Producing Extended Written French
What you must understand
Extended writing is assessed on structure, range, accuracy and cohesion. You need a clear plan (introduction with problématique and annonce du plan, two or three developed body paragraphs, conclusion), paragraph unity (one idea per paragraph, introduced by a topic sentence), and cohesive devices (en premier lieu, de surcroît, en définitive). Range means varied syntax - subordinate clauses (bien que + subjunctive, afin que, tandis que), relative pronouns (dont, auquel), and nominalisation (la mise en œuvre, le recours à). Accuracy means control of agreement, tense sequencing (concordance des temps), and accents.
Traps to avoid
- Anglicisms and calques: réaliser (= to become aware, not to achieve), supporter (= to endure), demander pour (use demander alone).
- Subjunctive triggers: il faut que, bien que, avant que, pour que, quoique - but not après que (indicative).
- Passive overuse; French often prefers on.
- Repetition: vary dire (affirmer, soutenir, souligner, déplorer).
- Ignoring the word count or the required text type (article, discours, lettre formelle with Madame, Monsieur and formulaic close).
Rule of thumb
Edit in three passes: (1) verbs - tense, mood, agreement with subject; (2) noun phrases - gender, number, articles; (3) connectors - is each paragraph linked to the last? This checklist catches most lost marks.
Worked example
Weak: « Je pense que les réseaux sociaux c'est mauvais pour les jeunes. » Strong: « Si les réseaux sociaux offrent aux jeunes un espace d'expression, il convient de s'interroger sur les risques qu'ils comportent pour leur santé mentale. » The revision adds a concession, a conditional clause, an impersonal construction, and a relative pronoun - four range markers in one sentence.