Guide to Transactional
Writing (2026)
In your Paper II examination, you will be expected to write TWO original responses. ONE is compulsory.
The other is a choice between two formats. You should spend approximately 20 minutes on each
response. Any THREE of the following formats will be examined:
Email
Blog
Speech
Open letter
Editorial
Eulogy
Questions in this section will be based on a response to a given text/ photograph/ advertisement/ literature
studied. The focus of the question is the ability to construct an appropriate personal response to the
prompt, and to choose the correct format, style and register for the given context, purpose and
audience. The body of each piece should be between 250 and 300 words in length.
Quick Tips:
Your writing is a PERSONAL RESPONSE to the article or text given to you – do NOT summarise the
information given to you. When examining the prompt, focus on what it makes you think and feel and
consider what you have seen or read or experienced that can help you substantiate the validity of your
response.
Look at the instructions and consider:
Format & Purpose
Tone & Register Audience
BODY PARAGRAPHS CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Offer each of your points with evidence to Conclude with a strong suggestion.
Outline the topic and reason for response.
substantiate and explain your response
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 1
,Abbreviated rubric:
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC: TRANSACTIONAL WRITING (20 MARKS=
10 + 10)
Level Mark PURPOSE AND CONTENT (RESPONSE) COMMAND OF LANGUAGE AND REGISTER
(LANGUAGE
IMPRESSIVE, SCINTILLATING IMPRESSIVE
7+ 10 Full compliance to purpose and format Impressive use of language conventions
9 Sophisticated cognisance of audience Elegant style and thoroughly engaging
Significant, with impressive detail Appropriate tone and mood
Impressive, superior organisation Highly sophisticated diction
Compelling, striking and highly original Virtually error free
Supplied text is used only as stimulus
LIVELY, ORIGINAL EXCELLENT
7 8½ Focused response to purpose and audience Highly sophisticated use of language conventions –
Comprehensive, insightful and reflective effectively varied sentence patterns
8 Cohesive and clear development Lively, precise and engaging with excellent
Original, sincere and creative understanding of register
Supplied text is used only as stimulus – no Carefully selected diction
cutting and pasting into transactional piece.
GOOD TO VERY GOOD (ABOVE GOOD TO VERY GOOD
6 7½ AVERAGE) Competent use of language conventions – varied
7 Mostly consistent focus, understanding and sentence patterns
thought Fluent and original with good understanding of register
Good personal style OR good development (lively/ sincere/ humorous where appropriate)
and depth Some editing needed
Supplied text is used generally as stimulus –
limited cutting and pasting integrated with own
ideas
ADEQUATE (AVERAGE) ADEQUATE
6½ Broadly meets purpose and requirements of Appropriate use of language – some attempt to
5 6 task include different sentence patterns
Ordinary and predictable, although sincere in Ordinary but competent
places Occasional errors
Some ideas not completely developed
Supplied text is used as stimulus on occasion
– cutting and pasting integrated with own ideas
LIMITED (BELOW AVERAGE) LIMITED
4 5½ Limited success in meeting purpose and Limited range of syntactic structures
5 requirements of task Register is not consistent with task
Superficial, limited style Colourless or repetitious language
Inconsistent organisation of ideas – requires Errors may begin to impede readability
further elaboration
INADEQUATE, COMPROMISED INADEQUATE
3 Compromised and marginal at times Flawed use of language – limited range of syntactic
4½ Insufficient depth, development and structures
4 organisation of ideas Register is inappropriate for task
Vague in places Stereotyped
Errors severely impede readability – extensive editing is
required
POOR, MUDDLED POOR
3½ No awareness of purpose of task Very flawed use of language
2 3 Limited cohesion Frequent errors impede understanding
Unconvincing
INCOHERENT INCOHERENT/INAPPROPRIATE
1 2½ Completely flawed response – does not Incoherent language/inappropriate language.
2 answer question Preponderance of errors of style. Illogical.
1 No cohesion or development
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 2
, The Blog:
The word blog is a portmanteau of web log. This is a journal that is updated often daily, weekly or just
erratically. Updates can be of any length, depending on the content. Blogs may be run by one person or an
organisation that invites bloggers to post on the blogsite.
The difference between a blog and a diary is that a blog has public access (on the blogosphere) and
readers can often respond to an entry online.
Blogs are often used to keep family members or a group of friends up to date with the latest news
that concerns you as a family/ group/ community. Blogs can also be used to host photographs –
creating timelines of important events.
The style of writing depends on context and this corresponds with the vast range of subject material
that can be included in a blog – you are writing about anything at all that interests you or a group of
you.
If you lead a fascinating life, you have the advantage of excellent subject material, which will attract
a larger reading audience. Remember, though, that your inner life (your mental or emotional or
psychological journey) can be just as fascinating! Readers are interested in someone with an
engaging style and voice – someone with something to say.
Remember that a blog is a type of conversation, whether you are conducting this conversation with
yourself, a family member, a friend or the universe. Therefore, your style is conversational (as are
your spelling and punctuation, meaning that they are always correct in order to ensure maximum
grasp of meaning).
FORMAT
THE NAME OF THE BLOGPAGE
Consider the identity of your blogsite – does it have a specific topic that you always cover? What is your brand
identity? Think of something catchy (alliteration and puns always come in useful .)
Examples of some of the most successful blogsites online are: Social Media Examiner; Gizmodo; Shopify; Scary
Mommy; Cup of Jo)*
*https://www.ryrob.com/blog-examples/
The Title of your Blogpost
What is today’s topic of discussion? Think of a headline that will immediately capture your reader’s attention. Add
your name and the date.
Content
Make sure your topic is relevant to your audience. Know what your audience cares about.
Have some knowledge and a strong opinion. Engage your audience in conversation.
Have an interesting introduction. Start with a strong opening sentence.
Organise your body paragraphs logically. Each paragraph should have a particular point that supports your
introduction.
Write clearly and concisely. One of the worst things you can do is use ‘big words’ to impress your reader when
you yourself are not clear about what those words mean exactly. Use your own voice and let your personality
come through in your writing.
Footer
This is where you ask your readers for a response, e.g., Like and subscribe; or Leave your comments below; or
Thoughts?
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 3
Writing (2026)
In your Paper II examination, you will be expected to write TWO original responses. ONE is compulsory.
The other is a choice between two formats. You should spend approximately 20 minutes on each
response. Any THREE of the following formats will be examined:
Blog
Speech
Open letter
Editorial
Eulogy
Questions in this section will be based on a response to a given text/ photograph/ advertisement/ literature
studied. The focus of the question is the ability to construct an appropriate personal response to the
prompt, and to choose the correct format, style and register for the given context, purpose and
audience. The body of each piece should be between 250 and 300 words in length.
Quick Tips:
Your writing is a PERSONAL RESPONSE to the article or text given to you – do NOT summarise the
information given to you. When examining the prompt, focus on what it makes you think and feel and
consider what you have seen or read or experienced that can help you substantiate the validity of your
response.
Look at the instructions and consider:
Format & Purpose
Tone & Register Audience
BODY PARAGRAPHS CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Offer each of your points with evidence to Conclude with a strong suggestion.
Outline the topic and reason for response.
substantiate and explain your response
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 1
,Abbreviated rubric:
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC: TRANSACTIONAL WRITING (20 MARKS=
10 + 10)
Level Mark PURPOSE AND CONTENT (RESPONSE) COMMAND OF LANGUAGE AND REGISTER
(LANGUAGE
IMPRESSIVE, SCINTILLATING IMPRESSIVE
7+ 10 Full compliance to purpose and format Impressive use of language conventions
9 Sophisticated cognisance of audience Elegant style and thoroughly engaging
Significant, with impressive detail Appropriate tone and mood
Impressive, superior organisation Highly sophisticated diction
Compelling, striking and highly original Virtually error free
Supplied text is used only as stimulus
LIVELY, ORIGINAL EXCELLENT
7 8½ Focused response to purpose and audience Highly sophisticated use of language conventions –
Comprehensive, insightful and reflective effectively varied sentence patterns
8 Cohesive and clear development Lively, precise and engaging with excellent
Original, sincere and creative understanding of register
Supplied text is used only as stimulus – no Carefully selected diction
cutting and pasting into transactional piece.
GOOD TO VERY GOOD (ABOVE GOOD TO VERY GOOD
6 7½ AVERAGE) Competent use of language conventions – varied
7 Mostly consistent focus, understanding and sentence patterns
thought Fluent and original with good understanding of register
Good personal style OR good development (lively/ sincere/ humorous where appropriate)
and depth Some editing needed
Supplied text is used generally as stimulus –
limited cutting and pasting integrated with own
ideas
ADEQUATE (AVERAGE) ADEQUATE
6½ Broadly meets purpose and requirements of Appropriate use of language – some attempt to
5 6 task include different sentence patterns
Ordinary and predictable, although sincere in Ordinary but competent
places Occasional errors
Some ideas not completely developed
Supplied text is used as stimulus on occasion
– cutting and pasting integrated with own ideas
LIMITED (BELOW AVERAGE) LIMITED
4 5½ Limited success in meeting purpose and Limited range of syntactic structures
5 requirements of task Register is not consistent with task
Superficial, limited style Colourless or repetitious language
Inconsistent organisation of ideas – requires Errors may begin to impede readability
further elaboration
INADEQUATE, COMPROMISED INADEQUATE
3 Compromised and marginal at times Flawed use of language – limited range of syntactic
4½ Insufficient depth, development and structures
4 organisation of ideas Register is inappropriate for task
Vague in places Stereotyped
Errors severely impede readability – extensive editing is
required
POOR, MUDDLED POOR
3½ No awareness of purpose of task Very flawed use of language
2 3 Limited cohesion Frequent errors impede understanding
Unconvincing
INCOHERENT INCOHERENT/INAPPROPRIATE
1 2½ Completely flawed response – does not Incoherent language/inappropriate language.
2 answer question Preponderance of errors of style. Illogical.
1 No cohesion or development
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 2
, The Blog:
The word blog is a portmanteau of web log. This is a journal that is updated often daily, weekly or just
erratically. Updates can be of any length, depending on the content. Blogs may be run by one person or an
organisation that invites bloggers to post on the blogsite.
The difference between a blog and a diary is that a blog has public access (on the blogosphere) and
readers can often respond to an entry online.
Blogs are often used to keep family members or a group of friends up to date with the latest news
that concerns you as a family/ group/ community. Blogs can also be used to host photographs –
creating timelines of important events.
The style of writing depends on context and this corresponds with the vast range of subject material
that can be included in a blog – you are writing about anything at all that interests you or a group of
you.
If you lead a fascinating life, you have the advantage of excellent subject material, which will attract
a larger reading audience. Remember, though, that your inner life (your mental or emotional or
psychological journey) can be just as fascinating! Readers are interested in someone with an
engaging style and voice – someone with something to say.
Remember that a blog is a type of conversation, whether you are conducting this conversation with
yourself, a family member, a friend or the universe. Therefore, your style is conversational (as are
your spelling and punctuation, meaning that they are always correct in order to ensure maximum
grasp of meaning).
FORMAT
THE NAME OF THE BLOGPAGE
Consider the identity of your blogsite – does it have a specific topic that you always cover? What is your brand
identity? Think of something catchy (alliteration and puns always come in useful .)
Examples of some of the most successful blogsites online are: Social Media Examiner; Gizmodo; Shopify; Scary
Mommy; Cup of Jo)*
*https://www.ryrob.com/blog-examples/
The Title of your Blogpost
What is today’s topic of discussion? Think of a headline that will immediately capture your reader’s attention. Add
your name and the date.
Content
Make sure your topic is relevant to your audience. Know what your audience cares about.
Have some knowledge and a strong opinion. Engage your audience in conversation.
Have an interesting introduction. Start with a strong opening sentence.
Organise your body paragraphs logically. Each paragraph should have a particular point that supports your
introduction.
Write clearly and concisely. One of the worst things you can do is use ‘big words’ to impress your reader when
you yourself are not clear about what those words mean exactly. Use your own voice and let your personality
come through in your writing.
Footer
This is where you ask your readers for a response, e.g., Like and subscribe; or Leave your comments below; or
Thoughts?
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 3
