Two students from different schools recently did the same task with me recently. One lives in Sheffield, the other elsewhere. 

We discussed a possible English Language Paper 2 example Task and came up with this statement and question to work on as we prepared for the exams. 

School uniforms are too problematic to remain sustainable as a way of ensuring student uniformity. 

Write a speech for your Year 11 Assembly, stressing what you believe should happen in your school regarding changes in the uniform code in future years. 

We then discussed and wrote down ideas about how to do a good section B in Paper 2. 

We agreed on the following:

Planning

Planning is always important. The student who plans is the same student who scores higher grades than the one who doesn’t. It has always been the case and always shall be. If you are hunting for a level 9 then you’re a planner. 

Conversely, a student with the right skill set can think up a plan in 5 steps and write a brilliant level 9 answer without writing the plan down. A level 4 student however, does not have the same skills or confidence and could go wrong if their plan is not at the beginning of the answer so they can get stuck, refer back to their plan and then carry on. 

But the question is what will your plan look like? 

Here’s an example written recently…

We discussed the idea that his answer could be that he believes their school uniform should be abolished. But yours could equally be the same as the second student in another school, in that it serves a purpose but could be amended so that all heavy items of clothing like thick wooden or Serge blazers were gotten rid of and replaced with something that is as smart, but a lot easier to wear. 

Using this plan (above), as this young male student would, his speech would be pointed in its tonal quality. He loathes the uniform, whereas a student who thinks the uniform code needs merely amending is not saying abolition is the right answer. 

The young lad is saying that his first paragraph would be a rhetorical question asking “do you believe that comfort allows people to thrive and prosper?” It’s a perfectly good question too. What does it matter what we wear in class so long as good quality teachers educate with information relevant to the subject and prepare students for their exams at the end of Year 11?

But then, he plans to write a paragraph on the idea that we need to make life easier in school for all students because he believes that “children are the future.” 

Now where have you heard that before? 

As soon as he said it and wrote it down, I had Whitney Houston’s song in my head. 

But the thing is, he had no idea who Whitney was! It was an idea that just came out of his mouth, so we discussed his thoughts and it revolved around the idea that if children are our future, if they are given freedoms to feel and be relaxed, then we will see better results in terms of examination results. 

His speech would therefore have a forceful, tonal quality, being brusque by nature and utterly persuasive to the point of heightened tension and possible anger, if delivered right to the assembly, whereas the other student who believes alterations are the way forward, would be less forceful in tone and words but as equally persuasive as the other. 

The arguments on this young man’s plan are that if you are relaxed, as uniforms don’t do that for him, then you can enjoy school, thrive in a less stringent classroom environment and be a better student because to him, uniforms are like shackles that restrain students from being themselves and expressing their ultimate, truest freedoms. 

Now he attends a school that has recently become an Academy. For those not in the know, when a normal, state aided school like a Community College changes to an Academy, more funding is suddenly available, businesses bring in new buildings, equipment and staff and with those comes new rules. With new rules comes a usually harsh uniform dress code, which both students call Draconian. 

These restrictions tie the children down. There have been multiple stories in the press recently about boys and girls being sent home because they are not wearing the agreed shirt or trousers, preferring a blouse to a straight shirt, or a fitted shirt to feel good in. They get sent home and Mum and Dad go to the press. And rightly so, in my humble opinion. 

I’ve been a teacher for 26 years and the amount of times I’ve had to enforce a rule I completely disagree with is immense. For too many years I’ve had to chase short ties, trainers instead of shoes, even removing my own son’s trainers when he fell foul of the school laws, which is why I agree with his statement that each non uniform day is a major release of pent up annoyance. 

This lad’s plan is a good one and would possibly bring a high mark if written well. He is expected to get a 6 so we are now hoping for a 7. 

No pressure, R. 

But so is the young lady’s plan to show how heavier items like thick blazers need to be consigned to the rubbish tip of High School life in favour of something they could actually feel beautiful in and that was not designed with a burly rugger playing yob in mind. 

Now, at the end, three things come to mind that need to be written down before you begin, whether it is section B of English Language Paper 1 or Paper 2 and that is AUDIENCE, FORM & PURPOSE. If you check out the plan again you’ll see it there. It’s important to remember. 

But there is one important thing that I want to get in your head for these exams and it is this. Your section B choice, whichever one you undertake, is worth 40 marks each time and the whole exam is 80 marks so one foul up and your chance of your predicted grade has gone! So, you have to plan your answer and you need to figure out who the audience are, what form it will take (letter, speech, article) and write it accordingly. 

If it’s a letter then layout is important and is being marked. 

Top right = your address

2 lines below = date under your address

Left side of paper…

2 lines below that….name and address of person sending to…make them up!!!!

2 lines down again…

Start your letter under the comma after Dear (whoever), and then use that line at the left of the page. 

Indent each new paragraph. 

Never miss lines out like when typing….it will lose you marks! 

Yours sincerely/faithfully

6 line gap (signature)

Your name in capital letters 

But take note, that the words you will use in a letter will be the same as if it is an article, or a speech. Think about this for a second and consider this. Will the tone and language change across the three different formats? I think not! 

Then think of your purpose; persuade, inform, advise. The exam paper will specify!

Then do it well.

But above all, be brave, be bold and write strongly. 

Happy hunting

RJ