Transactional writing

Question 1

what are the main points of the writing process

Answer 1

1. reading
2. planning
3. drafting
4. editing
5. presenting

Question 2

what does GRASP stand for

Answer 2

genre
register
audience
style
purpose

Question 3

what should you consider when choosing a style to write in

Answer 3

• Who is my audience?
• What am I writing about?
• What is the best way to communicate my message?
• What would the best style of language be?

Question 4

what are the characteristics of formal writing

Answer 4

Structure - The writing is clear, well organised and structured.

Sentences - Sentences tend to be compound or complex and use transitions like ‘furthermore’ or ‘therefore’.

Grammar - Formal writing makes use of proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Tone - The writing is more serious and impersonal, avoiding emotive words. It stays neutral and objective and does not offer personal opinions.

Factual - It does not make any statements without proper referencing or evidence and avoids generalisations.

Contractions - Formal writing always avoids contractions and abbreviations and uses complete words like ‘cannot’ instead of ‘can’t’.

Personal pronouns - The writing does not use first person pronouns like ‘I’ or ‘me’, and rather uses terms such as ‘one’.

Vocabulary - Everyday colloquialisms and slang are not used in formal writing. The vocabulary used is of a higher, more sophisticated level, and would use subject-specific language to refer to various terms, especially in legal or academic texts.

Question 5

what are the characteristics of informal writing

Answer 5

Structure - The writing is more loosely structured (although it still uses paragraphs and full sentences).

Sentences - Ordinary, short and simple sentences are used in informal writing. Imperative sentences can also be used.

Grammar - Informal writing still makes use of proper spelling, grammar and punctuation!

Tone - The writing is more relaxed and even considered ‘chatty’. The tone of the writing is subjective and personal, so it can include feelings and expressive descriptions.

Empathy - Informal writing allows you to put yourself in the shoes of your reader and address their problems directly. This shows you as coming from a place of understanding someone else’s situation.

Contractions - In informal writing, it is acceptable to use abbreviations and contractions such as ‘can’t’ instead of ‘cannot’ or ‘it’s’ instead of ‘it is’.

Personal pronouns - Informal writing can use any type of pronoun, including ‘I’ and ‘me’. It often uses ‘you’ to refer to the reader directly.

Vocabulary - The use of colloquial language, slang and clichés can be used, such as ‘It was cool that …’. The vocabulary used is more relaxed and similar to how you would speak in everyday conversations.

Question 6

what are some examples of formal writing

Answer 6

• Formal letters or emails (letters to the editor, letters of application, letters of complaint, etc.).
• Academic writing (essays, research essays, reports – both formal and informal)
• Job applications (CVs and cover letters).
• Articles (newspaper articles, obituaries and some journal articles or reviews, depending on where they are published).

Question 7

what are some examples of informal writing

Answer 7

• Friendly letters or emails (letters to friends or family).
• Personal articles (such as sharing a story or writing a personal blog, or some magazine articles, depending on where they are published).
• Conversations (dialogues between friends or family).