Writing assessments, tasks or prompts

This resource is aimed at high E3, L1 and L2 ESOL learners who make mistakes when using conjunctions, prepositions and adverbs in their writing to express contrast. There are seven speaking, reading and writing tasks in all.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
Use knowledge of grammar
Apply grammar
Identify main points and detail
Functional Skills English
ESOL
ESOL: Writing sentence focus - punctuation and grammar (Ws)
ESOL Reading: sentence focus - grammar, punctuation (Rs)
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
ESOL: Reading text focus - comprehension (Rt)
Context
Sport and fitness
News, Politics & Government items

How to format and plan a formal letter or email for English functional skills.
Word document / template.

Editor’s note
Two very useful editable Word documents – one for a letter, one for an email.
[5/12/17] Minor edits to the formal letter template

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.1
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing

A series of tasks designed to help learners improve their sentences and hence their writing style. These tasks assume no previous knowledge of complex sentences or subordinating conjunctions. They do assume the learner is familiar with simple sentences (i.e. one clause, one verb) and compound sentences. (See my related Entry Level ‘Halloween Compound Sentences’ resource for more on compound sentences and coordinating conjunctions).

Aimed at L1-2 students but parts could be useful at Entry 3. All tasks have a Halloween theme.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Adult Lit Ws/L2.1 Construct complex sentences
Adult Lit Ws/L1.1 Write in complete sentences
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Two PowerPoint resources for discussion that can feed into Level 1 or 2 Functional Skills for English, Speaking & Listening.

Editor’s note
Also covers research, reading and writing. Great for prompting discussion among 14-19 year olds.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Use appropriate language and strategies
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

An ESOL reading comprehension based on a BBC News report on the death of Stanislav Petrov, who averted a potential Cold War disaster in 1983.

The text contains several examples of past perfect, reported speech and third / mixed conditionals. The activity combines reading for gist, for detail, identifying vocabulary and identifying parts of speech. An extension activity gives learners an opportunity to write a similar short text, using the same elements of grammar to tell a story about a decision that changed events.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Use knowledge of grammar
Apply grammar
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ESOL
ESOL: Reading word focus - vocabulary, word recognition, phonics (Rw)
ESOL: Writing sentence focus - punctuation and grammar (Ws)
ESOL Reading: sentence focus - grammar, punctuation (Rs)
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
ESOL: Reading text focus - comprehension (Rt)
Context
News, Politics & Government items
History, culture, museums, libraries

Designed for Entry 3 – Level 2 Functional Skills English.
Students loved this lesson. Can be designed around other areas but covers:
Writing persuasively.
Fact and opinion.
Research write a factual article
Create a poster using appropriate language.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional Skills English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

Literacy – aimed at Level 1-2 and links to imaginative writing at GCSE.
Quirky fun starter – find your pirate name. This can be done on mobile phones if there are no PCs.
Comprehension tasks.
After finding the King’s shilling, write descriptive letter home.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

I’m using this activity to give learners a writing frame for a piece of creative writing. I want them to really think about purpose of text when they are creating it, so they have to pick the format, style and tone of their work and plan it out.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.7
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Wt/L2.1
Wt/L1.6
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Wt/E3.4
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
GCSE Writing AO5(a) Use tone, style and register for different forms, purposes & audiences

A topical summer solstice resource. A bit of reading comprehension based on a general article about the solstice which includes some embedded maths. This is followed by another short article with further comprehension questions and two associated writing tasks: one at L1/L2 and one at E3 (the latter a bit wacky!).

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading

This teaching and assessment resource combines reading comprehension and a letter writing task based on an advert for a volunteer role as a Customer Service Assistant for a charity shop.

In Task 1, students read the job advert and answer questions to check their understanding. In Task 2, they make notes about their personal skills and qualities, then draft and write a letter to apply for the volunteer role. An additional, extension task is provided for students who either work at a faster pace or at a higher level, and involves writing a personal statement for a college course.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
ESOL
ESOL: Writing - text focus (composition)
ESOL: Reading text focus - comprehension (Rt)
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Employment skills & Public services