Planning, Drafting and Editing

OCR

GCSE

Planning and drafting constitute the critical pre-writing phase where candidates architect the structural integrity of their response, a primary differentiator between Level 2 and Level 4 performance. This process ensures logical sequencing, cohesive paragraphing, and the strategic deployment of discourse markers across both creative and transactional tasks. Examiners prioritize evidence of conscious structural control, rewarding responses that move beyond linear narration to employ sophisticated organizational devices such as cyclical structures, rhetorical progression, and integrated cohesive devices.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Credit responses that demonstrate a 'whole text' structural overview rather than a linear sequence of events
Award marks for the conscious use of discourse markers to guide the reader through complex arguments or narrative shifts
Candidates must adapt tone, style, and register consistently to the specific audience and purpose (TAP) identified in the prompt
Reward the integration of ambitious vocabulary and varied sentence structures (AO6) that enhance, rather than obscure, meaning

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Credit responses that demonstrate a 'whole text' structural overview rather than a linear sequence of events
Award marks for the conscious use of discourse markers to guide the reader through complex arguments or narrative shifts
Candidates must adapt tone, style, and register consistently to the specific audience and purpose (TAP) identified in the prompt
Reward the integration of ambitious vocabulary and varied sentence structures (AO6) that enhance, rather than obscure, meaning

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Allocate strictly 5-10 minutes to planning; define the 'landing point' (conclusion) before writing the opening
💡For Component 01 (Non-fiction), explicitly write down the Type, Audience, and Purpose (TAP) at the top of the plan to anchor register
💡Create a 'vocabulary bank' of 5-6 sophisticated words in the margin during planning to force their inclusion
💡Use a cyclical structure strategy: ensure the final paragraph references an image or idea from the opening to demonstrate structural control

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Producing 'stream of consciousness' narratives that lack paragraphing or structural direction
Failing to conclude the response effectively due to poor time management, resulting in an abrupt or unfinished ending
Inconsistent tense or narrative perspective (shifting from past to present or first to third person)
Formulaic openings in non-fiction (e.g., 'I am writing to you today to talk about...') rather than engaging hooks

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Structural Organization: Paragraphing, sequencing, and discourse markers

Coherence and Cohesion: Linking logic and transitions between ideas

Narrative Architecture: Freytag’s Pyramid, cyclical structures, and perspective shifts

Rhetorical Structuring: Argumentative trajectory and counter-argument placement

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Write a speech

Write a letter

Write an article

Write a story

Write a description

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic