DSE English | Paper 2 Writing Tutor Prep Guide

DSE English | Paper 2 Writing Tutor Prep Guide | Part A and Part B structure

2026-11-01

Tutor lesson-prep guides · Secondary English

Students fill the page but score low, because the first three paragraphs set the scene and the real point arrives late. The problem is not vocabulary, it is never deciding what each paragraph is for. This lesson drills one habit: three minutes on a four-line paragraph plan before writing.

Objectives — Students can: (1) read the task with three questions (audience, purpose, format); (2) write a two-paragraph Part A; (3) write a four-paragraph Part B with a clear topic sentence in each; (4) finish within the time and run a checklist.

01 Prerequisites (3-minute check)

If any of these fails, fix it before the lesson starts.

Skill	Quick check	Pass mark
Paragraph idea	one point per paragraph	topic sentence plus support
Format awareness	letter, report, article differ	salutation and closing are not interchangeable
Linkers	however, therefore, in addition	they show the relation between paragraphs

02 Lesson flow (60 minutes)

Time	Stage	Tutor does	Student does
0-8 min	Read the task	audience, purpose, format	write it in the margin
8-18 min	Paragraph plan	one line of point per paragraph	four lines, no full sentences
18-32 min	Part A	200 words, two paragraphs	about 8 words per minute
32-52 min	Part B	400 words, four paragraphs	about 8.9 words per minute
52-57 min	Checklist	tense, format, word count	five minutes, no new content
57-60 min	Exit check	say each paragraph point aloud	done independently

03 Teaching script (read it out)

Scene 1: Read the task: audience, purpose, format

Every task starts with three words on paper: who is it for, why am I writing, what format. A complaint letter to a principal and a message to a friend use different register and different layout.
Misreading the task loses marks no matter how accurate the grammar is, so these three minutes are insurance.Reminder: the role and the audience must appear once in the text so the marker sees you stayed on task.

Ask the student: in a complaint to a school newspaper editor, what should the first sentence establish?

Scene 2: A paragraph plan: four lines decide the whole piece

Part A is about 200 words, so two paragraphs are enough: purpose and background, then action or feeling. Part B is about 400 words in four paragraphs: introduction, point one, point two, conclusion. Writing 400 words in 45 minutes means roughly 8.9 words per minute, so the plan may take only 8 minutes or the task will not be finished.
The first sentence of each paragraph must be the point, so the marker sees structure immediately.Student task: write a four-line plan for “less plastic on campus”, one line per paragraph.

Ask the student: besides repeating, what can a conclusion do? (Call for action or look ahead, never add a new argument.)

Scene 3: Timing and checking: finish first, polish later

An unfinished long task loses structure marks, so get four paragraphs down first, then go back for examples and adjectives. The checklist has three items only: consistent tense, complete format (salutation and closing), word count reached.
The usual failure is ten minutes spent polishing paragraph one, leaving paragraph four with two sentences. Demonstrate the rough-then-refine method: point sentence plus two supports per paragraph, decorate at the end.Student task: in five minutes, add only topic sentences to an unfinished piece so all four paragraphs exist.

Reminder: too few words loses marks and so does a huge overshoot; aim close to the requirement.

04 Question types and worked steps

Type	Example	Steps	Answer
Letter	complaint to the principal	format plus two paragraphs	salutation, purpose, suggestion, closing
Article	opinion piece for the school paper	four-paragraph argument	stance, reason one, reason two, call
Report	post-event report	headed sections	aim, process, results, recommendations
Short task	Part A notice	two paragraphs	what and when, arrangements

Sanity check (teach this): The word count must fit the time: 400 words in 45 minutes is about 8.9 words per minute, so a student who writes only five words a minute must shorten sentences rather than cut paragraphs. One point per paragraph, or both points stay shallow. A format error such as a letter with no salutation is an automatic deduction, so check it first. Keep one tense frame: past for narrative, present for recommendations.

05 Independent practice (3 questions)

Question	Answer	What to watch
Job of each Part A paragraph	purpose / arrangements	one function per paragraph
Four-paragraph Part B	introduction / point one / point two / conclusion	point in the first sentence
Three checklist items	tense, format, word count	leave five minutes

06 Common mistakes and what to say

Mistake	Student writes	Say this
Three paragraphs of background	the point arrives late	“Say what you want in paragraph one, do not build up slowly.”
Two points in one paragraph	reason and example merged	“One point per paragraph, otherwise neither is developed.”
Wrong format	letter with no salutation	“A format error is an automatic deduction, draw the frame before writing.”
Not finishing	paragraph four is one sentence	“Write all four paragraphs first, then add adjectives.”

07 Homework (paper, section and question numbers)

Secondary English chapter index — questions 2 and 4 are the same type
Prep guide home — other chapters in this subject
Primary English papers — paragraph warm-up

08 Exit check (last 5 minutes)

Question	Answer	Decision
The three task questions	audience, purpose, format	all three correct means move to editing
Four paragraphs of Part B	introduction, point one, point two, conclusion	one wrong means reteach structure
Three checklist items	tense, format, word count	two wrong means back to act one

09 Tutor FAQ

Is a short piece always penalised?

Yes, falling well below the required length affects both content and organisation, so finish all four paragraphs.

Can I memorise a model essay?

Memorise structure and sentence patterns, but copying whole paragraphs is treated as regurgitation and fails when the task changes.

Does Part A need impressive vocabulary?

No. Part A rewards clarity and correct format; simple accurate sentences beat piled-up rare words.

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A TutorZone lesson-prep guide. Written by the TutorZone team; questions and lesson flow are original and are not taken from any school or publisher material.