Literacy Starter Varying sentence openers Starting your sentences in the same way is an easy trap to fall into, but it makes your writing repetitive and boring and doesn’t show off your writing skills! Some tips and tricks include beginning with: A simile: Like sinister shadows, the men emerged from the mist. An adverb: Smoothly, the men emerged from the mist. An adverbial phrase: As night fell, the men appeared before the statue. An –ing verb: Emerging smoothly from the mist, the men appeared before the statue A triple: Sinister, ominous and unnerving, the men emerged from the mist. Extension: Can you can think of another way to open your sentence?

Learning Objectives The Big Picture To develop writing skills. To consider what makes effective description when describing an idea from an image - Language paper 1 Q5.

Paper 1: Q5 Descriptive Writing The Big Picture Paper 1: Q5 Descriptive Writing AO6 Technical Accuracy Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation [24 marks AO5] + [16 marks AO6] = [40 marks] AO5 Content and Organisation Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone & style for different forms, purposes and audience Organise information and ideas, using features for clarity and effect.

Abstract Vs Concrete Nouns Feelings, ideas, qualities Beauty Bravery Envy Evil Hope Kindness Hunger Things you can experience with your senses Door Window Gate Road Lamppost Footpath How could you link the concrete nouns to the abstract nouns to help describe them? E.G the window bravely defended the house from intruders

Introduce & Interact The Image Remember, good description focuses on the little details – so what can we see?

Remember to vary your sentence styles: Writing to Describe Pick one box to describe first. Each box should be a paragraph- consider how you will connect each one. Consider the colour, weather, feelings and textures that could be in the scene. Remember to vary your sentence styles: Simile Start It wasn't/it was So, so Adverb comma Verb beginning Brackets although Triple noun colon More,more,more Try and include an interesting structural technique: link your opening and closing lines; include a flash back; write from second person perspective; rhetorical devices.

WABOLL Constructing Meaning In this picture I can see a some people, they are walking in the dark. They are walking across a road in a street. The dark background makes it seem quite mysterious and the lights from the cars in the background stand out and highlight the outline of the people. The sky is as grey as concrete. The lights are strong, mysterious beings. The fog would disorientate the people. There are two more people in the background; they might be scared because of the dark and fog. The darkness suggests that it is night time, maybe even midnight when lots of strange things can happen.

Team Description Apply Understanding HELP! Personify the light. What can it see? How does it/they feel? Personify the darkness. How does it feel? What are its plans? Describe the road/side of the road. What senses could you use? Detail the people. What are they thinking? Who are they with? Where do they wish they were instead? Describe what the weather is like? Cold? foggy? warm? Now, on your tables, you’re going to produce a group improvement of the description. Each person is responsible for a box(although you can help each other out) 4 paragraphs in total – use the WAGOLL to help you. Use a variety of descriptive techniques Use a variety of sentence openers/lengths Use ambitious vocabulary Include varied punctuation e.g. ; : - … !

WAGOLL Alone, isolated, forbidden: the light hung meagerly above the town. Forever burning, forever watching, forever destined to be alone. Gazing down on the street was its only purpose: to illuminate the dark world below. The air felt as cold as death, as icy fingers clambered and clung to it’s body refusing to let go. Below the street was engulfed by the invading darkness and fog; the light was not alone it’s battle. Shrouded in mystery the bright lights burned through the haze. Apprehensively they stepped out onto the road, not knowing what they were headed towards (although they fought to eradicate the thought from their minds) they had to find out. Bright lights shone like fallen fragments from the sky. Blinding the couple, blinding their vision, clouding their judgment. The mist turned their grey shapes into ghosts in front of them, shivering in the late night air. Engulfing the couple in its cruel embrace, the darkness consumed them. The light retreated into the background as through afraid. Forever being chased, the darkness was set to win. Cold and furious, the boy trudged on. He wrapped his arms around his body hoping for some relief from the icy fingers of the cold. He was lost. His sadness was so strong, so overwhelming, the boy began to tremble and shake. He could not turn back but he did not know where the road ahead would take him. The more he though about home, the more he wished that he had never left. It was too late. Fighting back the tears he put his head down and continued on his path. He felt invisible in the darkness and he preferred it that way. The darkness pushed him forward like a deep evil that would not succumb. The only glimmer of hope shone in the other direction. Staring at the lights that lined the street he dared to turn his head. They tried to pull him in but the darkness was set to prevail. Side by side they crossed the dark sea of tarmac. Strong, united, precious: they were unbreakable. They weren’t fazed by the vast ocean in front of them; they saw the light. Slowly turning they could see their savior. The light grew with each breath they took, getting bigger and bigger. Commanding and controlling it began to take charge. Bright white light invaded the grey ghosts hiding in the mist. The light promised to forever watch and forever burn.

Post it Peer Assess Use a variety of descriptive techniques Review & Reflect Post it Peer Assess Remember to vary your sentence styles: Simile Start It wasn't/it was So, so Adverb comma Verb beginning Brackets although Triple noun colon More,more,more Try and include an interesting structural technique: link your opening and closing lines; include a flash back; write from second person perspective; rhetorical devices. Use a variety of descriptive techniques Use a variety of sentence openers/lengths Use ambitious vocabulary Include varied punctuation e.g. ; : - … !

Or Describe an occasion when you felt danger. Focus on the thoughts and feelings you had at the time.

Choose a box to describe or choose your own area. Write a simple sentence to describe the main element within your box. The door stood alone and sad Write this in the middle of your upgrade sentence sheet. Complete the sentences around it to improve it. (keep similar ideas) Using these sentences, write a paragraph to describe your box - You might need to add a few words/sentences to unsure it makes sense.

Dark and dismal, the door stood alone knowing it would probably last forever Standing strong the door at been part of the house for hundreds of years Heroically, the door stood guard of the house protecting it from unseen dangers.

Writing up your paragraph… Heroically, the door stood guard of the house protecting it from unseen dangers. Dark and dismal the door stood alone knowing it would probably last forever. Although it had been doing this for years it still didn’t get any easier. It craved attention; to have a purpose and to be used once again. The door was so alone, so isolated that it thought it would never see another human. The doors sadness seeped from its hinges (although no one knew) it longed to be in use once more. Not only did the door feel alone, but also desperate and helpless. The less the door saw of civilisation, the less sure that he would be found, and the less sure that he would be rescued from his eternal isolation. He surveyed the area hoping for some semblance of hope. The more weeds that grew around the door, the more the door felt trapped, the more he felt unable to escape his isolation. Fortunately, the weeds and grass provided some comfort unfortunately, this did not fill the desire of the door. Through all this the door still managed to hold on to a glimmer of hope. Standing strong the door had been a part of the house for hundreds of years and he wasn’t going to give up now. Beautiful, brave, confident: the door pushed back its feelings of sadness to be replaced with more positive emotions. Whoever, discovers the house, whenever that may be, will be filled with surprise.