Functional and Transactional Writing
This domain tests practical writing for real purposes: formal and informal letters, notices, applications, reports, speeches, dialogues and instructions. You are marked on format, register, purpose and audience.
Format by text type
A formal letter needs sender address, date, recipient address, salutation, subject line, body, closing and signature. A notice needs a heading, date, time, place and contact. Instructions use imperative verbs and sequence markers.
Register
Formal Oshindonga avoids slang and casual greetings. Use Ondi ku indile for a request and name the office: Omukuluntu gwoshikola, not Wa lalapo. Keep the same level of politeness throughout.
Worked example
Task: write a formal letter to the principal asking for sick leave. Skeleton: address and date; Omukuluntu gwoshikola; subject line; ‘Ondi ku indile ndi ye kegumbo omolwoudu’; closing and signature. Reasoning: indile matches a formal request; omolwoudu gives the reason; the salutation names the office, not the person’s first name.
Traps that cost marks
- Opening a formal letter with Wa lalapo?
- Omitting the date or signature.
- Writing a notice as one long paragraph.
- Ignoring bullet points in the prompt.
- Mixing formal and informal address.
- Forgetting the subject line in a formal letter.