Text+Types+for+DP+English+B+Exam

=Text types =

**__Set of instructions__**
A set of instructions in its broadest sense can be interpreted as recommendations and/or suggestions.

It might be possible that some students write only one sentence, followed by bullet points. There may be a key point at the beginning of a paragraph, followed by expansion of the key point.
 * Features:**
 * • Formal or informal depending on context
 * • Often with a particular order
 * • Very factual
 * • Step by step
 * • Description of a process
 * • May be included within another text type: email, speech, brochure
 * • Discourse markers included where appropriate


 * Examples:**
 * • Speech to first year students on how to write a formal essay
 * • Email sending advice to a friend
 * • A Japanese penfriend is visiting your culture. Include suggestions on how to behave during the first visit to a stranger’s house, what to bring as presents, how to behave.
 * • A survival guide for parents of teenagers, //How to handle teenagers//, published in the school magazine.
 * • Advice on healthy living.
 * • A group of young people in different countries whose aim is to reduce world poverty. Write the practical aims of the group, what activities you do, how individuals could participate in this.

__Pamphlet or brochure__
A pamphlet or brochure could also be considered as a “factual” description. In this way the task would also be suitable for SL.


 * Features:**
 * • Creative use of language
 * • Attention to presentation, for example, eye-catching titles
 * • Some language rules may be broken
 * • Some factual information included
 * • High proportion of adjectives and adverbs
 * • Use of rhetorical devices

You have a summer job in the tourist office. Write a brochure for visitors to your region describing the main attractions. At SL the pamphlet/brochure would be expected to include mainly factual details; at HL, evocative details should be expected.
 * Example:**

__Profile of a person__
In some languages a written profile could be used in the same way as a portrait.


 * Features:**
 * • Based on one or several interviews
 * • May include narration
 * • May be presented as a newspaper or magazine article, or as a speech introducing someone
 * • May be formal or informal
 * • Most are written in the third person singular, but they can include quotes.


 * Examples:**
 * • Profile based on an interview of a celebrity
 * • Teacher or employee leaving or retiring

__Statement to police__

 * Features:**
 * • Chronological order of events
 * • Emphasis on facts not opinions
 * • Person writing statement should identify himself or herself
 * • Concise, to the point
 * • People involved
 * • Place
 * • Time

You were in Japan and something happened to you. Write your statement to the police about the incident, including what happened, where you were, who was involved.
 * Example:**

__Anecdote__

 * Features:**
 * • The telling of a short story
 * • Small incident
 * • Amusing or striking
 * • Usually informal
 * • Has a beginning, middle and end, but does not need to be sequential
 * • Normally associated with spoken language, but in paper 2 can be in the form of an email

You were walking around the market in Germany and had a very interesting experience at one of the stalls. Write an email about your experience at the market.
 * Example:**

__ Informal letter __

 * • Addresses—not required
 * • Some form of greeting required
 * • Date—optional
 * • Punctuation—some required
 * • Paragraphing—necessary, but no prescribed number, depends on task set (emails have fewer paragraphing issues)
 * • Closing salutation necessary
 * • Name and signature
 * • Contractions and abbreviations acceptable
 * • “Smileys” and/or similar emoticons acceptable
 * • Words in text message (SMS) form not acceptable
 * • Strictly no swear words; extreme or inappropriate language to be penalized

“Idiomatic” language is acceptable; in fact good use of idiomatic expressions should be rewarded. Language that is so informal as to be considered inappropriate should be discouraged.

__ Formal letters __

 * Features:**
 * • Addresses—optional
 * • Date—recommended (according to conventions of the language)
 * • Greeting
 * • Standard formulaic introduction where applicable. This will vary from language to language. For example, French and Spanish use set forms of salutation that are very formal and very different from forms commonly used in English.
 * • Closing salutation
 * • Appropriate sign off
 * • Use of paragraphs
 * • Formal register; no slang or other informal language allowed
 * • In English, avoid contractions

__ Report __
There is no clear definition of a report.
 * • It may or may not have headings/sections.
 * • It may or may not be addressed to anyone, as long as this is not confused with the formal letter style.

Bullet points are acceptable as long as they do not inappropriately replace continuous prose. The aim is for students to show their ability in the language.

Talk, speech

 * Talk**
 * • Generally more informal.
 * • Relates to the presentation of information, although this is not necessarily exclusive.
 * • There may be references to an audience.
 * • There should be appropriate greetings and closing remarks.
 * Speech**
 * • Generally formal with emphasis on persuasive argument (for example, wedding speech, leaving speech, political speech).
 * • May be backed up by factual information.

__ Letter to a newspaper __
This is a very language-specific form and it is necessary to conform to the conventions of the target language.
 * • In British English, the letter to a newspaper may be a subversive form associated with irony and wit. This may not be appropriate to language B.
 * • A letter to a school newspaper is more appropriate.

Review of film, book or play

 * • A review should not retell the plot, but should include an amount of information appropriate to the task; include the genre, for example.
 * • Opinion and evaluation should be given, concluding with a recommendation (which may be implicit).

__Diary__
A diary is intimate and introspective, not meant to be read by anyone else but the writer. A diary is used to express feelings and is reflective and often emotional. The language of a diary will reflect some of these aspects.

__Journal__
A journal usually consists of entries where a certain activity is recorded and might be read by other people, other than the writer. Entries in journals usually have dates. The tone is formal, and while there is narration and description, a certain amount of personal reflection should be expected and even rewarded.

__ Interviews/dialogues __
In English, an interview should be reported; a transcription of the interview will not achieve high marks. This is a characteristic of English and must not be applied in other languages.

__Newspaper/magazine reports__
News stories should have a headline or at least a very clear title; there should be some sort of lead. These reports should be well organized and should clearly make references to the people involved, the time and place.

__Leaflet/brochure/pamphlet__
For the purpose of paper 2 these names are interchangeable. The text types will have the same characteristics.

__ Editorials __
An editorial includes comments on recent news. It should be topical and should express a very clear opinion.

__ Digital texts __
-Emails and blogs will be accepted as legitimate types of texts to be used on paper 2. -The characteristics of these types of texts do not differ too much from informal letters and diaries; therefore, the same requirements apply. - In the same paper there will not be one activity requesting an informal letter and another one requesting an email. - This does not mean that emails and/or blogs are obligatory text types for paper 2.