Directed Writing (Letters, Reports, Speeches, Articles, Notices)
Directed writing (letters, reports, speeches, articles, notices)
Directed writing gives you a role, an audience and a purpose, plus notes to expand. Format features and register carry marks, so learn the skeleton of each text type.
Format skeletons
- Formal letter: sender address, date, recipient, salutation, subject line, body, "Yours faithfully" (Dear Sir/Madam) or "Yours sincerely" (named recipient).
- Report: title; To/From/Date/Subject; terms of reference; findings; conclusion; recommendations. Keep an impersonal tone.
- Speech: greeting, hook, signposting ("First...", "Finally..."), inclusive "we", call to action, thanks.
- Article: headline, byline, introductory paragraph, subheadings, short paragraphs.
- Notice: heading, date, time, venue, purpose, contact details, no filler.
Audience and register
Decide who reads the text and why. Formal writing avoids contractions, slang and vague words; persuasive writing uses controlled emotive language.
Worked example
Notes: "sports day - 15 July - 8 a.m. - main ground - parents invited". Speech opening: "Good morning, Principal, teachers, parents and fellow students. On 15 July at 8 a.m. on the main ground we will hold our annual sports day, and I am delighted that parents will join us." Reasoning: the notes become full sentences, every fact is retained, and the greeting plus inclusive "we" establish the audience and tone.
Traps that cost marks
- Missing format features such as the subject line or report headings.
- Copying bullet points verbatim.
- Wrong closing ("Yours sincerely" with "Dear Sir").
- Contractions in a formal letter.
- No clear purpose or audience awareness.
- Forgetting date, time or venue.