DIRECTED WRITING (25 MARKS) COMPOSITION (25 MARKS)
Candidates use, develop and evaluate Candidates answer one question from a choice
information in a discursive/argumentative of two descriptive and two narrative titles.
letter or article.
350–450 words.
250–350 words.
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Marks for writing
W1 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
W2 sequence facts, ideas and opinions
W3 use a range of appropriate vocabulary.
W4 use register appropriate to audience and context
W5 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
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Improving your writing
Vary sentence length and opening words
Be consistent in use of verb tenses
Plan story structure
Create an interesting opening and convincing close
Proofread
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Sentence Length
Use your sentence lengths to reflect the pace of the action in the narrative. On a basic level,
short sentences can show a faster pace whereas longer sentences slow it down.
Here is an example using a long sentence:
He looked out of the window, noticing the girl who at that moment was walking towards the
heavy door to the library.
Notice the difference in pace when the same scene is described with short sentences:
He looked out of the window. He noticed the girl. She was walking towards the library door.
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Sentence Length
In the narrow alley, footsteps echoed. A shadowy figure emerged. The pursuit
began, adrenaline pulsing.
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Sentence Length
In the narrow alley, footsteps echoed. A shadowy figure emerged. The pursuit
began, adrenaline pulsing.
In the dimly lit alley, footsteps echoed against the brick walls, creating an
atmosphere of suspense. A mysterious figure gradually came into view,
prompting an instinctive surge of adrenaline as the pursuit unfolded with
deliberate intensity.
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Vary sentence openings
Sentence opener type Example
Simile - comparing something to something else As quiet as a whisper, he turned to me
Preposition - informs you of the position of
Beyond the gate, the road stretched far away
someone or something
Adverbs - an adjective to describe a verb Cautiously, he moved away from the lion
Despite the sunshine, Mr Tucker was wearing a
Connectives – joining words
heavy coat
Time preposition - moves the timeframe to a Afterwards, it was clear that he regretted his
different point actions
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Examples
Here’s a piece of writing that lacks variety:
I woke up. The sun was beaming through the window. I turned towards it. I
closed my eyes. I stayed there for a moment, and then got out of bed. I padded
across to the window. I opened it to hear the birds outside. It looked like it was
going to be a good day.
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Examples
Here’s a piece of writing that lacks variety:
I woke up. The sun was beaming through the window. I turned towards it. I closed my eyes. I
stayed there for a moment, and then got out of bed. I padded across to the window. I opened it
to hear the birds outside. It looked like it was going to be a good day.
How would you improve it?
Notice how sentence variety changes the feel of the piece:
Awakening to the gentle embrace of morning light, I found the sun beaming through the window,
casting a warm glow upon my room. With a languid stretch, I turned towards the radiant source,
closing my eyes to savor the quiet stillness of the moment. After a brief pause, I rose from my
bed, padding across the room to the inviting window. As I opened it, the delightful melody of
birdsong greeted my ears, hinting at the promise of a beautiful day ahead.
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Verb tenses
It is easiest to write in past tense, describing events as if they
happened a few days, weeks or years ago.
Be clear about the distance in time and use the same tense
throughout your writing.
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Story Structure
1. Setting/hook
2. Character
3. Problem
4. Climax
5. Resolution
Plan to help you write within the
time frame and word count.
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Openings and endings
OPENING CLOSING
In a fictional narrative, the first Try to end in a convincing way, providing a
paragraph should hook the reader and realistic and believable ending to the
.grab their attention narrative. Try to resolve the story and leave
your reader feeling satisfied.
You might do this by describing the setting and
giving specific detail in a way that sets the tone
for the rest of the story.
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Proofread
When you have completed a piece of writing, it is a good idea to check over
what you have created. Simple spelling errors, missing punctuation or words are
common errors to make when you are writing creatively.
Once you look back over a piece of work, it is easier for you to spot things and
put them right.
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Your turn!
‘a quiet life’
Amidst the [carefully arranged / neatly organized / artistically placed] foliage,
a bench beckoned, [welcoming / inviting / greeting] like an old friend ready for
a chat. It was the [perfect / ideal / optimal] spot to pause, as though time had
opted for a [brief respite / short break / momentary pause]. The leaves
[gracefully / softly / gently] swayed, and the bees [hummed / buzzed /
serenaded], transforming the garden into a [calm / serene / peaceful]
symphony. Here, it seemed as if the outside world vanished, and the [stillness /
tranquility / silence] enveloped like a comforting shawl.
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Your turn!
‘a quiet life’
In the [sinister / ominous / malevolent] shadows of the foliage, a bench lurked, its
wooden slats groaning like a [dreadful / spectral / ghostly] whisper. It was the [ideal /
perfect / eerie] spot to pause, as though time itself hesitated in [ominous / fearful /
apprehensive] trepidation / fear. The leaves, caught in a [haunting / ghostly] dance,
rustled with [unseen / mysterious / enigmatic] whispers, and the bees darted through
the air like [elusive / phantom / ethereal] messengers, turning the garden into a
[chilling / spine-tingling] symphony of nature's secrets. Here, it felt as if the outside
world had dissolved into a [foreboding / mysterious / enigmatic] unknown, and the
stillness wrapped around like a [bone-chilling / unnerving / sinister] shroud.
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Your turn!
Write the opening part of a story about a place during a storm.
As the rain painted patterns on the window, I couldn't help but imagine... (a world, a scenario, a story)
evolving with each droplet, a canvas of endless possibilities waiting to be explored.
(Torrential / Savage) rain cascaded from the heavens, turning the city into a (quaking / tumultuous) sea
of umbrellas, each person a survivor navigating the (twisting / haunting) streets.
Under the (dimly lit / eerie) sky, the (swirling / cascading) raindrops whirled, creating a (shivering /
chilling) ballet that narrated the untold stories of the (ominous / haunted) streets.
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