Sarah Maxwell: GCSE English The Bank Job Learning Objectives: For you to explain the term “narrative writing”. For you to apply your knowledge of narrative writing and develop key exam skills

Starter Activity: A Deep-Thinking task Sarah Maxwell: GCSE English Starter Activity: A Deep-Thinking task In SECTION B of Language Paper 1, you will be given a choice between producing a piece of narrative writing, or a descriptive piece. But what is the difference? Decide which image represents each style of writing, and explain why. S.Maxwell GCSE English Image A Image B

Narrative Writing: Narrative writing tells a _________. It has a clear beginning and ______. The opening line acts as a “hook” to compel the reader into further reading. It contains characters, including their thoughts and motivations. It often contains a ________ – an intriguing event or question to be answered. It contains _________ (ideas that are explored). Image A S.Maxwell GCSE English

Descriptive Writing: Descriptive writing is a collection of observations describing a scene. It contains no developed characters, thoughts, or motivations. HINT: If you choose the descriptive task, remember not to refer to “the image” you are given. It is only there to inspire your writing! Image B S.Maxwell GCSE English

How will my writing be assessed? A05 – Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. A06 – Organize information an ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts. Candidates must use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose, and effect, with accurate spelling punctuation. 40 marks are available, 24 for A05, and 16 for A06. S.Maxwell GCSE English

Paragraph # 1 Checklist: Decide whether you want to write in first or third person. Try to include an interesting opening line. Explain why your character is unhappy: What are his job prospects like? Does he have any friends? How long has he been in prison? Use a single-word sentence. Use emotive language. Telling: Johnny is a bank robber from New York City. He’s recently been released from prison, and feels like he’s got nothing to lose… S.Maxwell GCSE English

Showing what’s happening, implying emotion and using vivid language and effective structure A model response “Finished. It was finished for Johnny. Ten years in prison had turned him into the hardest of hardened criminal.” S.Maxwell GCSE English

Paragraph # 2 Paragraph # 2 Checklist: Describe Johnny’s apartment. What does it look like? What does his weapon look like? What do you think he’ll spend the money on? Use a simile Use personification He decides to rob a bank, and digs a gun out from under the pillow in his bedroom. On the walk through the streets to the bank, he thinks about what he’s going to spend the money on… S.Maxwell GCSE English

A model response A model response “His apartment was the epitome of degradation. Dirty laundry littered the floors ; a leaning tower of crockery filled the sink.” S.Maxwell GCSE English

Paragraph # 2 Paragraph # 3 Checklist: Describe the essential parts of the bank e.g. cameras on inside, or security guards What is he wearing & what is said. Describe movement/physical Describe the cashier: male, female, young, old, nervous sterm etc. Describe the shock on the cashier’s face when they see the weapon. Include dialogue. Use a powerful adjective. He walks into the bank, approaches the cashier, shows her the gun, and asks for money. S.Maxwell GCSE English

A model response A model response “Johnny pulled out the piece, and the cashier’s face froze in a grimace of terror. This was real, now. Very real.” S.Maxwell GCSE English

Paragraph # 2 Paragraph # 4 Checklist: Describe the police officers, entering the building. Explain Johnny’s thoughts, and his anger at the cashier. Describe how the cashier reacts to the incoming police officers. Use a metaphor. Everything is going well. Too well. Johnny suddenly notices a lot of police officers outside. The cashier has somehow switched on the alarm! S.Maxwell GCSE English

A model response A model response “Johnny blinked. He saw a swarm of police officers rushing the door of the bank. Johnny blinked. The casher, she must have tripped the alarm! Johnny blinked. What was he going to do next?” S.Maxwell GCSE English

Paragraph # 2 Paragraph # 5 Checklist: Describe the weapon being fired. Explain Johnny’s thoughts as he runs down the street. Use descriptions of the senses. Use a complex sentence. Johnny fires a several rounds of bullets, barges through the nearest exit, and runs at full speed down the street… S.Maxwell GCSE English

A model response A model response “The weapon kicked like a mule in Johnny’s hand as he fired it. He didn’t stop to see who got hit. And then he was running, one foot in front of the other, not even stopping to notice the devastation he’d left behind…” S.Maxwell GCSE English

A model response Plenary: What happens next? Pick one of these following examples & write a few lines ‘showing’ not ‘telling’ what happens next. Think about vivid language, technique and structure: He hides behind some bins as he hears the police approaching He runs into a shop and bars the door He jumps in the back of a car stopped at the lights and tells the driver to get going S.Maxwell GCSE English