This is part 3 of a list of feminine primarch names and my reasoning for these names.
Please see the below link for an explanation of this project, my methods, and my intent.
I will keep the first post updated with links to the later posts to make referencing them easier.
Link to first post:
https://www.reddit.com/PrimarchGFs/comments/1ctd7ot/primarch_names_and_etymologies_part_1_iii/
V: Alakhai Khanum (Jaghatai Khan):
Jaghatai Khan is an early English transliteration of Chagatai Khan. Chagatai was Genghis Khan’s second son and succeeded Genghis in ruling a portion of his father’s empire.
I first tried to find a female form of the name Chagatai, to no avail. I then looked for any daughters of Genghis Khan and learned of Alakhai Bekhi. This is the only primarch name in my list that lacks alliteration (same sound at the start of the word) with the original name. However, I was pleased to find a name like Alakhai with strong assonance (shared repetition of vowel sounds) to Jaghatai.
Early in Genghis Khan’s career as a conqueror, Genghis betrothed Alakhai to a leader of the Ongud people. In doing so, Genghis formed an alliance with the Ongud and secured access to resources south of the Gobi Desert. A few years later, some Ongud dissatisfied with Genghis Khan’s influence over them assassinated Alakhai’s husband. However, Alakhai managed to escape death along with two of her stepsons. Alakhai made her way back to Genghis Khan and told him what happened. Genghis vowed to decimate the Ongud people in retaliation. However, Alakhai convinced Genghis to only kill the conspirators behind her husband’s murder and let her continue to rule the Ongud people.
Lastly, since "Khan" is a title rather than a surname, I think it’s appropriate to use the feminine alternative of the title. "Khanum" is the female equivalent of "Khan," which is a Central Asian term meaning “king” or “ruler.” Interestingly, there is a term reflecting even higher authority; “Khagan,” which means “emperor” or “Khan of Khans.” The feminine form of this is "Khatun."
VI: Leofwende Russ [Lay-Uf-Wen-Day] (Leman Russ):
This was a tough one, but I’m very fond of it. Leman is an English surname derived from the Middle English “lemman,” (sweetheart/lover) which is derived from the Old English “leofmann” (sweetheart/lover). “Leof” is Old English for “dear, beloved,” and “mann” is Old English for “person.”
I then stumbled on “leofwende,” which is Old English for “amiable, gracious, kind, loving.” I really like how it keeps that similar feel of a pet name while also sounding antiquated. Admittedly the name is a bit of a mouthful. Recall that Leman was literally raised by wolves on a world with Iron Age tech at best and then adopted by King Thengir. I could see little Leman quickly getting used to his two-syllable name, but for little Leofwende, it probably went something like this:
Thengir: What to call you, my beloved child… ah, how about Leofwende? Can you say “Leofwende?”
Leofwende: … L-Lindi~
Thengir: Close. It’s Lay-Uf-We-
Leofwende: Lindi!
Thengir: … Lindi is fine too~
Lindi: Bau~bau~!
Thought of the day:
Though silver in your palms weighs light
Compared to death by blast and sword,
Do not shy the hopeless fight,
For endeavour is its own reward.
Feel free to leave a comment on these submissions and this project generally. I look forward to sharing more with you next time~

I am blown away by how much this sub and interest in a female-centric version of Warhammer 40k has become in the last week or so. You’re all amazing!
A few months ago, I had some ideas for a noblebright version of 40k where the primarchs and Emperor were female. The inspiration was cnmbwjx’s incredible art, which I am pleased to see has inspired many of you as well. I considered creating feminine versions of the primarchs’ names and came up with a list. I figure this might be a good time to share it along with my thought process behind them.
Before we begin, this is in no way an attempt to derail anyone’s canon. I have seen several names on this sub that I think are better than what I came up with. I also think there is something to be said for using the original primarchs’ names if that is your preference. Girls don’t have to have “girl names” after all~
Feel free to use these or not. I just wanted to share because I think my thoughts on the origins of the original names and ways to play with them could help others to come up with their own takes on these characters.
This is going to be a very large info dump, so I’m going to divide this thread into multiple threads released daily (hopefully). Some of the names require lengthy discussions (brace yourselves for Konrad Curze) while others require relatively little. I will go through the list according to the numbered order of the primarchs. I think about two primarchs per day will work.

• Edit: Links to the next posts in this series will be provided here.

Part 2 (III-IV): https://www.reddit.com/PrimarchGFs/comments/1cttrb4/primarch_names_and_etymologies_part_2_iiiiv/
Part 3 (V-VI): https://www.reddit.com/PrimarchGFs/comments/1culiut/primarch_names_and_etymologies_part_3_vvi/
Part 4 (VII-VIII): https://www.reddit.com/PrimarchGFs/comments/1cvdtpq/primarch_names_and_etymologies_part_4_viiviii/
My goal was to come up with satisfying names that stay true to the original names and their meanings / inspirations as possible. Where that was not possible or seemed to produce an unsatisfactory result, I afforded myself more creative liberties to try and capture the themes of the character and the sound of the original name.
I preserved alliteration with the all but one of the original names. I left surnames unchanged.
The majority of my posts will be an analysis of the original primarch names and an explanation of my reasoning for my feminine twist on them. It is my hope these explanations will assist others in their creative processes.
I have also included my suggested pronunciations for the names I think have unclear pronunciations. I did not use IPA phonetic notation because I do not think it is accessible for a casual reader since it requires using a reference list for the symbols. I instead use approximations of English syllables. Please let me know if any are unclear.
Several of these explanations may be straightforward to English-speakers and those familiar with 40k lore, but I think a detailed explanation is more inclusive. I have a feeling this sub will introduce many people to 40k that wouldn’t otherwise get into the official setting, so I want to help make your lore journeys easier.
Finally, I relied on Wiktionary and Wikipedia in researching the etymologies here. I am aware these are not ideals sources, but they’re the best I can do because of my work life. I would appreciate any corrections and supporting evidence. I certainly discovered some issues in my initial research going back through this list.
I: Lioness El’Jonson (Lion El’Jonson):
A lioness is a female lion, so I felt compelled to stick to that. However, Lion El’Jonson is one of the cleverer primarch names.
It’s a reference to Lionel Johnson, a nineteenth-century English poet who was both a devout Catholic and a gay man. Lionel was at war with his own identity, which led him to write the poem “The Dark Angel.” The poem is an expression of forbidden desire and the torment of keeping secrets while trying to stay loyal to a higher power that you believe will condemn you if it found out who you really are. Sounds just like the Dark Angels space marine chapter with their secret shame over something that wasn’t their fault.
While Lioness loses this literary reference, I do feel that valor and fierceness are much more a part of Lion’s character than the secretiveness of his chapter. Therefore, I stuck with referencing the animal, which is synonymous with themes of ferocity and bravery.
II: REDACTED: SIGILLITE-LEVEL AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.
A mind without purpose will wander in dark places
Feel free to leave a comment on these submissions and this project generally. I look forward to sharing more with you next time~

There has been a lot of discourse surrounding the name and mascot vote for the team, and I wanted to lay out what I believe makes a good team name, as well as which of the popular choices best fit.
For this purpose, I’ll use the most common names I see thrown around as potential favorites from what was included in the official vote:

• Outlaws
• Mammoth
• Yeti
• Swarm
• Mountaineers
• Black Diamonds

1 The name should have ties to the location of the team

I understand that there are a number of teams that don’t have any connection to where they are based out of, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a somewhat dumb argument to make. For the vast majority of teams, the name has some reason. It can be something historical like the Jazz being passed on from New Orleans and is now part of Utah’s history even though we don’t have a raging jazz scene. It can be tied in with the local wildlife or geographical surroundings of the area like the Coyotes were in Arizona. I could go on with more examples, but the point is:
We are choosing a new name to represent Utah’s NHL team, and that name should represent Utah.
From this requirement, we can narrow down the list to the following possible names:

• Outlaws - History of outlaws in Utah from Butch Cassidy to the Sundance Kid
• Mammoth - Mammoth remains have been found here
• Swarm - Known as the “Beehive State”
• Mountaineers - Mountains. Not really needing much of an explanation
• Black Diamonds - Known for skiing and snowboarding

2 The name should be unique to the major professional sports

I understand that some (looking at you Colorado) are up in arms about their precious Lacrosse teams that are already using the names Mammoth and Outlaws. Unfortunately, It’s going to be near impossible to find a name that is good, and hasn’t been used somewhere before. As long as we’re keeping it unique within the major leagues, it doesn’t really matter if some lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, or your cousin's little league team shares a name. The Utah NHL team would immediately become the most popular team with those names. The vast majority of people you’d ask would have never heard of any of those teams before. Not a knock on the sport itself, but sharing a name with a lacrosse team is an absolute non issue. It’s just not popular enough to make a difference. If anything, maybe it helps draw some attention to the existing team.
They left out names that people really like (Raptors) because it’s already in use for a large professional team. You have to draw the line somewhere, because it’s going to be too hard to have a 100% original name that checks all the boxes.
None of the names remaining are already in use among the 4 major leagues, so we can just move on.

3 The name should be cool and provide a unique branding opportunity

This one is more self explanatory. It can come down to opinion, but since it’s my post, I’ll give mine. I think all of these are unique, but Mountaineers feels like the branding would be easy to fall short. It has potential, but there’s also a chance to get something really boring and generic. The others feel more fool proof, so we’ll remove Mountaineers here.

• Outlaws
• Mammoth
• Swarm
• Black Diamonds

4 The name should flow of the tongue nicely

This one is an awkward one to qualify one name over the other. None of the remaining names have a real alliteration, Yeti being the closest as the start of Utah and Yeti have a similar sound. Utah Outlaws has a near rhyme with the -ah and -law.
While those fit the best, I don’t feel that any are serious offenders of coming out of the mouth awkwardly. For the sake of narrowing the list down, I’ll remove Black Diamonds since it’s just a little bit of a mouthful.
This leaves the list here, with Outlaws having a slight edge in this category:

• Outlaws
• Mammoth
• Swarm

From here, it’s just a matter of choosing your favorite of the remaining names.
The last point really could be finding the name that feels the most "classic". New team names usually stand out from the rest of the league that has old names, established in history. Look at the Oilers compared to the Kraken. It doesn't quite feel right.
To me, Swarm sounds a little XFL/WNBAish. I wouldn’t hate it, but I think it’s the worst of the remaining names.
Mammoth is cool and fits the “cold” theme that they are apparently in love with based off the other names, but the name that I feel check all of the boxes the best is clearly Outlaws.
Classic sounding name with historical ties to Utah, feels like it should already be a team in one of the 4 major leagues but is somehow still available to be claimed and uniquely used, is easy and cool branding, and rhymes with Utah to make it come off the tongue easily. It can also be shortened to “Laws” which is equally cool.
Please vote accordingly.
Tl;dr There are some decent options, but Outlaws checks all the boxes.

Here’s a small list of some Genshin Impact fanfics I enjoyed. They’re mostly all gen or where shipping isn’t the main focus:
Traveler-centric stories:

Sidereal: Aether and Lumine end in different places in Teyvat and journey to reunite with each other. [Ao3 Link]
You Will Find Me Friend: Aether and Lumine are shapeshifting eldritch beings. This changes things. [Ao3 Link]
Blind Aether: When Aether’s powers are sealed by the unknown god, his sight is as well. Character interactions and dynamics change. [Ao3 Link]
Make Me Your Hero (Surrender Your Crown): The Traveler is an oddball. Some people adore them. Other people fear them. [Ao3 Link]
Aether, What Are You Doing?: The Traveler is a video game protagonist. Everyone else in Teyvat is not. [Ao3 Link]

Anemo, Anemo, Alliteration: There’s a meme about Anemo vision holders having dead family and friends. The archons sure have a lot of those, don’t they? In which the Archons get anemo visions, and they’re all confused why. [Ao3 Link]
Freedom is walking to Mondstadt and asking for help: Venti, Zhongli, and Nahida sign a contract with each other after the Archon War. 500 years later, Nahida escapes the Akademiya/Sumeru and invokes it. [Ao3 Link]
Woe be the Wallet of the God of Wealth: Keqing tries to teach Zhongli how to manage money. She suffers. (Ao3 - Account required)
If a Tree Falls in a Forest: Post-Sumeru Archon quest, Nahida and Scaramouche accidentally switch bodies for a bit. [Ao3 Link]
A Human’s Resolve: Furina chooses to accept the duel rather than going to trial. The prophecy still happens, but she gets therapy afterwards. [Ao3 Link]
Past rebounds: Following the Fontaine Archon Quest, Furina gets visited by an Oceanid. Following that visit, Furina tries to visit other Oceanids. [Ao3 Link]
Tianming: Ganyu Character-Study. Plays with the idea that Ganyu was the main defender of the Liyue Harbor and silenced any enemies/detractors of Rex Lapis within the city. [Ao3 Link]
Everfrost: Liyue Archon Quest AU. Rex Lapis is dead. The Fauti are probably responsible and are attacking the Liyue Harbor. Ganyu: “Let me solo them”. [Ao3 Link]
God of Reflections: During the Sumeru Archon Quest, the Doctor chooses to attack Nahida rather than negotiate. Alhaitham temporarily takes over as Dendro Archon after Nahida is greatly injured. [Ao3 Link]
Nara Agni and the Memory of Death: Hu Tao does the Aranara quest. Hu Tao Character-Study, and an exploration into death and its meaning. [Ao3 Link]
Is This What Therapy Is?: Collei and Scaramouche get therapy together. They decide the best method is to get revenge on the Doctor. [Ao3 Link]
Spectacle for Want of Power: Arlecchino and Lyney spar each other. It’s just a simple training session and is totally not traumatizing. [Ao3 Link]
If anyone else has any stories they liked, feel free to recommend them!

No matter what name is chosen, people will not be happy. Some people will always hate it, while for others, their passion will grow with the team. You'll never please 100% of people 100% of the time.
A lot of people are failing to realize is that a sports brand is not just a cool t-shirt and hat. It's an experience that ties communities and people together. It creates a common language that builds bonds.
What's in a name? Can we just slap any ole' name on there and call it a day?
Let's look at the Jazz. For years we have heard "why don't we switch the name?" It doesn't have anything to do with Utah. It's true, we aren't know for our amazing street musicians. Nothing about it screams Utah. However, after 40 years, the Jazz brand has permeated Utah culture. Native Utahns grew up going to Jazz games. We grew up experiencing the culture around their success. It had such an effect that if you grew up in the 90's/00's you probably remember everything with the 'ZZ' ending. The name created ripples across Utah.
My guess though, if we got an expansion NBA team today, there wouldn't be a single person considering the name 'Jazz.'
I think this shows two things - first, you can create a brand that has a passionate following out of any name. It's about the experience surrounding the team, which will grow over time. Talented creatives will amplify that experience, regardless of name. Second, how people's identity changes based off the team is as important as the name is.
--
Before you downvote and bring the pitchforks, hear me out. Name selection can open up different levels of opportunity. Think of each name having a DnD stat sheet of pros and cons.
The name that is chosen should allow the greatest potential of an expanded brand language. Not just one stat maxed out. Again, this isn't about t-shirts and hats, it's about the marketing opportunities, the tie-ins, the arena experience, and the ability to keep people coming back.
The first consideration is the ability to create an expanded brand language. Let's look at the Golden Knights. They tap into the zeitgeist of Las Vegas and medieval lore. They use terms like, "Knight of the realm." The fonts they use invoke medieval heraldry. In the arena, they talk about the kings court, 'knight time' etc. A lot of their branding uses motifs of gold, royalty, and gambling. Cards and coins are used as texture elements, and everything is pretty gaudy - but it works. It feels like Vegas. Plus, People. Eat. This. Shit. Up.
The Avalanche use mountains, snow, and ice as their motifs. Everything fits into the snowy, blizzard, cold theme very well. It's not as expanded as Vegas, but it still has a unique theme. Overall their branding was to fit into the Colorado professional sports sphere.
Then you have the Sharks. What do they have? Sharks. Not much more to it than that.
We need a name that taps into a part of Utah's zeitgeist. We need something that feels uniquely Utah (that is inclusive to non-relgious folk) that doesn't feel like we are trying too hard. Do we need it to be as gaudy as Vegas? No, but we also don't want to hit the same note every year like the Sharks.
--
Next, let's talk about fitting a name within the sphere of the NHL. We need to consider how to fit the brand as a piece into the NHL puzzle. Our name needs to feel like it belongs - and not just a one-off. I think that is why the name Kraken was so widely panned when first launched. It just didn't feel like it fit as an NHL name.
I categorized NHL names into 6 different origins.
Historical/culture is based off of something related to the region, while the 'other' category was decided by ownership based off preference (note that Blackhawks was owners choice but was historically related to his WWII squadron, but ultimately after the Blackhawk tribe).
You can see that the three top categories would be historical/cultural, and tied in second are animals and elemental based names.
Ultimately, I believe that it would be better for our team to be historical/culturally significant to Utah, or animal based, due to our other Rocky Mountain counterpart already filling the elemental space with the Avalanche.
I would also argue that mythical creatures, while appearing in the list at 2 exist, would still feel out of place as a whole. Plus, unless we are talking Bear Lake Monster, we don't have much of a connection to a certain choice that seem to be topping a lot of lists.
--
What would my choices be?
In no particular order, Outlaws, Mammoths (plural since each animal team is also plural) and Raptors. Each of them tie into Utah in a unique way that doesn't feel forced. The branding opportunities outside of merch feel like they would fit into Utah well.
Outlaws lean into the wild west motif quite nicely, separating us from Colorado. Utah was quite properly the wild west in the early 20th century. Plus, there is an whole expandable vernacular that can be used. Until lacrosse starts making as much money as the NHL, no one will stop to think twice about considering their feelings.
Mammoths are great because you can also use mammoth as an adjective. They feel stoic and sturdy. There are opportunities around the ice age and eons. We have found mammoths in Utah, including a near-complete one near Huntington North reservoir.
Raptors would have been great, but didn't make the short list. Similar reasons as Mammoths. I think because the Toronto Raptors, this name was dropped from consideration (the NBA makes more than the NHL, so no whatabouts with lacrosse).
My least favorites:
Yeti. I get it, you like the sound of it. Alliteration is always an ample opportunity. Technically there are several team names that fall under the mythical creature or 'it has a ring to it' categories. The main issue is what do you do with this? It's very little do with Utah, and the branding is limited to mountains - which Avs already have a claim to with their motifs.
Blizzard - basically the same complaints. It's way too close to the Avalanche. It is just doesn't differentiate from Colorado enough for me to take it seriously.
Venom - I just don't think this one fits into the NHL sphere very well. I suppose this would go under the Elemental category. I could see the motifs being about snakes and desert, but I don't see that expanded brand language as much as other options.
--
Thanks for coming to my ted talk. I enjoyed putting this together.

No matter what name is chosen, people will not be happy. Some people will always hate it, while for others, their passion will grow with the team. You'll never please 100% of people 100% of the time.
A lot of people are failing to realize is that a sports brand is not just a cool t-shirt and hat. It's an experience that ties communities and people together. It creates a common language that builds bonds.
What's in a name? Can we just slap any ole' name on there and call it a day?
Let's look at the Jazz. For years we have heard "why don't we switch the name?" It doesn't have anything to do with Utah. It's true, we aren't know for our amazing street musicians. Nothing about it screams Utah. However, after 40 years, the Jazz brand has permeated Utah culture. Native Utahns grew up going to Jazz games. We grew up experiencing the culture around their success. It had such an effect that if you grew up in the 90's/00's you probably remember everything with the 'ZZ' ending. The name created ripples across Utah.
My guess though, if we got an expansion NBA team today, there wouldn't be a single person considering the name 'Jazz.'
I think this shows two things - first, you can create a brand that has a passionate following out of any name. It's about the experience surrounding the team, which will grow over time. Talented creatives will amplify that experience, regardless of name. Second, how people's identity changes based off the team is as important as the name is.

Before you downvote and bring the pitchforks, hear me out. Name selection can open up different levels of opportunity. Think of each name having a DnD stat sheet of pros and cons.
The name that is chosen should allow the greatest potential of an expanded brand language. Not just one stat maxed out. Again, this isn't about t-shirts and hats, it's about the marketing opportunities, the tie-ins, the arena experience, and the ability to keep people coming back.
The first consideration is the ability to create an expanded brand language. Let's look at the Golden Knights. They tap into the zeitgeist of Las Vegas and medieval lore. They use terms like, "Knight of the realm." The fonts they use invoke medieval heraldry. In the arena, they talk about the kings court, 'knight time' etc. A lot of their branding uses motifs of gold, royalty, and gambling. Cards and coins are used as texture elements, and everything is pretty gaudy - but it works. It feels like Vegas. Plus, People. Eat. This. Shit. Up.
The Avalanche use mountains, snow, and ice as their motifs. Everything fits into the snowy, blizzard, cold theme very well. It's not as expanded as Vegas, but it still has a unique theme. Overall their branding was to fit into the Colorado professional sports sphere.
Then you have the Sharks. What do they have? Sharks. Not much more to it than that.
We need a name that taps into a part of Utah's zeitgeist. We need something that feels uniquely Utah (that is inclusive to non-relgious folk) that doesn't feel like we are trying too hard. Do we need it to be as gaudy as Vegas? No, but we also don't want to hit the same note every year like the Sharks.

Next, let's talk about fitting a name within the sphere of the NHL. We need to consider how to fit the brand as a piece into the NHL puzzle. Our name needs to feel like it belongs - and not just a one-off. I think that is why the name Kraken was so widely panned when first launched. It just didn't feel like it fit as an NHL name.
I categorized NHL names into 6 different origins.
Historical/culture is based off of something related to the region, while the 'other' category was decided by ownership based off preference (note that Blackhawks was owners choice but was historically related to his WWII squadron, but ultimately after the Blackhawk tribe).
You can see that the three top categories would be historical/cultural, and tied in second are animals and elemental based names.
Ultimately, I believe that it would be better for our team to be historical/culturally significant to Utah, or animal based, due to our other Rocky Mountain counterpart already filling the elemental space with the Avalanche.
I would also argue that mythical creatures, while appearing in the list at 2 exist, would still feel out of place as a whole. Plus, unless we are talking Bear Lake Monster, we don't have much of a connection to a certain choice that seem to be topping a lot of lists.

What would my choices be?
In no particular order, Outlaws, Mammoths (plural since each animal team is also plural) and Raptors. Each of them tie into Utah in a unique way that doesn't feel forced. The branding opportunities outside of merch feel like they would fit into Utah well.
Outlaws lean into the wild west motif quite nicely, separating us from Colorado. Utah was quite properly the wild west in the early 20th century. Plus, there is an whole expandable vernacular that can be used. Until lacrosse starts making as much money as the NHL, no one will stop to think twice about considering their feelings.
Mammoths are great because you can also use mammoth as an adjective. They feel stoic and sturdy. There are opportunities around the ice age and eons. We have found mammoths in Utah, including a near-complete one near Huntington North reservoir.
Raptors would have been great, but didn't make the short list. Similar reasons as Mammoths. I think because the Toronto Raptors, this name was dropped from consideration (the NBA makes more than the NHL, so no whatabouts with lacrosse).
My least favorites:
Yeti. I get it, you like the sound of it. Alliteration is always an ample opportunity. Technically there are several team names that fall under the mythical creature or 'it has a ring to it' categories. The main issue is what do you do with this? It's very little do with Utah, and the branding is limited to mountains - which Avs already have a claim to with their motifs.
Blizzard - basically the same complaints. It's way too close to the Avalanche. It is just doesn't differentiate from Colorado enough for me to take it seriously.
Venom - I just don't think this one fits into the NHL sphere very well. I suppose this would go under the Elemental category. I could see the motifs being about snakes and desert, but I don't see that expanded brand language as much as other options.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk. I enjoyed putting this together.

Like a lot of other people I was awaiting the Delphi murders trial, this despite the warnings I heard from wiser individuals who knew better, those who could foresee the stall tactic antics disguised as legal wranglings. And while I was waiting around, I was reading a lot--specifically about the motivations of murder because I am a bit masochistic. I obsess over the why?
According to Peter Morrall, a famous British crime lecturer and professor of sociology, I have been overthinking my obsession this entire time. Apparently the question of why someone murders another someone has a very simple formula:

• Lust
• Love
• Loathing
• Loot

If Morrall is correct, every murder in the world has been committed within the parameters of the above alliteration. The formula applies as much to the wife who poisons her husband so she can absorb all the proceeds of his life insurance, as it does to the armed robber who murders a clerk in a convenience store robbery gone bad, as it does to a sibling killing another sibling, as it does to the serial killer who stalks redlight districts for sex workers, as it does to the murder of Abigail Williams and Liberty German.
If RA is the murderer of Abby and Libby, many believe he is either a serial killer or a burgeoning one. If not, he's most likely a one and done with serial killer traits, his long overdue detection owing as much to his disguise, a mask of normalcy and ordinariness, as it does to an alleged filing mistake made by law enforcement.
This hiding in plain sight is a phenomenon known as the banality of evil--a phrase that was first used to describe Adolph Eichmann, the logistical coordinator of the Holocaust. The guy was as dull as a doorknob, something that haunted those who hunted him as much as anything else. How could such a chinless wonder be responsible for the deaths of millions?
Similarly, RA lived a quiet middle class life with his wife of many years and their purportedly well adjusted daughter; he worked as a pharmacy tech and shift manager. These are the environmental factors cited most by those who proclaim his innocence.
Yet many of the same individuals who cannot fathom the unassuming pharmacy-tech as a murderer have no problem ticking off a list of superficially well adjusted killers like Ted Bundy, Dennis Radar, Wayne Williams, John Gacy and Gary Ridgway--all who notoriously hid and killed in plain sight. (That, and no one but the good Lord and the Allen's really know what went on behind their own closed doors.)
Although motive does not have to be proven in a court of law, it is an essential element to understanding how a man like RA could kill two teenage girls. And though the how is tangled up and often deemed interchangeable with the why, the latter part of the question may never be satisfactorily answered or completely understood if it is, despite Peter Morrall's more straightforward formula.
​

Previous post

The upstart

Arch rival to Calap Roud was the illimitable, ambitious, inexcusably young Brash Phluster. That he delighted in the old bastard’s presence on this journey could hardly be refuted, for Brash so wanted Calap to witness youth’s triumph in Farrog. With luck, it would kill him.

Next on the chopping block is Brash Phluster, and what a masterpiece that name is. Brash means many things, including overly confident and lacking respect. Clearly that's how Calap views him at least. And Phluster just looks so much funnier than "fluster". It's as subtle as a brick to the face, but we really get everything we need to know about Brash from just the name.
Note that like with Purse we begin Brash's introduction by pointing out his relationship with Calap Roud. But whereas Purse was Calap's object of lust, Brash is his nemesis. We get a list of Brash's characteristics. He is illimitable, ambitious, and inexcusably young. This is definitely describing Brash as Calap sees him. The tell is the "inexcusably young" bit, but we also see a subtle jab with the way Flicker uses both illimitable and ambitious, words that have very similar meanings. He's definitely imitating Calap here, so it's like he's so incensed at Brash that he's stumbling for whatever word he can find. And accidentally goes for two words that mean basically the same thing.
Then we get Brash being happy at Calap's presence, which makes us think that perhaps the rivalry is one sided. But then we see that it's just because Brash wants to rub it in Calap's face, so the rivalry is definitely a thing. And finally there's the hope that Calap's defeat would kill him. So there's clearly an underlying hatred that runs deeper than a normal rivalry. The rivalry also seems to be generational. Brash represents the younger generation of artists, and he sees this as a conflict between young and old.

Fake it 'til you make it

Seven years Calap had been defecating on Brash, trying to keep him down on the crusty floor, but Brash was not one to let a rain of guano discourage his destiny. He knew he was brilliant in most things, and where he lacked brilliance he could fill those spaces with bold bluster and entirely unfounded arrogance. A sneer was as good as an answer. A writhe of the lip could slice throats across the room. He eyed Calap as would a wolf eye a dog, appalled at a shared pedigree and determined to tear the sad thing to pieces at the first opportunity.

We continue with the Calap/Brash beef, bringing back the metaphor from Calap's introduction with the gilded cage. There we got a brief mention of the "white-headed fools" that Calap shat on, and now we learn that Brash was indeed one of those fools. The imagery here is absolutely foul, with the floor crusted with bird shit and the rain of guano. There's a really nice alliteration here too. We get "defecating" and "down", and then a bit later "discourage" and "destiny". I love how it's all these really negative and nasty words, before flipping it with "destiny".
Flicker is definitely putting himself in Brash's head as he's done many times before, as we get this view of his inflated self image. We get a lot of Bs and Ls here with two instances of "brilliant" before we get "bold bluster". I love how he seems to be just blatantly in fake-it-until-you-make-it mode. And then Flicker dips out of Brash's head to provide his own commentary with "entirely unfounded arrogance".
And then we continue with Flicker giving his not-quite-charitable reading of Brash's character with this quick flurry of sentences. When confronted, Brash doesn't really respond, but just pretends like answering is beneath him. Like Calap he's willing to play the social game in order to get ahead. And that is made clear with the comparison. They're different, but also in some fundamental way they "share the same pedigree", which I think is their mutual willingness to pull all sorts of dirty tricks to get rid of rivals. And Brash is ready to do just that to Calap.

Master of disguises

True talent was found in the successful disguise of genius, and Brash accounted himself a master of disguises. His future was glory, but he would reveal not a single hint, not one that some cragged critic¹ or presumptuous rival might close in on, stoat fangs bared. No, they could dismiss him each and every day for the time being. He would unveil himself in Farrog, and then they would all see. Calap Roud, that stunning watery-eyed dancer, Purse Snippet, and the Entourage too—

Right off the bat I want to say that I love this first sentence. Flicker mentioned Brash's fake-it-until-you-make-it attitude in the previous paragraph, but here we get a hint that perhaps Brash is faking more than he'd care to admit. But he doesn't care, because he's so confident in his disguises.
Erikson has on many occasions remarked upon (and lamented) that many authors are incredibly secretive about their craft. He's mentioned authors on panels whose answers amount to basically just an advertisement for their book rather than an examination of their process. I think here he is poking fun at that attitude. Brash is established as being extremely tight lipped, because he doesn't want the critics or his competitors to find out his secret sauce. Admittedly, since he's traveling with Calap Roud that attitude may not be simple paranoia.
I also love that he calls his rivals stoats, calling back to the weasel analogy from a few weeks ago. Stoats are of course² a kind of weasel (or at least a weasel-like mammal). So we're still not letting go of these metaphors.
We also get a glance at the way Brash is seen by others. He's dismissed by them. Clearly, Brash thinks they're underestimating him, but are they? We'll find out in time when we get some of Brash's poetry. The alliteration here is also nice, with each and every framed by dismiss and day.
He ends with a declaration that he's not even begun to peak. That he's saving the best for last, and he's savoring that. He mentions Calap Roud, who he wants to destroy, and Purse Snippet who he likely wants to impress. Here we also see the difference between Flicker and Brash in action. Flicker saw through to the core of Purse's being. Brash, on the other hand, just sees a pretty dancer. He even notes that her eyes are always watery, but he doesn't even seem to consider that they might be like that for a reason.
And finally, the Entourage...
But we'll get to them next time. That's it for Brash's introduction. See you next week!
¹ There's some nice alliteration here. The word "cragged", itself onomatopoeic, adds that onomatopoeia to the word "critic".
² I say as if I didn't have to look that up myself

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

This is the transactional writing template I made and used on my exam. I have also written what I wrote for the language analysis, comparison, and creative writing (descriptive essay), along with a concise look into the English language needed to get an A* which can be found on Amazon - What I wrote to get an A* on the English Language GCSE by Henry Norsworthy.
Transactional writing
Any kind of writing that aims to achieve a specific purpose or get something done, which can be:
To inform: sharing knowledge and facts, like a news article or instructional blog post.
To persuade: trying to convince the reader of a certain viewpoint, like an opinion piece or a sales letter.
To instruct: guiding the reader through a process, like a recipe or a how-to guide.
To request: formal letters requesting information or applications, or informal letters asking for favours.
My question was: write a speech about the importance of walking for mental well-being (or something similar to this)
Template
Letter - your address then date on right
Letter – recipient address (made up) then dear 'name/ body’ (if given in the question) or dear simadam (formal)/ to whom it may concern (less formal)
Speech – Hello and thank you for attending. My name is ‘…’ and I am speaking on behalf of ‘e.g. Cambridge University department of ‘relevant to question’ (if directed to peers say – I recognize many familiar faces here.)
Title e.g.
‘Subject from question’: we must act now! (direct address (directly addressing your audience) and imperative (an instruction or request commonly punctuated with an exclamation mark)) (for a letter the title and subtitles can be worded and written as the first sentence of a paragraph as letters don’t typically have titles and subtitles)
Strap line/ hook (who, what, when, where, why): e.g. ground-breaking new study from Cambridge University shows that ‘…’ has the effect of ‘…’ – if this is allowed to proceed then the future of ‘…’ will be on a collision course (alliteration) with a point of no return (idiom and hyperbole)
Subtitle: first point summary sentence e.g.
The issue of ‘point’.
First paragraph
· Firstly, ‘first point - use point given in the question’ …which will have profound, far-reaching, and encompassing effects (rule of three). We have found ourselves at a crossroads with a situation that is a ticking time-bomb/ idea blossomed; opening doors to new perspectives (metaphor)
· Anecdote - how you personally have experienced and been impacted by ‘point’ e.g. during my time working as a researcher in the ‘…’ department at Cambridge University, I have witnessed first-hand the effects of ‘…’ which has subsequently sparked great concern (builds credibility)
· Causes and consequences of first point in list form – it is proven ‘…’ is caused by; 1 - ‘first cause’ 2 - ‘second cause’ 3 - ‘third cause’, which imposes consequences of; 1 - ‘first consequence’ 2 - ‘second consequence’ 3 - ‘third consequence’.
· Call to action – as a member of this planet/ country/ society, I feel obliged to tackle this treacherous set of circumstances that stands (personification) before us – we must act now to ‘e.g. resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to ‘e.g. resurrect the future ‘…’ (anaphora, repetition, rule of three, alliteration)
Subtitle: second point summary sentence e.g.,
Darkest before dawn… (idiom, hyperbole, and ellipsis (the three dots used to create suspense or anticipation) or, it only gets worse… (hyperbole and ellipsis)
Second paragraph
· Secondly, ‘second point - use point given in question’ …we are truly in a delicate dance/ we are walking on thin-ice/ rollercoaster of emotions/ music to my ears (metaphor)
· Quote official person e.g. ‘name’ (who is largely considered to be one of the most reputable and highly regarded in the field) officially stated: ‘made up quote’
· Statistic from official body e.g. as well, my fellow colleagues at Cambridge have released shocking studies stating: ‘quote’ - how can we ignore these staggering statistics? (rhetorical question)
· This indisputably indicates that if we bury our heads in the sand (idiom) it will have irrevocable ramifications such as ‘implication of statistics’ (finish with: and ~this is just the tip of the iceberg (metaphor); I could go on…
· Pathos – evoke emotion by sharing a personal story of someone affected e.g. only the other day I spoke to a victim called ‘name’ who experienced ‘issue’ which ‘he/ she’ told me it caused ‘him/ her’ ‘…’ - the pain in ‘his/ her’ voice still relentlessly reverberates throughout my psyche and is a poignant and stark reminder that behind every statistic lies a human tragedy
One sentence paragraph e.g.,
· We cannot afford to remain indifferent!
· This is not time to be sedentary!
· We cannot idly stand by while ‘issue’ continues! (exclamatory sentences)
Subtitle e.g.,
‘’But what about…?’’ or, ‘’Haven’t you thought about…?’’ (dialogue, rhetorical question, and ellipsis).
Third paragraph
· One or two opposing points and counter-arguments - opposing point example: However, on the other hand some might say: ‘’reason against point you’re making’’ (dialogue), and counter-argument example: Although, even with this being said, this does not outweigh the overwhelming and undeniable urgency to prevent/ fix ‘‘new or aforementioned reemphasised/ slightly reworded consequences’’. As well, it could also be said ‘another opposition point or the current proposition to solve the problem only being a partial solution’, but again this does not solve the situation for everyone so what is the suggestion? That we just sweep these people under the rug? (idiom, irony and rhetorical question). My colleagues and I have thought long and hard and have left no stones unturned (idiom); we can say with absolute certainty that all opposing arguments pale in comparison (hyperbole). The writing is on the wall (idiom) and failure to act will spell the end (idiom) of society aswe know it - ~so much is at stake~ (hyperbole)
Subtitle e.g.
So what do we do?
Fourth paragraph
· Resolution ideas – Therefore, with all that being said, in order to find resolution and remedy this rampant issue, we must; ‘solutions/ what you want to happen in list form – 1 - ‘first solution’ 2 - ‘second solution’, and lastly 3 - ‘third solution’
· Conclusion/ summary – e.g. so finally in conclusion, cooperation is crucial to correct ‘briefly reminisce points’
Cyclical structure – repeat call to action from paragraph one (cyclical structure) but changed to: ‘we must unite together to resolve the issue of ‘…’, we must unite together to relieve those affected by ‘…’, we must act now to assure sustainability for future generations.
Letter – yours sincerely (if know the name of the recipient)/ yours faithfully (if don’t know the name of the recipient)
Speech - Thank you for your time.

Hi! I'm due with our second in two months. It's a boy, and my husband and I having the hardest time coming up with name ideas! Here are some of our parameters:

• We don't want a name that's super duper common/trendy...
• but also don't want one that's so unique people will always be asking how it's spelled or where it comes from (e.g. we do want a name most people in the US are at least a bit familiar with.)
• We don't want a name that starts with a hard C or K sound (for alliteration with last name.)
• We'd love a name that works in Japan/the Japanese language but also in other languages/cultures (the baby is 1/4 Japanese, 1/4 Polish, and 50% other northern European things including Norwegian and German). (For example, our daughter's name is Naomi, which is a name that is used and pronounceable in many cultures and languages.)

Some of the names we've been pondering: Kai; Oscar; Franklin; Frank; Gilbert (Gil / Bert); Milo.
Thanks for helping us with any ideas! Or support for one of the ones on our list!

Every weekend I plan a menu for the upcoming week. It helps with grocery shopping and ensures we get the right ingredients, cuts down on waste, saves room in the refrigerator and pantry, and reduces stress during the week as we know what to pull out to thaw (if it's frozen) and aren't trying to figure out what to cook at the last minute.
My family knows this is part of our Saturday routine, and I ask them for ideas to cook... every week.
And every week, I pretty much have to plan the meals by myself.
So I started using alliteration to help with the meal plan, at least as a starting point for inspiration.
Meatloaf Monday - basically any dish that uses ground beef as a base. Meatballs, meat pies, some pasta dishes. Remember that these are more of a category than a specific dish.
Taco Tuesday - these are when we pull out our Mexican inspired dishes.
Waldorf Wednesday - salads, salads, salads. I associate this with Waldorf Salad, which leads to all salads.
Thai Thursday - more Asian in general than just Thai food.
Fish Friday. I work Monday through Friday, and I bring leftovers for lunch most days. So to prevent being lynched at the office I cook seafood on Friday.
Sample Saturday - this is our appetizer night. Everyone kind of grazes while we play games rather than do a sit down meal.
Soul Food Sunday: Southern inspired dishes. If I'm smoking a roast or cooking a turkey I'll do it on Sunday as well since that's our "lazy day" when we don't have a lot of activities planned.
The list so far is good, but I'm looking for ways to improve it. Specifically on Wednesday and Thursday. I've tried Wok Wednesday, but am lost for what to do on Thursday if I go that route.
What are your thoughts?