GCE 1189/01 Section 2 September/October 2005

WRITING TIPS - ROLE / AUDIENCE / PURPOSE / FORM

You were helping at a children’s charity event [Provide a name to the event: Red Cross Children's Charity or McDonald's Children Charity] organised by your school [St. Hilda's Secondary School] when a stranger [Description: Gender / Age Group / Ethnic Group/ Any unique physical features / Resembles who?] handed you a very large sum of money [You should report the exact amount] and then disappeared quickly [How did this stranger do it and why were you distracted?] into the crowd.

Question 1:  What is MY ROLE in this situational writing task?
I am a student helper / volunteer at the Ronald McDonald's Children Charity Run Event held on 27 June 2010 at the Bedok Reservoir, organised by my school, St. Hilda's Secondary School.  I was the one who was given a large sum of money amounting to USD10,000 by an anonymous  tall Chinese man who spoke to me in fluent American-accented English.  I am authorised by my principal, Mr. Ong Kim Soon, to write to The Straits Times to "explain what happened and to thank the stranger". 

Question 2:  Who is MY AUDIENCE in this situational writing task?
My letter is to THE EDITOR of THE STRAITS TIMES.  The only place where the newspaper is going to consider publishing my letter is THE FORUM page.  My knowledge of the newspaper tells me that in THE FORUM page, if the editor thinks my letter is worthy for publishing at all, it will be found under a column called BOUQUETS, which reports about good deeds by people and gratitude from people who have received help of any nature.  So my letter must convince THE EDITOR and he or she is my AUDIENCE.

You have been asked by the Principal [You must know who your own principal is. He is Mr. Ong Kim Soon.]of your school to write a letter to the Editor [Just leave it as The Editor] of The Straits Times [ Write an appropriate address for the Straits TImes] to explain what happened and to thank the stranger.

Question 3:  What is the Purpose of my situational writing task?
My purpose is to persuade and convince The Editor of The Straits Times to "explain what happened and to thank the stranger".

Question 4:  What is the FORM which my situational writing task is going to take?
It is already given to you in the question that you are supposed to write a letter.  Is the editor your friend?  Is he your relative?  Or your family member?  So is it going to be a formal or informal letter? 

Your letter must include address, saluation and close.

Your letter must include the following:
• Some details of what happened
• What the stranger looked like
• How you felt when you realized how much money you had been given
• Thanks to the stranger for this generosity
• How this charity will use the money to help children.

You should include any other information which you think would be helpful.