CAPE COMMUNICATION STUDIESGUIDELINES FOR WRITING MODULE ONE ESSAYNB: Every year the CXC

report continues to lament the fact that students do badlyon this essay. This happens because students

either write insufficientinformation on the effectiveness

of the devices

or they are confused between the

writer’s main point and the writer’s purpose.Tips on distinguishing the Main Point/Main Idea and the
Writer’sPurpose/Intention/Intent:

Remember that the main point/Idea is what the writer is

writing about

, the

idea that is coming out from what you are reading

; if youwere asked what the piece was about, whatever you respond that should be themain idea. The

Main Idea/Point is NEVER a VERB

so it can never be stated likethis...”The main point/idea of this passage is to inform...” If you have done
thisthen your answer will be incorrect. Always remember the main point/idea is never to do something
rather it is stated like this...” The main point/idea of the piece isthat students have problems answering
the Module One essay...”.On the other hand

the writer’s purpose/intent is ALWAYS STATED AS AVERB

! It is what the writer

wants happen as a result of your reading the piece

.So the writer wants to “inform the reader of...”, “to entertain the reader...”, “tocriticise...” “To argue
that...” , “To convince readers that...”. Remember that allwriters write with a purpose/intent in mind
which is mainly to shift the readersfrom point A to point B!If you understand and can identify these two
different concept s you are on your way to satisfying one- third of the essay requirements. The next two
thirds are

correctly identifying

the language strategies /techniques/devices that the writer employed to help her achieve the Main
Point/ Idea and the Purpose/Intent.
Tone

is the attitude of the author towards the topic that he/she is writing about.One easy way of
understanding tone is to ask “what attitude did I get from readingthe author’s words?” Always use
Adjectives to describe Tone! Examples:humorous, mysterious, creepy, straight-forward etcSome of the
techniques that the writer employs are

Simile, Metaphor

Personification, Alliteration, Imagery, Rhetorical Question, Conversationaltone, Anecdote, Historical

data, Statistical data, Repetition, and Humor.

Once you have identified a technique you need to write it out (do not give linealone) and then you must
write about

the effectiveness of the device, in otherwords what is this device adding to the piece, how does it appeal
to the sensesand therefore to your understanding and most importantly how is it aidingthe author to
achieve her purpose and expand her main point?Effectiveness

can also be measured in terms of “Do the strategies chosen by theauthor match his/her purpose?”For
example when a writer uses the strategy of

historical data

its effectiveness isto add/lend credibility to what she is saying as a reader can easily check therecords.

Conversational tone

(found in

anecdote

and use of

Personal Pronouns

)on the other hand allows for the reader to be drawn into the piece as one feels thatthe writer is striving
to make us comfortable with the piece.The challenge is

NOT TO DEFINE

the devices but rather to

identifyappropriate
examples (use quotation marks) from the passage to support and thensay how they add or why
you believe that the writer used them and how in rarecases they took away from the piece.As with
every essay one must have

proper organisation

. There must be anopening, a body for the content and a conclusion where no new ideas must
beintroduced. The correct use of

transitional

words will enhance your essay. Refrainfrom making your essay read like a list of devices. For example do
not say the first,the second etc). Do not analyse the piece by its paragraphs but by
thestrategies/techniques found. Depending on the length of the example one woulddo,

keeping in mind the word limit of the essay and keeping within it.More examples of
strategies/techniques

Use of anecdotal responses/examples

Rhetorical questions

Report of factual data from websites

Use of expert/specialist advice

use of step by step process approach

Information from creditable source/s

Making of tongue –in- cheek comments

•

Changes in writer’s tone

Moving from specific to general

Addressing the audience directly

Use of Creole and Standard

Use of contrast/comparison

Use of humour

Analogy to emphasise the idea of for difference

In-depth/intensive reporting of character’s thoughts for better understanding

Examples of effects

Examples of benefits

Language techniques

Noticeable use of things like contractions in dialogue

Use of exclamations “gosh”, “hey”, “whoa”

•

Repetitions

Use of simple/short sentences

Use of dispassionate academic language

Use of emotive language