No worries! Let’s break this down super simply, like I’m explaining to a 7-year-old. Then I’ll give you some flashcards you can use to quickly remember each one for your exam tomorrow. Ready? 🎓✏
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### 🎉 What Are "Writing Conventions"?
These are the rules or styles we follow when we write different kinds of things — like stories, blogs, or news. Just like games have rules, writing has rules depending on what you're making!
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### 📚 Super Simple Explainers + Flashcards
#### 🟦 1. Advertisement
What is it? A short, exciting message to make someone want to buy something or try something.
How to write it? Use happy words, pictures, and say why it’s great!
📝 Flashcard:
AD = Make it sound cool so people want it!
"Buy now!" "Only today!" "Amazing!"
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#### 🟨 2. Brochure / Leaflet
What is it? A folded paper that tells you about a place or thing.
How to write it? Short facts, pictures, bold titles.
📝 Flashcard:
LEAFLET = Info + Pictures
Clear titles – "Things to Do," "Opening Times"
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#### 🟥 3. Editorial
What is it? A newspaper boss giving their opinion.
How to write it? Share a strong opinion and give reasons.
📝 Flashcard:
EDITORIAL = Opinion + Facts
“I believe…” “This must change because…”
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#### 🟩 4. News Story
What is it? A report about something real that happened.
How to write it? Start with Who, What, When, Where, Why.
📝 Flashcard:
NEWS = Real + Straight facts
“On Monday, a dog saved a boy in London…”
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#### 🟪 5. Article
What is it? A story in a newspaper or magazine that gives info or opinion.
How to write it? Mix facts with thoughts. Catchy start!
📝 Flashcard:
ARTICLE = Info + Thoughts
Start with something interesting, like a fun fact or question.
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#### 🟫 6. Review
What is it? Saying what you think about a movie, book, game, etc.
How to write it? Talk about good and bad parts, give a score.
📝 Flashcard:
REVIEW = Say what you liked or didn’t
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or 😞
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#### 🔵 7. Blog
What is it? Like an online diary.
How to write it? Chatty and personal. Use “I”.
📝 Flashcard:
BLOG = Online diary talk
“I tried a new recipe today…”
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#### 🟠 8. Investigative Journalism
What is it? Digging for secrets or the truth!
How to write it? Ask questions, follow clues, report findings.
📝 Flashcard:
INVESTIGATE = Be a detective with words
“After 3 interviews, we found the truth…”
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#### 🔴 9. Letter
What is it? A message to a person.
How to write it? Start with “Dear…” and end with “From…”
📝 Flashcard:
LETTER = Talk to someone special
Use “Dear…” and a kind ending.
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#### 🟣 10. Podcast
What is it? A show you listen to.
How to write it? Write like people talk. Fun and friendly!
📝 Flashcard:
PODCAST = Talky writing
“Hey everyone! Today we’re talking about…”
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#### 🟡 11. Autobiography / Biography
What is it? A life story (auto = you write your own).
How to write it? Say events in order. Use dates, places.
📝 Flashcard:
BIO = Life story
Auto = About ME | Bio = About THEM
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#### 🟧 12. Travel Writing
What is it? Writing about places you visited.
How to write it? Use sights, sounds, smells, and feelings.
📝 Flashcard:
TRAVEL = Make me see the place!
“The beach was warm and golden…”
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#### 🔶 13. Diary
What is it? A book where you write your day.
How to write it? Use dates, “I” voice, feelings.
📝 Flashcard:
DIARY = Private + Honest
“Today I felt…”
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#### 🔷 14. Essay
What is it? A big piece of writing that shares ideas.
How to write it? Start with intro, give points, end with conclusion.
📝 Flashcard:
ESSAY = Idea + Proof
Intro – Point – Point – End
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#### ⬛ 15. Scripted Speech
What is it? A speech you plan before saying.
How to write it? Start with “Good morning,” use clear points.
📝 Flashcard:
SPEECH = Say it out loud
Use signposts: “Firstly…” “In conclusion…”
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#### 🟫 16. Narrative Writing
What is it? A story with characters and plot.
How to write it? Beginning – middle – end. Use action and speech.
📝 Flashcard:
NARRATIVE = Tell a story!
“Once upon a time…”
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#### ⚪ 17. Descriptive Writing
What is it? Writing that paints a picture in your head.
How to write it? Use 5 senses. Lots of adjectives.
📝 Flashcard:
DESCRIPTIVE = Make me SEE it!
“The clouds were soft like cotton…”
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### 🎓 Pro Study Tip (Last-Minute Magic)
Make mini flashcards by:
1. Folding paper into squares.
2. On one side, write: the name (e.g. "Blog")
3. On the other side, write: the key rule (e.g. "Like a diary, chatty and personal")
Practice like a game with someone asking you!
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Great question! A reflective commentary is where you explain why you wrote your text the way you did. You look back on your writing and say things like:
* “I used \_\_\_ because I wanted to make the reader feel \_\_\_.”
* “I chose this word/structure/tone to match the task.”
* “This helps my audience understand/feel/learn \_\_\_.”
Here’s how you can write a simple reflective commentary for each writing type. I’ll keep it 7-year-old style with simple sentence starters for your exam:
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### Advertisement
> "I used exciting words like 'amazing' and 'buy now' to make people want to get the product. I used short sentences and big promises to catch their attention."
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### Brochure / Leaflet
> "I made my writing neat and used clear titles like 'Opening Hours' so people can find info fast. I used bullet points and friendly words so it’s easy to read."
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### Editorial
> "I shared my opinion using words like 'I believe' and gave reasons. I used facts to back it up, so readers take me seriously."
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### News Story
> "I used formal language and facts only. I made sure the headline is clear and I started with the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why)."
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### Article
> "I began with an interesting fact to hook the reader. I used subheadings and paragraphs to keep it organised and friendly."
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### Review
> "I gave my opinion using emojis and star ratings. I said what I liked and didn’t like with examples, to help others decide."
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### Blog
> "I wrote like I was chatting with a friend. I used ‘I’ and wrote about my real experience, so it feels personal and fun."
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### Investigative Journalism
> "I used formal language and asked smart questions. I showed different sides of the story to be fair and honest."
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### Letter
> "I started with 'Dear' and ended with a kind goodbye. I used polite language and explained my feelings clearly."
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### Podcast
> "I wrote like I was speaking out loud. I used casual language and questions like 'What do you think?' to keep it fun."
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### (Auto)biography
> "I used past tense to tell the life story. I added feelings and thoughts to make it more personal."
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### Travel Writing
> "I used exciting and colourful words to describe the place. I wanted the reader to see it in their mind."
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### Diary
> "I used 'I' and wrote about my day and feelings. I didn’t worry about being formal, because it’s private."
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### Essay
> "I had an introduction, middle points, and a conclusion. I used linking words like 'Firstly' and 'Therefore'."
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### Scripted Speech
> "I wrote like I was talking to a crowd. I used phrases like 'Let me tell you why…' and repeated important points."
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### Narrative Writing
> "I told a story with characters and a beginning, middle, and end. I used ‘Once upon a time’ to make it feel like a story."
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### Descriptive Writing
> "I used adjectives and similes like 'soft like clouds' to paint a picture. I focused on sights, sounds, and smells."
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If you're writing a commentary in your exam, here’s a template you can use no matter the type:
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## 📝 Reflective Commentary Template
1. What was your goal?
> “I wanted to \[inform / entertain / persuade / describe] my reader.”
2. Who was it for?
> “I wrote it for \[kids / adults / someone looking for info / people reading for fun].”
3. What kind of writing was it?
> “It was a \[review / article / blog / letter, etc.], so I used \[fun/formal/personal] language.”
4. What language features did you use?
> “I used \[adjectives / questions / facts / opinions / similes / exclamations] because…”
5. Why did you do it that way?
> “This helped me \[grab attention / make people feel something / explain better / match the task].”
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Would you like a printable version of these sentence starters too?