Class 12 English Writing skills - Advertisement writing - Breakup of Marks                                   

The breakup of 3 marks for the question on Advertisement writing in the class 12 English writing skills paper as per CBSE
guidelines is as follows:

Format 01 mark
(heading)
Content 01 mark

Expression 01 mark

Total 03 marks

 
A Classified advertisement is a kind of public announcement asking for or offering services or buying and selling property, goods
or giving information about missing persons, pet etc. It is made through a popular medium that targets a large number of people.
Newspapers, magazines, tv, radio, cinema, leaflets and pamphlets are extensively used for such purposes. Their content is brief,
words limited and sentences not necessarily grammatically correct. They written by an employer who is looking for the services of a
person in his organisation or to sell/purchase/rent any property or for many other purposes.
There are two types of advertisements in the newspaper:
1. CLASSIFIED
2. COMMERCIAL / DISPLAY
The main characteristics of classified ads are – They are categorized into columns according to different classes. They are brief and
occupy less space. They are economical. They are written in short phrases, language is simple and concise, factual and formal.
There are no blocks or designs.

PURPOSE
TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENT
SITUATION VACANT This advertisement is written by an employer who is looking for the services of a person/s in his
organisation.
- Preferably begin with ‘Wanted’ or ‘Required’
- Write the name of the organization
- Indicate the post and no. of vacancies
- State the essential qualifications/proficiency in language/computer etc
- Age and gender of the candidate
- Pay scale/perks
- Mode of applying – application / interview schedule
- Contact address/ Phone number

SITUATION WANTED This is written by a job-seeker.

- Include personal details without using first person
- Age/sex of the candidate
- Any other details that are optional and can be included
- Indicate preferences of such as type of job, area. Locality
- Indicate expected pay scale/ perks
- Provide contact address, phone number

FOR SALE/PURCHASE This is written in an attempt to sell property, assets, office goods, vehicles etc.
- Preferably begin with SALE/AVAILABLE/WANTED
- State the type of ACCOMODATION/VEHICLES/GOODS in question
- Give a brief physical description, contact detail, price.
VEHICLES FOR SALE
- Make
- Model/colour/accessories/year of manufacture/mileage/distance covered
- Condition/registration
- Ownership details
- Price expected
- Contact address/phone number
PROPERTY FOR SALE
 - HOUSE/FLAT/PROPERTY FOR SALE
- Type of accommodation, no. of rooms/floors
- Independent/apartment
- Price expected/negotiable
- Location
- Area in sq metres/yards
- Name of the development authority
- Whom and when to contact
- Contact address and phone number
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
- Name the item
- Brand, model, year of manufacture
- Condition
- Contact address and phone number

TO LET - PROPERTY/ This is written by a person looking for tenants for his/her property.
LEASE - PROPERTY
- TO-LET
- Type of accommodation, no. of rooms/floor
- Independent/apartment
- Rent expected/Lease conditions
- Location
- Kind of tenant required
- Whom and when to contact
- Contact address and phone number

ACCOMODATION WANTED Written by the ones looking for a place for accommodation.
- Preferably begin with ‘Wanted’ or ‘Required’
- Indicate the kind of residence required – G/Independent/flat
- Preferred area
- Preferred rent category
- Specificities of requirement – like one bedroom – two baths/ ground floor
- Contact address/ Phone number

MATRIMONIALS This is written while looking for prospective marriage candidates

 Begin with Wanted/Alliance or Proposal invited.

 State boy/girl.
 Educational/Professional qualifications.
 Service/Profession — income.
 Age, height, complexion, build.
 Caste/subcaste — religion.
 Qualities sought in partner.
 End with Box No C/o the daily.

 Contact details/phone number

MISSING This is written in case any object/person/pet goes missing giving descriptive details for the same.
- Begin with the word ‘Missing’
- Give a brief description of the person – name, age, height, complexion, build, health
conditions, identification marks, clothes worn at the time the person went missing
- Pet name – breed, colour, identifying features
- State missing from when/where
- Indicate reward if any
- Provide contact address/phone number

EDUCATIONAL Written by those who have services to sell like yoga classes, language school, fitness routines,
INSTITUTIONS computer classes etc
- Name of the institution
- Courses/classes offered
- Facilities
 - Fee details
- Last date of registration
- Address/contact details

TRAVELS AND TOURS Written by travel agencies who want to make known to/attract customers of available bargains, tour
packages.
- Name of the agency
- Destinations and durations
- Details of the package
- Discounts if any
- Contact address/phone number

LOST AND FOUND Usually written by those who have lost valuable documents/items etc or by those who have found
some important article that has purportedly been lost by someone.
- Begin with LOST/FOUND
- Description of the article
- When and where article was lost/found
- Reward for finding it
- Contact address and phone number
-
-

 
Tips for writing Classified Advertisement for class 12 English Writing skills paper

i.  When you're writing an advertisement, every word counts. Being too vague or wordy will cause people to skim your
advertisement instead of pausing to read it, so the same writing tenets apply no matter what type of advertisement you're
writing.
ii. It should begin with a heading in bold or upper case letters.
iii. The language should be according to the audience we are referring to. For example- If you want to sell something to the
youngsters, the words chosen shall be good enough to attract them.
iv. Do not use the same descriptive characteristics for every type of advertisement. For example- In Situation Wanted case,
calling for receptionist applications, one must use words that are indicative of the personality and communication skills
you are looking for. On the other hand, for hiring a tech executive, it is imperative you ask for skills limited to the IT
department.
v. Do not make full sentences. The prescribed limit is 50 words and in order to make your advertisement loaded with
information about the topic, you have to manage your words carefully.
vi. Always add contact details in the end either in the form of contact no., email id or both. They are generally given in the
question.
vii. Remember, nowhere in the answer are you required to mention your own personal details.
viii. It should always be in a box made with sharpened pencil.
ix. It should be neat and clean with good presentation.

1) CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT

● REAL ESTATE - SALE, PURCHASE, LEASE, TO-LET

● SITUATION VACANT/WANTED
● EDUCATIONAL - COURSES/CLASSES
● AUTOMOTIVE - SALE, PURCHASE, SERVICE
● HOUSEHOLD GOODS - SALE, PURCHASE
● LOST AND FOUND - ARTICLES/OBJECTS
● MISSING PERSON/PET
● TOURS AND TRAVELS
FORMAT OF A CLASSIFIED AD

CONTENT - HEADING (TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENT) - 50 WORDS - PHRASAL CONTENT SEPARATED BY

HYPHEN OR COMMA - AVOID ARTICLES, CONJUNCTIONS, PREPOSITIONS - THE FIRST TWO WORDS
OF THE ADVERTISEMENT TO BE IN UPPERCASE - CONTACT INFO

Samples for Classified Advertisement

SITUATION VACANT

REQUIRED a young, dynamic, smart, charismatic receptionist for Sunrise Global School, Agra. Attractive salary, healthy
work environment, excellent prospects. Fresh graduates with honours or equivalent degree in English with good
communication skills can apply by sending their cover letter and resume before 30th April ’22 to the below mentioned
ID.Email-ID – [email protected].

SITUATION WANTED
REQUIRED FOR 22 year old Male, with BA (Hons) History topper, with specialization in Medieval India, looking to work as
a tourist guide. Fluent in Hindi and English. Well-acquainted with places of historical interest in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
Good communication skills,charming personality. Expected salary- 30,000pm.
Contact no - 999751234
Email-id – [email protected]

FOR SALE/PURCHASE
FOR SALE, 10 year old, ground floor flat, 2 BHK, attached bathrooms, covered car park, east facing, centrally located at
Adyar, 24 hour power and water supply, gym and pool area, low maintenance charges, price negotiable, brokers excuse
 Contact - Harish/Harshita
Mob no. - 98100XXXXX
 

FOR SALE/PURCHASE

FOR SALE white SWIFT Dezire, ZXI, year 2016, driven – 5000 kms, cautiously used, mileage – 15kms/litre, no scratches,
with a stereo and perfectly working air-conditioner, neat upholstery, good condition, price negotiable, interested parties
only.
Contact:Ram /Rajni
Mob No. - 12345679
 

FOR SALE/PURCHASE

FOR PURCHASE -Independent house at Indranagar area, for office-cum-residence, preferably around 2500 sq ft, fully-
furnished and ready to move in, covered car-park, well-ventilated, reasonably priced. Brokers please excuse. Genuine
parties only.
Contact - Karan Kumar/ Karuna Bajaj
Phone No. - 45645678

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. You own an independent house in D-Block, South City, Gurgaon. You are interested in disposing it off, as you are
going to settle abroad. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in ‘Gurgaon Times’, giving all
the necessary details.

2. The firm Bhatia & Bhatia, Industrial Area, Bangalore wants two engineers for their Chennai office. Draft an
advertisement for the ‘Situation Vacant’ column of a local newspaper giving all the necessary details. Do not exceed 50
words.

3. You are a commerce graduate with 8 years of experience of keeping accounts. You want a job in MNC/ Corporate
House. As Anil Verma of 257, Moti Nagar, New Delhi, prepare an advertisement.

4. You want to sell your Maruti Car. Draft a suitable advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the ‘For Sale’
columns of the Times of India. You are Daniel of 245/D, Beach Road, Goa.

5. You have been transferred to another city. You want to sell certain electronic goods. Draft a suitable advertisement
in about 50 words. You are Ajay Goswami of Sector 56, Cantonment Road, Dispur.