Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience

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Wt/L1.4: Use language suitable for purpose and audience 

  • understand that writers can select language at different levels of complexity, formality and specialism, and depending on context, audience and purpose
  • understand that some types of written communication have specific language associated with them, e.g. invitations, estate agents’ leaflets

Related Adult ESOL curriculum elements: ESOL Wt/L1.4a Choose language suitable for genre, purpose and audience
Related Functional Skills English elements: FE L1.24 Use format, structure and language appropriate for audience and purpose

Example of application and level:

  • Write different texts using the language appropriate to the form of communication and situation, e.g. an advert to go in a shop window or local paper, a letter of application for a job

Sample activities

  • Discuss what factors might influence a writer’s decision about the sort of language to use for atask, e.g. how much precision is needed, how much will the reader already know about thesubject, how well does the writer know the reader, does the context need tact or directness, isthere a point of view to get across? Write two different short texts, e.g. recording the details of a traffic accident for an insurance company, describing a brilliant goal/shot/try/race for a newspaper sports page.
  • Write a set of safety instructions for a primary school audience (e.g. on road safety) and for an adult audience (e.g. on the correct use of some dangerous equipment).
  • Join an on-line ‘chat room’ (Computer Mediated Text Conference). Read recent and current ‘chats’, and respond in the appropriate style.

Source: Department for Education and Skills (2001) Adult Literacy core curriculum. London DfES.  Use language suitable for purpose and audience (a) Understand that writers can select language at different levels of complexity, formality and specialism, and can do so depending on context, audience and purpose (b) Understand that some types of written communication have specific language associated with them, e.g. invitations, estate agents' leaflets

Language: informaI, formal or slang?

Two resources based on ‘Little Britain’: aimed at teenage students but can be adapted for other groups. The introductory PPT cleverly introduces the idea of formality/informality by looking at dress codes, ‘chavs’ and Vicky Pollard from Little Britain! Then moves on to give good examples of formal/informal language and slang.
The accompanying PDF file includes: matching slang to more formal language, writing definitions of slang that you use, listening activities using the Little Britain Audio CD.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rw/L1.1
Rw/L1.2
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Favourite Recipe writing frames

A favourite recipe. Three step by step writing frames take the learner through planning to the final draft. Page 1 has a checklist with the key features and suggestions for setting out a favourite recipe. Page 2 includes line guides only and page 3 is blank for the final polished version.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Adult Literacy: writing composition (Wt)
Wt/E2.1
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Wt/E3.3
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.2 Judge how much to write and the level of detail to include
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.5 Use format and structure for different purposes
Wt/L1.6
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

Directions writing frames

Three step by step writing frames take the learner through planning to the final draft. Page 1 has a checklist with the key features and suggestions for setting out directions in a clear and logical manner. Page 2 includes line guides and brief hints, and page 3 is for the final polished version.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
Adult Literacy: writing composition (Wt)
Wt/E2.1
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Wt/E3.3
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.2 Judge how much to write and the level of detail to include
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.5 Use format and structure for different purposes
Wt/L1.6
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Motor vehicles & Transport

Formal letters - spelling and crossword

Use a customised LSCWC (Look – say – cover – write – check) chart to learn spellings, then check learning the following week with a crossword.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
AL Ww/L1.1 Spell & use spelling strategies
AL Ww/L2.1 Spell technical words
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
AL Rw/L2.3 Vocabulary (language features, synonyms, formality)

Descriptive non-fiction texts

Tutor notes, student hand-out (L1/2) about objective v subjective (persuasive) descriptions, reading activity on fact and opinion (in Estate Agent ads) with fill-in sheet, and lots of writing ideas. An ideal companion to our Estate Agents writing frame and the other popular resources in our Chomwell Green series. Originally used for a class writing project (using adjectives) in Jan 2002.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rt/E3.2
Rt/L1.2
Rt/L2.2 Identify the purpose of a text and infer meaning which is not explicit
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Wt/E3.4
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.5 Use format and structure for different purposes
Wt/L1.6
Wt/L2.1

Estate Agents writing frame

Plan, draft and write Estate Agents Ads. Use with our other descriptive writing resources. Two differentiated frames and an exemplar text. Part of a set of popular Chomwell Green resources (see below).

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
Wt/E2.1
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Wt/E3.2
Wt/E3.4
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.2 Judge how much to write and the level of detail to include
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.5 Use format and structure for different purposes
Wt/L1.6

Step by step letter writing ideas

Letter writing ideas – step by step guide to letter and note writing. Choose an idea, think about purpose and audience, plan, draft, revise and proof read. Use in an E3-L1 class after extensive text level reading work on letters.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
AL Wt/E3.1 Plan & draft writing
Wt/E3.2
Wt/E3.3
Wt/E3.4
Adult Lit Wt/L1.1 Plan and draft writing
Adult Lit Wt/L1.2 Judge how much to write and the level of detail to include
Adult Lit Wt/L1.3 Present information in a logical sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Adult Lit Wt/L1.5 Use format and structure for different purposes
Wt/L1.6

Looking at letters

Take a detailed look at the purpose, intended audience and language of letters. Fill-in worksheet, teachers’ notes, follow up ideas. Use as preparation for individual letter writing (see ‘letter writing ideas’ below).

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Adult Lit Wt/L2.5 Use formal & informal language appropriate to purpose & audience
Wt/L2.4
Adult Lit Wt/L1.5 Use format and structure for different purposes
Adult Lit Wt/L1.4 Use language suitable for purpose and audience
Rt/L2.2 Identify the purpose of a text and infer meaning which is not explicit
Rt/L1.2
Rt/E3.2
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