IB Language B Standard Level Writing Task – Elan 1 Unité 4

Text type : Formal opinion letter

• Dans le journal d’hier, vous avez lu un article qui préconise la dépénalisation du cannabis. Ecrivez une
lettre au rédacteur dans laquelle vous donnez votre opinion de cette proposition.

For this text type :

• Use the correct layout for a formal letter

• Use formal language
• Remember that you are writing to the editor of the paper
• Start and end the letter with correct, prelearnt constructions
• Make your opinion very clear from the start of the letter
• Identify yourself (e.g. as a lycéen) and explain why this issue is important to you
• Give two or three reasons for your stance
• Expand on these ideas with short explanations, examples and consequences
• Refute the main counter-argument
• Use a variety of cause and effect structures
• Organise your ideas logically
• Use discourse markers to guide the reader through the text
• Use strong but polite language
• Use rhetorical questions, repetition and exclamation to boost the style
• End the letter convincingly and strongly - appeal to the other readers
Development and Structural elements & register
organisation
Correct opening Monsieur / Madame,

Give reason for writing Je me réfère à l’article sur ……………..qui a paru hier dans votre journal.
Je vous écris pour répondre à…

Identify yourself and the En tant que lycéen, je connais.../je sais que...
topic’s importance to you

Outline opinion Je suis tout à fait (plutôt) pour / contre la pénalisation du cannabis.

Formal, opinion language Je suis d’avis que…

Je soutiens que…
Il est certain / évident / indéniable / clair que…
Il ne fait aucun doute que…

Discourse markers (to move En premier lieu examinons…..

to another reason, introduce Venons-en maintenant à….
examples etc.) De plus,…
En outre,…..
De même,…
D’ailleurs, …
En premier lieu……, puis…….., et en dernier lieu,……
….pour trois raisons. Premièrement,…..deuxièmement…..et troisièmement,…..
Non seulement …..mais…..
Cependant,….
Néanmoins,……
 Malgré….
Prenons le cas de….
Un exemple frappant est…

Refutation of main counter- Certains sont de l’avis que…….., mais en réalité……

argument Il est impossible d’accepter ce point de vue.

Cause and effect structures Il pourrait y avoir…… si + present

…….entraînera / provoquera / aura pour résultat…..
il s’ensuit que + future
Ainsi,….

Rhetorical questions, Peut-on vraiment contrôler la qualité ……..?

exclamations, repetition Est-ce que le gouvernement croit vraiment que….?

Strong conclusion Bref, la dépenalisation serait…..

En somme,…
En dernière analyse,….

Appeal to other readers Je suis sûr que vos lecteurs seront d’accord.

Correct closing (prelearnt) Veuillez accepter, Monsieur, l’expression de mes sentiments distingués,
(signature)
(printed first name and surname)

Connectives: donc, alors, pourtant, d’ailleurs, depuis, mais, en revanche, par contre, non seulement….mais aussi……, avant de + inf
Complex structures: le/le/les, ce que, ce qui, qui, que, malgré
IB Language B Standard Level Writing Task – Elan 1 Unité 4
General criteria 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 Marks
Range of Very limited; Limited; hardly any Fairly limited; Average; a few Wide; some Language
complex structures complex structures complex structures complex structures complex structures
grammar not attempted attempted attempted but used clearly used clearly
generally unclear

Accuracy of Basic Errors in basic Some errors in Common Correct except

constructions very constructions basic constructions constructions some complex
grammar inaccurate but usually clear usually clear constructions

Range of Very limited Limited Fairly limited Average Wide

vocabulary

Spelling Overall – incorrect Often incorrect & Sometimes Sometimes Generally correct
& difficult to difficult to incorrect, usually incorrect but
understand understand understandable understandable

Register Rarely appropriate Sometimes Generally Appropriate Effective & Cultural

appropriate appropriate appropriate
interaction
Structural Rarely used Limited Limited but mostly Generally Contribute to
appropriate appropriate clarity of text
elements
Ideas Often irrelevant / Sometimes Generally relevant Generally relevant Relevant Message
repetitive irrelevant /
repetitive

Development & Confused; little or Confused; limited / Generally clear; Fairly methodical; Methodical &
no supporting inappropriate limited / generally thorough;
organisation details supporting details inappropriate appropriate appropriate
supporting details supporting details supporting details

25-30 = 7
22-24 = 6 Grade
19-21 = 5
15-18 = 4
10-14 = 3
04-09 = 2
00-03 = 1
IB Language B Higher Level Writing Task – Elan 1 Unité 4

General criteria 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 Marks

Range of Very limited; no Limited; complex Average; complex Wide; some Extensive; skillfully Language
successful structures structures may be effective complex used complex
grammar complex structures generally unclear unclear structures structures
Accuracy of errors in many some errors in generally accurate generally accurate few errors
basic constructions basic constructions but frequent errors but some errors in
grammar in complex complex
constructions constructions
Range of Very Limited average wide extensive
vocabulary

Spelling Rarely correct Sometimes correct Mostly correct Generally correct Almost always
correct

Register Rarely appropriate Sometimes Appropriate Generally Consistently Cultural

appropriate appropriate appropriate
interaction
Structural Rare Limited & not Generally used Contribute to Contribute fully to
always appropriate appropriately clarity of text clarity of text
elements

Ideas Sometimes Generally relevant Generally relevant Relevant Relevant & Message
irrelevant / but sometimes stimulating
repetitive repetitive

Development Often confused; Sometimes Fairly methodical; Methodical, Thorough,

limited or confused; limited generally relevant thorough; imaginative;
& organisation inappropriate or inappropriate supporting details appropriate convincing
supporting details supporting details supporting details supporting details
26-30 = 7
22-25 = 6 Grade
19-21 = 5
15-18 = 4
10-14 = 3
05-09 = 2
00-04 = 1