Transactional Writing Structures

Question 1

how to start

Answer 1

controversial statement
personal anecdote
statistic
rhetorical question
quote

Question 2

how to end

Answer 2

call to action
vivid image
positive note
warning
thought-provoking question

Question 3

speech

Answer 3

start:
welcome audience & say what you will talk about

structure:
intro, 3 paragraphs inc. 1 alternative view then counter, conclusion
address audience throughout e.g. rhetorical Qs
usually persuasive – persuasive devices

end:
motto/slogan/call to action & ‘thank you for listening’

Question 4

newspaper article

Answer 4

formal, objective (not biased e.g. ‘one can argue’, ‘it can be seen’), structured

start:
headline
summarise

structure:
pull quotes – make up quotes - ‘interviewed’ people
subheadings: ‘wondering what happened next? Our local reporter tells us more…..’
statistics – but not ridiculous ones

end:
link to website/related articles/who the author is

national = objective
local = subjective = more dramatic & biased = say your view then the alternative view & counter it

Question 5

magazine article

Answer 5

similar to newspaper article structure
more informal, subjective & entertaining
more subheadings

Question 6

letter

Answer 6

start:
dear….. or ‘To Whom it may Concern’
‘I am writing to express/to say/comment/apply…’

structure:
3 paragraph simple structure
reference things theoretical article said – e.g. ‘I found your comment ‘……’ particularly offensive/pertinent’

end:
last line sum up & say ‘thank you for your time in reading this letter, and I keenly await your reply’
‘yours faithfully’ – you do not know their name
or ‘yours sincerely’ – you do know their name

letter of application:
why you should get the job
what is important for the job
what things have you done to prepare for the job/work experience

Question 7

blog/journal/diary

Answer 7

blog = online journal
start:
title as the date
‘dear readers’/’today was…’/’dear diary….’
1st line summarising contents blog

structure:
subjective, more informal
can use #s or @s at the end for blogs only
subheadings & bullet points for emphasis (max. list of 3 bullets)

end:
‘please subscribe to my blog’, ‘I’ll check in with you tomorrow’

Question 8

section of a guide book

Answer 8

purpose: to instruct/inform

start:
title = ‘how to…/good ideas for…’
in this guide…
3 bullets in the intro can be your 3 subheadings

structure:
bullet points for emphasis (max. list of 3 bullets)
subheadings
persuade to follow advice but mainly factual/objective

end:
looking towards the future ‘have fun’
& ‘for more information, go to our website: www…./look at chapter 4’

Question 9

leaflet

Answer 9

same as guide but say ‘in this leaflet…’

Question 10

review

Answer 10

start:
title – what the event is & where

intro:
summary of what happened & brief opinion

structure:
1st paragraph: describe event & your feelings (almost like creative writing)
2nd paragraph: detail about your opinion & why
persuasive devices & quotes from characters there
rhetorical questions only to mock
subjective
both sides

end:
how the event/place could improve
your own/experts’ expertise to improve it
look to future course of action that will proceed
last line: an overall lasting judgement