Lesson 1 – what is descriptive writing

What does it mean to “describe” something? Paper 1 – Section B. What is descriptive writing? What does it mean to “describe” something?

Section B should take you around 45 minutes. Exam task : Section B should take you around 45 minutes. You will answer ONE extended writing question. There are 24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy.

Exam task: You will have a choice of two questions: Q5. Write a description suggested by this picture: OR Write the opening of… Describe a time when…

Exam task: Although, you will always have a choice of two questions, they could both be descriptive writing tasks or both be narrative writing tasks.

Add this around the task in your book now. Complete this task! You have a choice of task in this section. I would strongly, strongly, strongly advise you to complete the description task. It’s much easier to get a better mark doing this as you’ll not worry about the “story”. Add this around the task in your book now. Describe – not a story!!

Make sure I use descriptive writing techniques Sensory language – what can I see, smell and hear? This is the task we are preparing to complete. You will need to add notes to it at the end of each lesson. This will be the task you’ll complete in your mock exam in November, so this will help you prepare. Describe – not a story!!

English Language – Paper 1, section B – Descriptive writing. This is worth 40 out of 80 marks on the paper. 24 are the for the content of your writing 16 are for technical accuracy – so spelling, punctuation and grammar are really important! It will be thematically linked with section A (it’ll be about a similar thing). This is what you’re doing with Miss Leeson This section is worth 25% of your whole English Language GCSE

So what is descriptive writing? Discuss and write down your definition Descriptive writing is where you describe something (people, places, objects or events) in detail.

Which of these do you think are important in descriptive writing Which of these do you think are important in descriptive writing? Add them to your own scale. Description of atmosphere Use of sound and imagery Reported speech Sensory language Characters Structured Dialogue and speech The plot / story Purposeful structure Using long and complicated words Effective sentence structures Punctuation Language features Detailed sentences Description of setting Snapshots of action Not very important Really important

This is a good piece of descriptive writing This is a good piece of descriptive writing. How many of the writing techniques we just looked at can you find in it? Description of atmosphere Use of sound and imagery Reported speech Sensory language Characters Structured Dialogue and speech The plot / story Purposeful structure Using long and complicated words Detailed sentences Effective sentence structures Punctuation Language features Description of setting Snapshots of action

Based on what we’ve discussed now, are there any you’d like to move or change? Description of atmosphere Reported speech Use of sound and imagery Characters Sensory language The plot / story Purposeful structure Using long and complicated words Structured Dialogue and speech Punctuation Effective sentence structures Language features Detailed sentences Description of setting Snapshots of action Not very important Really important

Write 2-3 sentences describing this image Write 2-3 sentences describing this image. Use your ideas about what makes a good piece of descriptive writing.

Make sure I use descriptive writing techniques Sensory language – what can I see, smell and hear? What can you add to your task sheet today? Remember to add things that are going to help you when we complete the task. What is descriptive writing? What makes a good piece of descriptive writing? What must a piece of descriptive writing have? Describe – not a story!!

2 – descriptive writing techniques

Descriptive writing techniques Write date and title Get into pairs One person to sit facing the board, the other turn their chair to face the back of the room.

Descriptive writing techniques In a minute an image or word will appear on the board. Person facing the board - you need to describe it to the other without actually saying what it is or saying the word. Person facing the back - you need to guess what the word or object is. Let’s have a practise one first…

This time is for real – no looking!

Anger

Now swap over. If you were facing the back, now face the board Now swap over. If you were facing the back, now face the board. If you were facing the board, now face the back.

Hate

Write your answers down. Now discuss with your partner – what techniques did you use to try to describe what you were seeing to each other? Write your answers down.

Make sure I use descriptive writing techniques Sensory language – what can I see, smell and hear? This is the task we are preparing to complete. You will need to add notes to it at the end of each lesson. After the course you’ll complete this task and get a grade for it. Describe – not a story!!

Add this around the task in your book now. Complete this task! You have a choice of task in this section. I would strongly, strongly, strongly advise you to complete the description task. It’s much easier to get a better mark doing this as you’ll not worry about the “story”. Add this around the task in your book now. Describe – not a story!!

English Language – Paper 1, section B – Descriptive writing. This is worth 40 out of 80 marks on the paper. 24 are the for the content of your writing 16 are for technical accuracy – so spelling, punctuation and grammar are really important! It will be thematically linked with section A (it’ll be about a similar thing). Section A is the topic we’ve just completed. This section is worth 25% of your whole English Language GCSE

Today’s Objectives Know how writers use language and descriptive techniques Think about how this language and descriptive techniques can grab the reader’s attention Be able to have a go at using creative language and descriptive techniques yourself

As I read the excerpt to you think about the image it creates in your mind. What images do you have? What do you now know about the place the author is visiting?

Go through your copy and highlight all the smells, sounds and sights Go through your copy and highlight all the smells, sounds and sights. This is called sensory language.

Adjective – describing word In the example I’ve given, you highlight and label the adjectives and verbs the writer has used to describe the place. Adjective – describing word Verb – doing word

In the example I’ve given, you highlight three noun phrases the writer has used. Noun phrase – where an adjective and noun are used together to build up the description. For example “red car”

Simile – comparison using as or like “as cold as ice” In the example I’ve given you, highlight and label any similes or metaphors the writer has used to describe. Simile – comparison using as or like “as cold as ice” Metaphor – comparison without using as or like “ice cold”

This excerpt is from the start of a novel This excerpt is from the start of a novel. How has the author written it to grab the reader’s attention? How do the techniques he has used make you feel about the place he is describing?

Today’s Objectives Know how writers use language and descriptive techniques Think about how this language and descriptive techniques can grab the reader’s attention Be able to have a go at using creative language and descriptive techniques yourself

Student's example: The first thing I instantly noticed, while I stood on the thick soft sand, was the colour of. It was like a golden, crispy, shiny rust around my feet. At night in Bombay it sounded like a disco, cars hustled with old, rusted metal. People running around everywhere - not a single place or shop was free. As the daylight faded more traffic appeared; I could smell rush-hour, people surging to get home. More orangey, dim lights flickered on by the drivers and shopkeepers. I could smell the delicious fried-fish, almost as if I could taste it.

Write a short description of any of these images using the techniques we’ve looked at today. You need to include these techniques in your description: Adjectives – “smell of the different air” Imagery – “Smells of the stir, sleep and waste” Verb – “walked”, “smell” Metaphors – “Smells of Gods and demons” Sensory language – smell, sight, sound, touch, feeling. Noun phrases – “blue-skin smell of the sea”

Write a short description of any of these images using the techniques we’ve looked at today. You need to include these techniques in your description: Adjectives – “smell of the different air” Imagery – “Smells of the stir, sleep and waste” Verb – “walked”, “smell” Metaphors – “Smells of Gods and demons” Sensory language – smell, sight, sound, touch, feeling. Noun phrases – “blue-skin smell of the sea”

Write a short description of any of these images using the techniques we’ve looked at today. You need to include these techniques in your description: Adjectives – “smell of the different air” Imagery – “Smells of the stir, sleep and waste” Verb – “walked”, “smell” Metaphors – “Smells of Gods and demons” Sensory language – smell, sight, sound, touch, feeling. Noun phrases – “blue-skin smell of the sea”

Make sure I use descriptive writing techniques Sensory language – what can I see, smell and hear? What can you add to your task sheet today? Remember to add things that are going to help you when we complete the task. What do you have to think about when describing? What techniques could you use to describe? Describe – not a story!!