Original Writing: Overview and Planning

The original writing component of the NEA requires you to produce a piece of creative or transactional writing of approximately 1500 words, accompanied by a commentary of 750 words. Together, this piece and its commentary are worth 20 marks and account for approximately 8% of your total A-Level grade. While this may seem a smaller component than the investigation, the original writing offers you the opportunity to demonstrate your skill as a writer — to show that you can not only analyse language but also use it with expertise and purpose.

---

What the Specification Requires

The AQA specification states that your original writing must demonstrate "expertise and creativity in the use of English" (AO5). It must be an original piece — not copied, adapted, or closely modelled on an existing text. You should, however, use a style model to inform your writing.

Key Definition: Style model — a published text in the same genre as your intended piece, which you study to understand the conventions, techniques, and linguistic features of that genre. Your commentary will include a comparison between your writing and your style model.

The writing can be in any genre. The specification identifies two broad categories:

Category	Examples
Creative writing	Short stories, novel openings, dramatic monologues, scripts, poetry, memoir, travel writing
Transactional / persuasive writing	Journalism (feature articles, opinion columns, investigative pieces), speeches, blogs, letters, reviews, podcasts scripts

You must choose a genre that allows you to demonstrate linguistic control and creativity. The key question is: does this genre give me the opportunity to show off my language skills?

---

Choosing a Genre

Your choice of genre is crucial. Consider the following factors:

1. Your Strengths as a Writer

Be honest about what you do well. If you are a natural storyteller with a flair for description and character, creative writing may suit you. If you are more comfortable with argument, persuasion, and rhetorical technique, transactional writing may be a better choice.

2. Genre Conventions

Every genre has conventions — the expected features that readers associate with that type of text. Your writing must demonstrate awareness of these conventions, even if you choose to subvert some of them. You need to understand the genre well enough to work within it confidently.

Genre	Key Conventions
Short story	Narrative arc, characterisation, setting, dialogue, point of view, show-don't-tell
Novel opening	Hooks the reader, establishes voice and setting, introduces character or conflict, creates questions
Dramatic monologue	Single speaker, reveals character through voice, implied audience, subtext
Feature article	Headline, standfirst, anecdotal opening, expert quotes, varied paragraph length, accessible register
Opinion column	Strong authorial voice, personal anecdotes, rhetorical devices, provocative tone, direct address
Speech	Rhetorical structure, repetition, tricolon, direct address, emotive language, call to action
Blog post	Conversational register, personal voice, subheadings, direct address, hyperlinks (implied), informal tone
Travel writing	Vivid description, personal reflection, sensory language, cultural observation, narrative structure

3. Audience and Purpose

Before you begin writing, you must define your audience and purpose clearly. These will shape every linguistic choice you make.

Key Definition: Register — the variety of language used in a particular social context, shaped by field (subject matter), tenor (relationship between writer and reader), and mode (spoken or written, formal or informal). Your register must be appropriate to your genre, audience, and purpose.

Questions to consider:

• Who am I writing for? (age, interests, knowledge level, expectations)
• What am I trying to achieve? (entertain, inform, persuade, provoke, move)
• What register is appropriate? (formal, informal, conversational, academic, literary)
• What is the mode? (is this meant to be read silently, read aloud, performed?)

---

Selecting a Style Model

Your style model is a published text in the same genre as your piece. You should study it carefully to understand:

• What linguistic features characterise this genre?
• What techniques does the writer use, and how?
• What conventions does the writer follow, and which does the writer subvert?
• What makes this piece effective?

How to Use a Style Model

1. Read it carefully — annotate it, identifying language features at all levels (lexis, grammar, discourse, phonology if relevant)
2. Identify patterns — what does the writer do consistently? (e.g., short paragraphs, direct address, compound-complex sentences, sensory imagery)
3. Understand choices — why has the writer made these particular choices? How do they serve the audience and purpose?
4. Emulate, don't imitate — your style model should inform your writing, not dictate it. You should adopt similar techniques and conventions but develop your own voice and content

Coursework Tip: Choose a style model that genuinely impresses you. If you find the writing engaging and effective, you are more likely to learn from it and produce a strong piece of your own. Avoid choosing a style model simply because your teacher suggested it — find one that resonates with you.

Examples of Effective Style Model Choices