Writing: Guided Composition and Technical Communication
What this domain tests
You produce two kinds of text: a guided composition based on prompts or notes, and a practical technical message - an email, memo, short report, set of instructions or a notice. Marks come from content (all points covered), organisation, language accuracy and register.
Cover the brief
Each bullet or note in the prompt is a mark-bearing point. Tick them off as you write. If the prompt says 'say what happened, give the cause, and state the action taken', a paragraph that only describes the damage has already lost content marks.
Formats
- Email: subject line, salutation, purpose in the first line, details, requested action, polite close and name.
- Memo: To / From / Date / Subject headings, then short paragraphs.
- Incident report: heading, date, time, place, people involved, what happened, cause (if known), action taken, recommendation.
- Instructions: imperative verbs, numbered steps, one action per step, warnings before the step they apply to.
Register and language
Use a neutral, formal register in reports and emails: no contractions, no slang, no exclamation marks. Be precise with numbers, times and locations. Use the passive for actions whose doer is obvious ('the guard was removed'), and linkers to show sequence and cause (first, then, because, as a result, therefore).
Worked example
Prompt: 'Write an email to your supervisor. Say that the guard on the bench grinder is cracked. Ask for a replacement. Say the machine is not being used.' Reasoning: subject line 'Damaged guard on bench grinder'; first line states the problem and location; then the consequence (machine taken out of use); then a clear request with a needed date; close politely. 'It is broken, please fix' fails on precision, register and coverage.
Traps that cost marks
- Leaving out one prompt point.
- No subject line or no closing.
- Too casual: 'Hi, the grinder's had it.'
- Vague reference: 'it' when two machines are mentioned.
- Writing a narrative story instead of the required format.
- Forgetting to state the action already taken.