Summary
Highlights
The video introduces Paper 2, Question 1, focusing on directed writing, also known as evaluative writing, presented in the form of an article. The specific paper used for demonstration is the October/November 2020 Paper 22. It is advised to watch previous videos on evaluation for a comprehensive understanding.
The first step involves reading the titles and blurbs of both texts: Text A, "Who are the real experts?", and Text B, "Trust me, I'm an expert". The second step is to read and highlight keywords in the question. The task is to write a magazine article for young people about who they should listen to for advice, evaluating opinions on experts from both texts while using your own words and including a suitable headline. The article should be 250-350 words, with 15 marks for content and 25 for writing quality.
Step three involves reading the texts and underlining key points, ensuring a balance of arguments for and against experts. Pro-expert points include the unreliability of online reviews (20% fake), the dangers of groupthink, and the devaluing of real expertise by celebrity influence. Anti-expert points highlight the trustworthiness of crowdsourced advice, experts' perceived arrogance and use of complex language that may not be helpful, and their potential for self-interest (e.g., hidden agendas).
Step four focuses on grouping similar points and choosing two pro-expert and two anti-expert arguments. The video then introduces a new column for 'implied meaning' to aid in evaluation. For example, regarding 20% fake reviews, it's implied that 80% are real, and listening to peers doesn't necessarily mean losing critical reasoning. For celebrity advice, it's argued that celebrities are not necessarily dumb and can be experts themselves. The evaluation process involves explaining why one agrees or disagrees with a point and considering different perspectives.
Step six is writing the article, which includes an introduction, four evaluative paragraphs, and a conclusion. The article's voice needs to be convincing, with a clear purpose (persuading young people about expert advice), an informal tone, and a conversational style. The example article, titled 'Are Experts Really Experts?', discusses experts' use of technical jargon, the intelligence of celebrities, the reliability of online reviews versus experts, and the potential for experts' self-interest, ultimately advocating for diverse advice sources and personal judgment.
The final step is to check the work. The article should have a headline, a short and lively introduction, and a conclusive paragraph offering advice. It should incorporate advanced vocabulary and varied sentence structures. The video highlights the use of persuasive writing techniques (AFOREST: Alliteration, Facts, Opinions, Rhetorical questions, Emotive language, Statistics, Triplets). The mark scheme requires effective style, careful structure, sophisticated vocabulary, appropriate register, and accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar, along with the assimilation and evaluation of ideas from the texts.