Some lucky students tend to say that creative writing is the easiest part of the English language GCSE. But the reality is that many (like, a lot!) boys and girls find it really tricky. According to the research “Academic Writing Difficulties of ESL Learners” conducted by The West East Institute, up to 77% of the students claimed that they tend to check carefully the assignment requirements, but still they have problems with approaching a particular topic.
Creative writing for GCSE exams can be of many different forms. For instance, you may be required to tell a short (or not) narrative story. Or, as an alternative, you may have to provide a speech or a script. Among the other kinds of creative writing are the reviews, voice overs, etc. Check out some quick recommendations on how to deal with the creative writing troubles if you’re an international student!
Ensure You Understand the Question
This is the beginning of the begins – the question! You have to read one really carefully since your answer will only be marked in the context of what was asked at the start, irrespective of how professionally written your project may be. You have to keep in mind the creative writing type that you have to come up with and the target audience. Plus, the word count is what really matters here (there’s no need to provide dozens of pages for a 400 word book review.)
You Should Have a Plan
This rule is typical for any type of academic and non-academic writing; however, when it’s something that you’re supposed to create on your own, ensure to think before you actually start writing. In other words, having a rough outline of your work is a must-have! An attractive intro, the body itself and the ending segment – make certain you have each before you finish your first sentence. What is more, the writer has to take into consideration the structure of the paper. For instance, a news article will differ completely from a blog entry. Nonetheless, you’re not going to get any mark for the project layout, so don’t waste your precious time making your piece look like a star.
Don’t Work on the Ending…at the End
Some projects will easily lead themselves to a logical and nice ending part. For instance, a film review will conclude with your opinion on the movie in almost all cases – but the other types of writing can’t be handled that way. When you have to deal with the fiction stories, it’s better to plan your ending at the beginning and write the project backwards. Thus, you won’t fail to include the key elements of the plot and will have an easy-going concluding part.
Don’t Forget the Purpose!
If you’re engaged in the process of non-fiction writing, ensure you remember its purpose. For instance, if you’re working on a review for a film, you’re not supposed to simply give the movie synopsis – make sure to give your viewpoint. Just ask yourself, “What is it that I’m doing with the writing? Am I supposed to persuade or argue?” Keep your purpose in mind as you write every other sentence.
