Poster Writing Class 11: Format, Layout, Slogans and Model Posters

What Poster Writing is about

Weightage: Section B (Grammar and Creative Writing, 23 of the 80 theory marks): Q7, a poster of up to 50 words, one of two, 3 marks (format 1, content 1, expression 1).Source: CBSE English Core (301) syllabus 2026-27, Class XI question paper design

Key concepts

Format and layout

NCERT section CBSE syllabus Q7 (format)

Draw a box and arrange inside it:
1. Issuing authority (school, club, NGO, municipal body) at the top or bottom, in small letters
2. Heading / slogan in large capital letters
3. a simple visual (a drop of water, a tree, a helmet): a rough sketch is enough, or a labelled empty frame such as [picture of a tree]
4. key message or details in short lines, not paragraphs
5. for an event: date, time, venue, entry, contact; for awareness: facts, appeals and what to do
Use different letter sizes to show importance; leave white space so the poster is easy to read.

Worked example

Arrange these parts in a sensible top-to-bottom order for a blood-donation camp poster: details of date and venue; slogan 'Give Blood, Give Life'; organised by the Red Ribbon Club; a sketch of a blood drop; eligibility (18-60 years, healthy).

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Slogan at the top in big letters to catch the eye.
2. Visual just below it.
3. Then the event details, eligibility, and the organiser at the bottom.

Answer: Slogan → blood-drop sketch → date and venue → eligibility → organised by the Red Ribbon Club.

Content: event posters and awareness posters

NCERT section CBSE syllabus Q7 (content)

Event poster: name of the event, its purpose, date, time, venue, special attractions (guest, prizes, stalls), who can join, entry fee or free entry, contact or registration, organiser.

Awareness poster: a slogan, two or three facts or reasons (why the issue matters), two or three actions the reader can take (Do's and Don'ts), and the issuing body (and a helpline if relevant).

Include every cue in the question: if it says 'organised by the Eco Club for Classes VI-XII', all of that must appear.

Worked example

An awareness poster on saving electricity has only the slogan 'Save Power!' and a picture of a bulb. What content is missing?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Reasons: why saving power matters (bills, pollution, shortage).
2. Actions: switch off lights and fans, use LED bulbs, use natural light.
3. Issuing authority.

Answer: Two or three reasons, two or three action points and the name of the issuing body.

Slogans and expression

NCERT section CBSE syllabus Q7 (expression)

The expression mark rewards catchy, crisp language:

• slogans that use rhyme ('Don't be a fool, keep the planet cool'), alliteration ('Clean city, green city'), contrast ('Speed thrills, but kills'), imperatives ('Switch off, save more') or questions ('Is your water safe?')
• short lines and phrases, not long sentences
• words that appeal to feelings and action: Join, Save, Act, Protect
• correct spelling and no clutter

Within 50 words in all; a heavily worded poster loses the point of a poster.

Worked example

Write two slogans for a poster against food waste.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Use rhyme or contrast and an imperative.
2. Keep each under eight words.

Answer: 'Waste not food, it's a crime, someone's hungry all the time.' / 'Take what you need, eat what you take.'

Marking scheme and word limit

NCERT section CBSE English Core syllabus 2026-27, Q7

3 marks: Format 1 (box, issuing authority, heading or slogan, visual), Content 1 (all relevant details or messages), Expression 1 (catchy, concise, accurate language). Up to 50 words. A poster written as a paragraph, or one without the organiser or key details, usually loses two marks.

Worked example

Which mark does each fault cost? (a) No issuing authority (b) 'Their will be games and food stall' (c) Date of the event missing.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. (a) Part of the format.
2. (b) Spelling and grammar errors: expression.
3. (c) Missing detail: content.

Answer: (a) Format (b) Expression (c) Content.

Poster versus notice and advertisement

NCERT section CBSE syllabus Q6, Q7

	Poster	Notice	Classified ad
Purpose	attract and persuade	inform formally	sell, let, hire
Style	slogans, varied letter sizes, visual	formal sentences, NOTICE heading, date	compact phrases, category heading
Must have	issuing body, slogan, key details	name, NOTICE, date, heading, signature	heading, details, contact
Limit (Class 11)	up to 50 words	not set in Class 11	up to 50 words

Using a notice format (date, 'All students are informed...') for a poster loses the format mark.

Worked example

A student starts a poster with 'NOTICE / 10 Oct 2026 / All students are informed that...'. What is wrong?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. That is the format of a notice, not a poster.
2. A poster opens with a slogan or bold heading and uses short, attractive lines with a visual.

Answer: Wrong format: replace with a slogan heading, visual and brief details in a box.

Poster Writing in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Awareness Poster: Slogan, Layout and Model Answers

Poster Writing: key facts

Marks

Format 1 + Content 1 + Expression 1 = 3

Up to 50 words; one of two.

Layout

1. 1.Box
2. 2.slogan/heading
3. 3.visual
4. 4.details/messages
5. 5.issuing authority

Vary letter size; leave space.

Event checklist

What, when, where, who can join, attractions, entry, contact, organiser

Use every cue in the question.

Awareness checklist

Slogan + 2-3 facts + 2-3 actions + issuing body

Add a helpline if relevant.

How the school exam asks Poster Writing

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember Poster Writing

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• S-V-D-O

  Slogan, Visual, Details, Organiser: 'Some Very Delightful Offers'.

  Use it when: Layout from top to bottom.

• Five-second test

  Could someone read the main message in five seconds?

  Use it when: Expression and layout.

• Rhyme, repeat, request

  Slogans work through rhyme, repetition or a direct request.

  Use it when: Writing slogans.

• No date line, no 'informed'

  Those belong to notices.

  Use it when: Avoiding the notice format.

Poster Writing: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is marked: the value points the examiner looks for and the marks each earns.

Where students lose marks in Poster Writing

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Writing a paragraph instead of a poster

  Posters use short lines and headings; paragraphs lose format and expression marks.

  Wrong working

  We are organising a tree plantation drive in which all students can take part and we hope everyone comes...

  Right working

  PLANT A TREE, BREATHE FREE!
  Tree Plantation Drive
  Sat 16 Nov, 8 a.m., School Ground

  ✓Do this: Break the message into a slogan and short lines.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks

• ✗Mistake: Missing issuing authority

  The organiser is part of the poster's format.

  Wrong working

  A poster with no organiser named

  Right working

  Issued by: Eco Club, DPS Rohini

  ✓Do this: Write it at the top or bottom of every poster.

  Usually costs: 1 mark (format)

• ✗Mistake: Event details incomplete

  Readers need date, time and venue to act.

  Wrong working

  Science Exhibition — Come One, Come All!

  Right working

  Science Exhibition — 22-23 Nov, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., School Auditorium, entry free

  ✓Do this: Check the event checklist.

  Usually costs: 1 mark (content)

• ✗Mistake: Crossing the word limit with long explanations

  Up to 50 words; clutter ruins a poster.

  Wrong working

  80 words of statistics about water use

  Right working

  One striking fact and three actions

  ✓Do this: Keep the strongest fact only.

  Usually costs: 1 mark (expression)

Practice questions on Poster Writing

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level

   Which element belongs in a poster but not in a classified advertisement? (a) contact number (b) slogan with a visual (c) price (d) category heading

   Hint

   Eye-catching element.

   Answer

   (b) slogan with a visual

2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   Design a poster in not more than 50 words for a blood donation camp organised by the Rotary Club of Lucknow on 1 December at Gomti Nagar Community Hall.

   Hint

   Slogan, eligibility, date, time, venue, organiser.

   Answer

   GIVE BLOOD, GIVE LIFE!
   [sketch: blood drop with heart]
   Blood Donation Camp
   Sunday, 1 December | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
   Gomti Nagar Community Hall, Lucknow
   Donors: 18-60 yrs, healthy, over 50 kg
   Refreshments and certificates for all donors
   Organised by: Rotary Club of Lucknow (ph. 0522-XXXXXX)

3. Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder exam level

   Write three slogans for a poster on cyber safety.

   Hint

   Rhyme, contrast, imperative.

   Answer

   'Think before you click.' / 'Your password is your toothbrush: never share it.' / 'Stay alert, stay safe online.'

4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Design a poster in not more than 50 words to persuade students to give up single-use plastic in the school canteen.

   Hint

   Problem fact, alternatives, appeal, issuer.

   Answer

   BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION!
   [sketch: plastic bottle crossed out]
   One plastic bottle takes about 450 years to break down.
   • Carry steel bottles and tiffins
   • Say no to straws and wrappers
   • Use the cloth-bag stall
   Plastic-free Fridays start 1 Dec!
   Issued by: Eco Club, Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan

5. Q5 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

   A poster for a talent show gives the event name, a slogan and a picture but nothing else. List three missing items of content.

   Hint

   What would a participant ask?

   Answer

   Date, time and venue; who can take part and how to register (last date); organiser (also prizes).

6. Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Rewrite as a poster (within 40 words): 'All students are hereby informed that the school will hold an inter-house science quiz on 5 December in the auditorium at 11 a.m. and interested students may give their names to their house masters by 30 November.'

   Hint

   Change the notice style into a slogan and short lines.

   Answer

   ARE YOU THE NEXT EINSTEIN?
   Inter-House Science Quiz
   5 December | 11 a.m. | Auditorium
   Give your name to your House Master by 30 November
   Organised by: Science Club (27 words)

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.How many marks does the poster carry?Show answer

   3 (format 1, content 1, expression 1).

2. 2.What is the word limit?Show answer

   Up to 50 words.

3. 3.Name the two main kinds of posters.Show answer

   Awareness (social message) posters and event posters.

4. 4.Should a poster carry a date line like a notice?Show answer

   No; an event's date appears in its details, not as a notice date line.

5. 5.Is a drawing compulsory?Show answer

   A simple visual or a labelled frame is expected as part of the layout; artistic skill is not marked.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Q7: poster, up to 50 words, one of two, 3 marks.
• ☐Box, slogan/heading, visual, short details, issuing authority.
• ☐Event: what, when, where, who, entry, contact.
• ☐Awareness: slogan, 2-3 facts, 2-3 actions, helpline.
• ☐Catchy, concise language; no notice-style date line or paragraphs.

Poster Writing: frequently asked questions