First Language English IGCSE: Interview Writing

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide on writing six main text types for IGCSE English, focusing on the interview format. It emphasizes the importance of voice, audience, register, purpose, and format, using a fictional scenario involving Elmwood High's Headmaster. The lesson provides tips on creating a formal yet conversational tone, using spoken language techniques, and directly addressing the interviewer. It includes an example interview, showcasing how to handle questions and maintain a realistic dialogue, all aimed at informing and engaging the local radio audience.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is a lesson on writing six main text types for IGCSE English.
• 🔗 The full video, along with additional resources like worksheets and quizzes, can be found on the presenter's website.
• 📖 The lesson is based on a specific story that is flashed on the screen for reference.
• 🎙 The first text type discussed is 'interviews', focusing on voice, audience, register, purpose, and format.
• 🗣️ The interview prompt involves imagining being a radio presenter interviewing a headmaster about events at a school.
• 📻 The audience for the interview is local radio listeners, suggesting a more formal and polite register.
• 📝 When writing an interview, the interviewee should do most of the talking, and the interviewer's questions are provided by Cambridge.
• 📋 The interview should be laid out like a script, with responses to the given questions forming the main content.
• 💬 Spoken language elements like filler words and punctuation that indicates pauses or changes in thought should be included to make the writing sound more natural.
• 🤝 Personal pronouns should be used to create a realistic conversation between the interviewer and the interviewee.
• 🌟 The example interview provided demonstrates a tone that is both formal and patronizing, with the headmaster using phrases like 'my dear'.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video lesson?

The main focus of the video lesson is to teach how to write the six main text types for IGCSE English, specifically focusing on the interview text type based on a given story.

What are the components of the 'V' in the context of writing an interview?

The 'V' stands for voice, audience, register, purpose, and format, which are essential elements to consider when writing an interview.

What is the role of the presenter in the interview scenario presented in the script?

The presenter is imagined as a local radio station host who interviews the Headmaster of Elmwood High about the events of a particular day.

Who is the intended audience for the interview in the script?

The intended audience is the local listeners of the radio show, including parents or potential parents of students at Elmwood High.

What tone is suggested for the interview between the presenter and the Headmaster?

The suggested tone is slightly more formal due to the presence of the Headmaster and the radio format, but it also incorporates a spoken element for a conversational feel.

What is the purpose of the interview in the script?

The purpose of the interview is to inform the audience about the events of the day at Elmwood High School, specifically the incident involving a fire alarm.

How should the interview be structured in terms of writing?

The interview should be structured like a script, with the person's name followed by a colon and then what they say, similar to a dialogue in a play.

What is the significance of using filler words or thinking words in the interview?

Filler words or thinking words are used to make the written interview sound more natural and spoken, reflecting the conversational tone of a real interview.

How does the script suggest using punctuation to enhance the spoken tone of the interview?

The script suggests using dashes to indicate a change in the speaker's direction, parentheses for stage directions, and exclamation marks to add emphasis or show excitement.

What is the role of personal pronouns in making the interview sound like a real conversation?

Personal pronouns like 'you', 'your', and 'yours' are used to create a sense of direct address and interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee, making the conversation sound more authentic.

What is the Headmaster's perspective on the incident involving Miss Salmon and its impact on Elwood High School?

The Headmaster views the incident as an opportunity for fresh ideas and a renewed sense of dedication within the staff, suggesting that the school's future will continue to shine brighter.