Advisory writing

Advise

What is advice?

Under what circumstances might a person need to offer or

receive advice?

What determines whether the advice a person is offered is

followed or ignored?

What text types tend to be used to present advice?

What are the features of an advisory text?

How to create influential advisory

texts

writing features

The tone adopted is likely to be authorative but friendly depending on the target

audience

Remain in role throughout

In my professional opinion...

Many people ask me if...

In the last 5 years, countless clients...

As an authority in the field, I...

Make sure the advice given is structured and clearly

expressed so that it is easily understood and simple to

follow

Follow these 5 simple guidelines...

Step 1...2...3

Your first task should be to...

The next thing you could consider...

Firstly.....next.....finally

Be encouraging and seek to motivate your audience

Don’t worry about...

You will achieve success if you...

Boost your confidence by...

It’s never too late to...

In no time at all you’ll...

Before you know it, you will...

Offer choices and ensure that the audience retains their

autonomy – you are offering options rather than dictating a direction that they MUST take!

You might like to try...

Why not...

Alternatively you could...

If this doesn’t suit you, then...

Another approach could be to...

Once you have decided...

Make good use of modal verbs to reinforce the idea of choice

Could

should

might

ought to

may

can

At the same time, as the text develops, don’t be afraid to use

imperatives in order to emphasize the importance of

your guidance

Try to find out...

Don’t let yourself...

Ask a friend to...

Keep a careful record of...

Remember to...

A week later, make a point of...

Take the opportunity to...

Encourage your audience to engage and actively participate

in the advisory process by using...

A multi-choice self assessment

A quick quiz

Use of direct 2nd person address

Use of rhetorical questions

Examples of success achieved by

others in a similar position

How to create influential advisory

texts

Structure

Use a provocative or attention-grabbing title

The opening paragraph should motivate your audience to read further – make it clear what the benefits are for their investment

of time

The main body is likely to offer several pieces of advice in a clear and logical order – try

including:

•Bullet points•Headings & subheadings

•Brief paragraphs•Supportive evidence

•Checklists

The conclusion should summarise the advice offered, and encourage the reader to

take action.

Past paper questionsGCSE

You are an Agony Aunt for a teenage magazine. Respond to a letter from a 14

year old girl whose friends are pressuring her into taking up smoking. She doesn’t want to smoke and needs your advice on how to keep her friends

without giving in to peer pressure.

Imagine you are a sports personality. Write an advice sheet for young people

about what it takes to be successful.

Write an article for your school magazine in which you advise students on the importance of being healthy and

how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Write a letter to a relative who is taking up teaching as a career. Use your

experience as a student to give advice to this new teacher on how to deal with

a difficult class.

The School Meals Service is seeking advice from students about how to make their meals more attractive to

their customers. Write a letter to the Manager of the School Meals Service in

which you offer your suggestions.