PAT Study Guide 2019 

Envelope Formatting Guide: 

 
-ALL CAPS  
-Left aligned 
-Your address top left  
-Address for who you’re sending 
to = middle  
 
 
 
 
Business Letter Formatting Guide: 
 
-Addresses are not in caps anymore  
- For ​your​ address, ​-​ the name, ​+ ​the 
date 
- ​Don’t put the first name​ in the 
salutation. This is followed by a ​: ​not a 
comma!  
-All left aligned, no indents  
-Think about 3 concerns that would 
actually concern the reader​! ​VIP!​ ​Do not 
copy the ideas from the assignment 
exactly, you will lose marks. CHANGE 
these ideas to make them your own.  
-Pretend this is actually happening to 
you, this makes it much easier to be 
convincing.  
-Formal writing is a MUST!  
-Don’t forget to list an email address and 
number. 
-Sincerely​, ← ​This is a comma 
-​Signatures can still be typed  
Narrative Formatting Guide: 
 

 
-If you’re having trouble planning your story think about how the writing prompt might 
relate to something you have experienced, or witnessed. Your story can be ​based​ on this, 
it doesn't have to follow it exactly.  
-You can also plan your story around the idea of a character. Plan their character traits, 
appearance etc and it will often spark an idea for a story.  
-Use the ideas on the assignment page if you’re really stuck.   

-In a narrative the paragraphs are indented!​ (Tab)​  

-Create the title of your story ​after ​you write it! This will help you to create a title that best 
matches your story.  
-Use ​5 senses writing!​ Have you talked about what the character smells, feels, tastes 
etc?  
-​Bonus​ for incorporating the topic/similar wording right into your story.  
 
 
 
 
 
Narrative/Essay Example Topics: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Essay Writing Format:  
 
Essays have a specific forma​t! Use these checkpoints to help you meet the correct form.  
 
1​ ​ ​Essays must have FIVE distinct paragraphs. 1 opening paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and one 
concluding paragraph. Essays can be longer than this if needed, but it’s not expected.  
 
2​ ​The opening paragraph must have a hook, a thesis sentence (statement), and three supporting 
ideas. The hook is meant to capture your reader’s attention, it needs to be honest and topic 
specific.  
 
3 ​ ​Common ideas must be organized into paragraphs! This means that paragraphs are built 
around a common idea and any divergent ideas cannot be jammed together.  
 
4 ​ ​Metaphorical and descriptive language can help your reader to understand your ideas, try to 
incorporate them! 
 
5​ ​ ​Ideas presented in essays cannot be copied or pasted from online sources. Every idea 
presented needs to be retold in your own words.  
 
6​ ​Your concluding paragraph must repeat your thesis and support ideas in such a way that it 
does not look like you just copied and pasted from the first paragraph. Furthermore, your 
concluding paragraph must bring your argument to a close.  
 
What is a thesis you ask? 
A thesis statement tells the reader your opinion / point of view / interpretation of the subject 
under discussion. It indicates the direction that the essay will take by stating the main points. 
It’s usually a single sentence at the end of the first paragraph.   
Ex: