Situational writing in the Secondary 2 English syllabus consists of relaying information in a clear and concise manner.
There are a few styles for situational writing which I will be discussing below.
First of all, I will discuss the various types of situational writing according to the Secondary 2 English exam syllabus.
Different types of situational writing in Secondary 2 English
There are several types of situational writing.
Letter writing – both formal and informal.
Email writing – both formal and informal.
Email writing and letters are by far the most popular for this paper.
Then there are proposals where you will be asked to write about an idea for an event or activity while describing its advantages or disadvantages.
The less popular ones are report writing, complaint letters, speech and articles.
All situational writing has an instruction page with illustrations and notes on what you should write about.
Following the instructions in Secondary 2 English paper is mandatory and you are not allowed to deviate.
Additional points are necessary as your writing will tend to be rather short and lacking in variety if you only follow the instructions.
You will need to supplement the given information with your own views and this is where you will need to be persuasive and logical.
The entire aim of situational writing is to inform readers in a professional manner as all of these are based on formalities.
The only areas where you can write with some liberty will be the informal letter and email.
Article writing is also like a mini composition and you will be expected to write with some creativity.
Top 3 styles for situational writing
I will discuss the top 3 styles which will help students in their Secondary 2 English exam preparation.
The first way is to attempt a professional style whenever you are asked to write formal emails and letters.
The most important point to note is that these are meant to inform so your information has to be precise.
The second way is the tone.
Your tone should be persuasive but not overly friendly as you may be writing in an official capacity to the school principal for example.
Always maintain that distance but make up for it by inserting the necessary information at the correct points.
Formal writing is a bit like journalistic writing.
You are writing to inform or get some feedback.
Always maintain sophistication in your vocabulary and make your writing smooth.
You will be expecting a reply so it should be convincing to say the least.
Whenever you start a paragraph, make sure that you have 2 of the instructions covered in it.
There may be several notes which will be on the instructions page.
You will have to use all of it.
Always explain carefully so there is no room for misinterpretation.
When I mark a Secondary 2 English student’s situational writing, I always focus on the style of writing.
For informal, the tone should be warm and friendly.
Eg. When you are writing to a loved one, you are allowed to inquire about their health and well-being.
You should be able to write about your own circumstances which led you to write to your loved one.
Maintain this warmth but do not write too much about this as you will need to follow the instructions.
The last part will be the way you end.
Ending on a smooth, professional note for a formal letter or email is necessary.
Always mention that you will be awaiting a reply.
And for the informal, you have more leeway.
Provide the loved one or friend with some information about wishing to meet and awaiting the next possible visit, if the instructions allow this.
Always end on a positive note.
That makes a great difference when you finish as the reader will feel the impact and be impressed.
These are my tips for situational writing in Secondary 2 English.
It is easy to score if you just remember these details. All the best!