Writing Conventions

In the GL 11+ exam, you may be asked to complete a piece of writing — such as a story, a letter, a description, or a persuasive text. To do well, you need to follow the conventions (rules and expectations) for each type of writing. This lesson covers the key writing types and shows you how to structure your work for maximum marks.

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What Are Writing Conventions?

Writing conventions are the rules and features that are expected in a particular type of writing. For example, a letter has different conventions from a story, and a newspaper article has different conventions from a diary entry.

Following the correct conventions shows the examiner that you understand how different types of writing work.

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Types of Writing in the 11+

Type	Purpose	Key features
Narrative (story)	To entertain	Characters, setting, plot, dialogue, descriptive language
Descriptive	To create a vivid picture	Sensory details, figurative language, atmosphere
Persuasive	To convince the reader	Opinions, reasons, rhetorical questions, emotive language
Letter (formal)	To communicate formally	Address, date, "Dear Sir/Madam," formal language, "Yours faithfully"
Letter (informal)	To communicate with someone you know	Friendly tone, "Dear [name]," personal language, "Love from"
Diary entry	To record personal thoughts and feelings	First person, past tense, informal, personal reactions
Newspaper article	To report events	Headline, who-what-where-when-why, factual tone, quotes

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Narrative Writing (Stories)

Structure

A good story follows a clear structure:

Section	What it does	Tips
Opening	Sets the scene and introduces characters	Start with action, dialogue, or description — not "One day..."
Build-up	Creates tension or develops the situation	Add detail, show the character's feelings
Climax	The most exciting or dramatic moment	This is the turning point of your story
Resolution	The problem is solved or the story ends	Do not rush this — give a satisfying ending

Key techniques for narrative writing

Technique	Example
Show, don't tell	Instead of "She was scared," write "Her hands trembled and her breath came in short, sharp gasps."
Dialogue	"We need to go — now!" whispered Tom, grabbing her arm.
Sensory details	The five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch
Varied sentence lengths	Short sentences for impact: "She froze." Long sentences for description.
Strong openings	Start with a question, action, or surprising statement

Example opening

Weak: One day, a girl called Emma went for a walk in the forest. It was a nice day.

Strong: The branches overhead were so thick that barely a sliver of sunlight reached the forest floor. Emma hesitated at the entrance to the path, her fingers tightening around the crumpled map in her pocket.

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Descriptive Writing

Key features

Descriptive writing is all about creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Feature	What it means	Example
Sensory details	Describe what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel	"The market was alive with the sweet scent of spices and the chatter of vendors."
Figurative language	Use similes, metaphors, and personification	"The waves clawed at the shore like hungry fingers."
Varied vocabulary	Avoid repeating the same words	Use "golden" or "amber" instead of "yellow"
Atmosphere	Create a mood (peaceful, threatening, exciting)	"Silence hung over the abandoned house like a heavy blanket."

The five senses

Sense	Question to ask	Example
Sight	What can you see?	The crimson sun sank below the horizon.
Sound	What can you hear?	Leaves rustled softly in the evening breeze.
Smell	What can you smell?	The air smelled of damp earth and pine needles.
Touch	What can you feel?	The rough bark scratched against her palm.
Taste	What can you taste?	The salty tang of sea air filled her mouth.

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Persuasive Writing

Key techniques (remember: AFOREST)