Formal and Informal Writing: Switching Registers

Year 6 EnglishWriting3 pages

About this worksheet

Three pages of Year 6 register analysis built on the Point, Evidence, Explain, Link structure. A model paragraph opens the sheet by analysing the complaint "I request that the damaged equipment is repaired immediately". Pupils then use sentence starters to explain why a text to a friend, with "gonna" and "epic", is informal. Finally they write a full paragraph on which register suits a letter to the council about a new skate park. Model answers are given for both tasks. It links to England National Curriculum grammar objectives on formal writing.

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Formal and Informal Writing: Switching Registers: Writing - page 1

Formal and Informal Writing: Switching Registers: Writing - page 2

Formal and Informal Writing: Switching Registers: Writing - page 3

Curriculum objectives covered

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

“Recognising vocabulary and structures that are appropriate for formal speech and writing, including subjunctive forms”

The model answer for question 2 uses the subjunctive "I suggest that the council consider".

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

“Use and understand the grammatical terminology in English Appendix 2 accurately and appropriately in discussing their writing and reading.”

The opening model names the passive structure "is repaired" and the answers point out contractions, so pupils reuse the terms.

What's inside this worksheet

Point, Evidence, Explain, Link

A full model that compares formal words such as request, damaged and repaired with ask, broken and fixed.

Guided Practice: Analysing Informal Language

Question 1 gives the text message and a starter for each part, such as "For example, the writer uses..."

Independent Practice: Choosing the Right Register

Question 2 asks for a whole paragraph on the skate park letter, with examples of the vocabulary or grammar pupils would use.

How teachers use it

Before a persuasive letter

Teach it just before pupils write to a real audience, such as the local council.

Modelling analysis

Read the model paragraph aloud and label each of the four parts with the class.

Greater depth

Ask stronger writers to include a subjunctive in their skate park paragraph, as the model answer does.

More Year 6 English worksheets

Reading Comprehension SPaG Spelling

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