Approaching the Written Production (Leaving Cert French): Revision Notes

Opinion Piece (Rédaction d'opinion):

• You might be asked to express your opinion on a current social issue, such as the environment, technology, education, or social media. For example, you could be asked to discuss the pros and cons of social media or the importance of learning foreign languages.
• What You Do: Write about your thoughts on a specific topic.
• Common Topics:
• Discussing whether social media is good or bad.
• Talking about why learning languages is important.
• Sharing your views on how technology affects our lives.
• How to Write:
• Start by clearly stating your opinion.
• Explain why you think this way, using examples to support your ideas.
• Conclude by summarising your opinion and why it's important.

Personal Experience (Récit):

• This option could involve writing about a personal experience or an event in your life, such as a memorable holiday, an important achievement, or a special occasion. You might be asked to describe what happened, how you felt, and what you learned from the experience. This piece requires a good knowledge of French grammar.

• What You Do: Describe a real event or experience from your life.
• Common Topics:
• Writing about a holiday you enjoyed.
• Describing a special event like a birthday or graduation.
• Sharing an achievement that made you proud.
• How to Write:
• Start by setting the scene (Where were you? Who was with you?).
• Describe what happened step by step.
• Express your feelings about the experience and what you learned from it.

Formal or Informal Letter (Lettre formelle ou informelle):

• You might be asked to write a letter, either formal or informal. This could include writing to a friend about your plans for the summer, writing a letter of complaint about a product or service, or writing to apply for a job or scholarship.
• What You Do: Write a letter to someone, either in a formal or informal way.
• Common Topics:
• Informal: Writing to a friend about your summer plans.
• Formal: Writing a complaint letter about a faulty product.
• Formal: Applying for a job or scholarship.
• How to Write:
• Informal: Use friendly language, talk about personal things, and sign off casually.
• Formal: Use polite and respectful language, be clear about what you want, and end with a formal closing.

Diary Entry (Journal intime):

• This option typically involves writing a diary entry about a specific day or event. You would express your thoughts and feelings in a more personal and reflective manner, describing what happened and how it affected you.
• What You Do: Write a personal reflexion as if you are writing in your diary.
• Common Topics:
• Reflecting on a day when something special happened.
• Writing about how you feel after an important event.
• Sharing your thoughts and feelings about a situation you are facing.
• How to Write:
• Start by mentioning the date at the top.
• Describe what happened during the day.
• Express your feelings and thoughts about the event.
• End with a reflexion or what you hope will happen next.

Narrative Composition (Composition narrative):

• You may be asked to write a short story or narrative based on a prompt or scenario. This could involve creating a fictional account of an adventure, describing a situation where you had to make an important decision, or imagining what you would do if you won the lottery.
• What You Do: Create a story or describe a fictional event.
• Common Topics:
• Writing about an imaginary adventure.
• Describing a scenario where you had to make a tough decision.
• Imagining what you would do if you won a lot of money.
• How to Write:
• Start by introducing the setting and characters.
• Develop the story by creating a plot with a beginning, middle, and end.
• Include a problem or challenge that the characters face.
• Conclude with how the story ends, maybe with a lesson learned.

Formal Letter (Lettre formelle) This question typically asks you to write a formal letter, such as:

• A letter of complaint (lettre de réclamation).

• A job application (lettre de candidature).

• A request for information (demande de renseignements). Skills Assessed:

• Use of formal language and appropriate greetings/closings.

• Clear, structured communication of ideas.

• Ability to present arguments or requests politely and effectively.

Informal Letter or Email (Lettre informelle ou courriel) In this question, you might be asked to write an informal letter or email, such as:

• Writing to a friend about your recent activities or experiences.

• Inviting someone to an event or describing future plans.

• Expressing opinions or giving advice on a personal matter. Skills Assessed:

• Use of informal language and expressions.

• Ability to express feelings, experiences, and ideas in a conversational tone.

• Creativity in making the content engaging and personal.

Question 4: Diary Entry (Journal intime) This question involves writing a diary entry, where you might be asked to:

• Reflect on a recent experience or event in your life.

• Express your thoughts and feelings about something that happened during the day.

• Write about hopes or plans for the future. Skills Assessed:

• Reflective and descriptive writing.

• Use of first-person narrative to convey personal emotions and thoughts.

• Ability to engage the reader by creating a relatable and vivid account.

Narrative or Story (Histoire) For this question, you are typically asked to write a narrative or short story, such as:

• Describing an unexpected event or adventure.

• Creating a fictional story based on a prompt.

• Writing about a situation where you had to make a difficult decision. Skills Assessed:

• Narrative structure and coherence.

• Creativity in developing a plot, characters, and setting.

• Use of descriptive language to engage the reader.

Opinion Piece or Argumentative Essay (Rédaction d'opinion ou essai argumentatif) This final question usually involves writing an essay where you express and defend your opinion on a given topic, such as:

• The impact of technology on society.

• The importance of learning foreign languages.

• Environmental issues and how they can be addressed. Skills Assessed:

• Ability to present a clear thesis and support it with logical arguments.

• Use of persuasive language and vocabulary.

• Coherence and structure in presenting ideas.