Page 1 of 21
TRANSACTIONAL WRITING 2020
REDDAM HOUSE COLLEGE
ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE
PAPER 2 – Transactional Writing
2020
The transactional writing format and features required for assessment purposes for up to
Grade 12:
1. Letters – formal; application
2. Editorial (editorial written by a newspaper or magazine editor on a current issue)
3. Blog
4. Eulogy
5. Email messages
6. Speeches
7. Open letter
What is an examiner looking for?
Your own voice catching the themes of the sources. Signpost!
The examiner is NOT looking for a mere summary of the sources.
You might need to subtly convey a possible criticism for or against.
Use linking words: however, although, on the other hand, initially and subsequently, despite,
etc.
WRITE FOR THE SPECIFIC AUDIENCE.
If applicable, you might want to use humour, irony, etc.
Introductions and conclusions are vital and must link to the question and themes.
The examiner wants to see if you can manipulate REGISTER and TONE.
Convince the examiner that you are an accurate, sophisticated and knowledgeable writer.
Communicate simply, clearly, imaginatively and accurately.
Respond clearly to the PURPOSE of the task.
REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE WRITING FOR AN EXAMINER AND NOT FOR YOURSELF!
, Page 2 of 21
TRANSACTIONAL WRITING 2020
Fixing our Common Errors so that we improve our marks and our style for Formal English
My name is ………………………………………………….. and this is my sheet for improving my style.
No ampersand Is the diction rich and varied or is it boring?
More adjectives and adverbs, separated by commas
Story-telling essays always in the past tense
Numbers under 100 – WRITE OUT, but not dates &
And numbers: use hyphen:
addresses
No ‘got’ / ‘kids’ / other colloquialisms unless in a diary
Beware homophones and suchlike their vs. ; principle vs. ; where/wear/ware/were
Use semi-colons: Veni; vidi; vici.
No ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ dream scenarios
No contractions unless in dialogue or diaries
Two words:
With a new speaker in dialogue – skip lines
APOSTROPHE: your vs. you’re
Use a comma before and
Use descriptive verbs, instead of walk use …
Writer vs. written
Most words use –iSe, not -iZe
Hyphen – for prefixes and suffixes and joining words
Dash –
Use spell check and UK dictionary on computer
Capitals and in FULL: Grade Ten
Foreign words in italics or single inverted commas
Abbr. ending on last letter of full word: NO full stop
Used to and biased against and prejudiced against or for
Publications: underline or italicise
News articles, poems, films: single inverted commas
less vs. fewer
Vary sentence length & use one word paragraphs
BANNED: go and … visit/fetch. Just use …
Try not to end a sentence on a preposition when writing Formal English(There are exceptions)
From/to/by/with whom. Are you going with ME/JANE/…?
Who and whom
programme vs. program
Splitting words at end of line at the R. H. Margin
READ ALOUD / READ ALLOWED
.Past tense: It was my sixteenth party on 20 February 2011 and my parents had booked the venue in July 2010.
PEP+Q - not Q+PEP
When everyone does what they (HE) want,
AYBS?!
The sins are visited on children’s life/lives
Everyone ... his (or her)... They must do their best; One must do ONE’s best
Concord
The group of students states (not state);
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TRANSACTIONAL WRITING 2020
1 LETTERS – formal; application
13 Short Way
Tokai (YOUR
7495 ADDRESS)
13 November 2013
(DATE this format)
The Editor/ The Headmaster/ The Director/ The Personal Manager (THE JOB TITLE)
Reddam House College (THE PLACE)
P. O. Box 30050
Waterfront
9005 (no punctuation, use margins)
Dear Sir/Dear Mr Smith (use surname if known)
Complaint about.../Recommendation .../Response to (topic line)
In the Cape Times/Men’s Health/Scruffy magazine of 10 November, ....
(list source, title, facts)
...
...
I suggest/recommend that /It might be worthwhile/the ramifications/...
Yours faithfully (WITH DEAR SIR/MADAM)
OR
Yours sincerely (WITH A SURNAME)
Peter Porter (SIGNATURE)
Peter Porter (YOUR NAME)
TRANSACTIONAL WRITING 2020
REDDAM HOUSE COLLEGE
ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE
PAPER 2 – Transactional Writing
2020
The transactional writing format and features required for assessment purposes for up to
Grade 12:
1. Letters – formal; application
2. Editorial (editorial written by a newspaper or magazine editor on a current issue)
3. Blog
4. Eulogy
5. Email messages
6. Speeches
7. Open letter
What is an examiner looking for?
Your own voice catching the themes of the sources. Signpost!
The examiner is NOT looking for a mere summary of the sources.
You might need to subtly convey a possible criticism for or against.
Use linking words: however, although, on the other hand, initially and subsequently, despite,
etc.
WRITE FOR THE SPECIFIC AUDIENCE.
If applicable, you might want to use humour, irony, etc.
Introductions and conclusions are vital and must link to the question and themes.
The examiner wants to see if you can manipulate REGISTER and TONE.
Convince the examiner that you are an accurate, sophisticated and knowledgeable writer.
Communicate simply, clearly, imaginatively and accurately.
Respond clearly to the PURPOSE of the task.
REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE WRITING FOR AN EXAMINER AND NOT FOR YOURSELF!
, Page 2 of 21
TRANSACTIONAL WRITING 2020
Fixing our Common Errors so that we improve our marks and our style for Formal English
My name is ………………………………………………….. and this is my sheet for improving my style.
No ampersand Is the diction rich and varied or is it boring?
More adjectives and adverbs, separated by commas
Story-telling essays always in the past tense
Numbers under 100 – WRITE OUT, but not dates &
And numbers: use hyphen:
addresses
No ‘got’ / ‘kids’ / other colloquialisms unless in a diary
Beware homophones and suchlike their vs. ; principle vs. ; where/wear/ware/were
Use semi-colons: Veni; vidi; vici.
No ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ dream scenarios
No contractions unless in dialogue or diaries
Two words:
With a new speaker in dialogue – skip lines
APOSTROPHE: your vs. you’re
Use a comma before and
Use descriptive verbs, instead of walk use …
Writer vs. written
Most words use –iSe, not -iZe
Hyphen – for prefixes and suffixes and joining words
Dash –
Use spell check and UK dictionary on computer
Capitals and in FULL: Grade Ten
Foreign words in italics or single inverted commas
Abbr. ending on last letter of full word: NO full stop
Used to and biased against and prejudiced against or for
Publications: underline or italicise
News articles, poems, films: single inverted commas
less vs. fewer
Vary sentence length & use one word paragraphs
BANNED: go and … visit/fetch. Just use …
Try not to end a sentence on a preposition when writing Formal English(There are exceptions)
From/to/by/with whom. Are you going with ME/JANE/…?
Who and whom
programme vs. program
Splitting words at end of line at the R. H. Margin
READ ALOUD / READ ALLOWED
.Past tense: It was my sixteenth party on 20 February 2011 and my parents had booked the venue in July 2010.
PEP+Q - not Q+PEP
When everyone does what they (HE) want,
AYBS?!
The sins are visited on children’s life/lives
Everyone ... his (or her)... They must do their best; One must do ONE’s best
Concord
The group of students states (not state);
, Page 3 of 21
TRANSACTIONAL WRITING 2020
1 LETTERS – formal; application
13 Short Way
Tokai (YOUR
7495 ADDRESS)
13 November 2013
(DATE this format)
The Editor/ The Headmaster/ The Director/ The Personal Manager (THE JOB TITLE)
Reddam House College (THE PLACE)
P. O. Box 30050
Waterfront
9005 (no punctuation, use margins)
Dear Sir/Dear Mr Smith (use surname if known)
Complaint about.../Recommendation .../Response to (topic line)
In the Cape Times/Men’s Health/Scruffy magazine of 10 November, ....
(list source, title, facts)
...
...
I suggest/recommend that /It might be worthwhile/the ramifications/...
Yours faithfully (WITH DEAR SIR/MADAM)
OR
Yours sincerely (WITH A SURNAME)
Peter Porter (SIGNATURE)
Peter Porter (YOUR NAME)
