Written Production - 136-520 Enriched ESL
Written Production is the domain where you produce a multi-paragraph text for a defined purpose and audience. The 136-520 enriched exam may ask for an opinion text, an article, a letter, or a proposal. The exam tests organization, argument development, range and accuracy of language, and register. This reflects the QEP ESL writing competency: you must communicate a coherent message, not merely produce correct sentences. Enriched-level writing needs a clear thesis, coherent paragraphs, varied sentence structure, and careful editing.
Core rules
- Unpack the prompt: identify topic, purpose (persuade, inform, recommend), audience, format, and required length.
- Plan before writing: thesis, two or three body paragraphs with topic sentences, evidence or examples, and a concession or refutation.
- Build cohesion: use transitions (“however,” “therefore,” “for instance”), consistent pronouns, and clear paragraph breaks.
- Show range: mix simple, compound, and complex sentences; use conditionals, modals, and precise vocabulary.
- Reserve time to revise: check subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, word forms, punctuation, and spelling.
Worked example
Prompt: “Should schools ban smartphones during the school day?” A weak thesis is “Yes, phones are bad.” A strong thesis is qualified: “Schools should ban smartphones during class but allow them at breaks, because focus improves while safety and social contact remain possible.” Body 1: academic focus-evidence that notifications interrupt attention. Body 2: concession-phones matter for emergencies and coordination; propose a compromise. Body 3: implementation-lockers or pouches. The reasoning: a qualified thesis is easier to defend, the concession answers the counterargument, and the proposal makes the argument practical.
Traps that cost marks
- Writing a one-sided rant with no counterargument.
- Using informal register (“a lot of,” “stuff”) in a formal text.
- Presenting a new idea in the conclusion.
- Writing one long paragraph.
- Skipping revision, so agreement and tense errors multiply.