GCSE English Language Revision — Letter & Article Writing
Revise Letter & Article Writing for GCSE English Language with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Letter & Article Writing?
This involves writing for a specific purpose and audience in a set format. A letter has clear conventions (addresses, salutation, valediction), while an article needs a headline, strapline, and an engaging, journalistic style to hook the reader.
Board notes: Writing in a specific form (letter, article, speech, etc.) is a requirement of the transactional writing section (Paper 2) for all boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). Marks are awarded for using the correct conventions of the form.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A formal letter of complaint would begin with your address and the recipient's address, a formal salutation ('Dear Sir/Madam'), a clear statement of the problem in the first paragraph, and end with 'Yours faithfully' (if you don't know their name) or 'Yours sincerely' (if you do). An article would start with a catchy headline like 'Is Our Town Drowning in Plastic?' to grab attention.
Practise this topic
Start with low-focus cards for Letter & Article Writing, then move into full exam-style practice when you want the heavier session.
Common mistakes
- 1Forgetting the conventions of the form. An informal letter has a different tone and sign-off from a formal letter. An article needs to be structured differently from an essay.
- 2Writing in a generic style without considering the target audience. A letter to your headteacher requires a formal tone, while an article for a teenage magazine would be much more informal.
- 3Failing to make the purpose of the writing clear from the outset. The reader should know within the first paragraph whether you are writing to complain, inform, persuade, or advise.
Letter & Article Writing exam questions
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a broadsheet and a tabloid article?
A broadsheet newspaper (like The Guardian, The Times) generally uses a more formal, serious tone and complex sentences. A tabloid newspaper (like The Sun, The Mirror) uses a more informal, sensationalist tone, with simpler language and shorter paragraphs.
How do I sign off a formal letter?
If you started with 'Dear Sir/Madam' or 'Dear Sirs,' you must end with 'Yours faithfully,'. If you started with the person's name (e.g., 'Dear Mr Smith,'), you must end with 'Yours sincerely,'.