Skills for Life Teaching Resources

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• Writing Levels 1 and 2
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  2. Classroom Activities
  3. Skills Development
  4. Other Information
• Speaking and Listening Entry 1-3
• Speaking and Listening Levels 1 and 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skills for Life Writing Levels 1 and 2 – Proposals

 

Task Description

A proposal is similar in format, organisation and register to a report. However, whereas a report looks backwards and feeds back on a situation or something that has happened, a proposal looks forward and suggests a course of action for a particular situation or a solution to a problem.

 

	Language	Like reports, the language of proposals tends to be more formal because the reason for writing tends to be more serious.
		Style	This tends to be factual and persuasive.
		Register	This tends to be unmarked to formal.
		Functions	Most proposals will have language of description, suggestion or recommendation, justification and persuasion.
		Vocabulary	This should be directly related to the topic.
	Organisation	You want to identify this piece of writing as a proposal as soon as possible and a good layout and organisation can do this.
		Headings	Proposals can have a similar beginning to a memorandum with three things identified: the recipient, the writer and the subject. Headings can also be useful in identifying what you are writing about.
		Paragraphs	Don’t forget an introduction, body and conclusion.
			Introduction	The first paragraph should identify why you are writing and what the proposal is about.
			Body	Paragraphs should be clearly defined, not too short and not too long with suitable linking devices. Headings could identify the topic of each paragraph. There should be a proposal for each topic/problem raised.
			Conclusion	This could be the persuasive element of the proposal where you identify the benefits of the proposals.

 

Understanding the Task

To understand better how candidates need to approach this task, it may help you to do the activity yourself and analyse what you had to do to find the right answer.

Look at the sample proposal task on pages 6-8 of this Skills for Life Writing Level 2 sample paper. Complete the task, thinking about how you are doing it.

 

Sample writing paper

 

Things to consider

Now look at these questions about how you approached the task and consider your answers.

1. Who are you?
2. Who are you writing to?
3. What are you writing about?
4. How will you organise your writing?
5. What register and style should you use?
6. What kind of language should you use?
7. What vocabulary would be suitable?