1. Capturing the Readers’ Attention
Learning Objective:
To make assured judgements about the effects of depth and detail on the readers’ engagement.
Capturing the Readers’ Attention
THIS is a picture of the Buddha, the founder of many Buddhist beliefs. THE Buddha believed that we have a sixth sense, the sense that is the most powerful of all. Can you guess what it is?
WHAT ARE THE FIVE SENSES?
SIGHT
HEARING
THOUGHT
TOUCH
SMELL
CHALLENGE: CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE BUDDHA USING ALL OF THE SIX SENSES? TRY TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION
TASTE

2. Capturing the Readers’ Attention - Introduction
Learning Objective:
To make assured judgements about the effects of depth and detail on the readers’ engagement.
Capturing the Readers’ Attention - Introduction
This is perhaps the most important element of writing: If your reader isn’t interested in what you are reading, why would they carry on?
The best writers can make even boring subjects appear mysterious, interesting, and engaging.
Describing what each of the five senses experiences (especially using the descriptive devices) is one of the best ways that writers hold their readers attention.

3. Can you remember each of the descriptive devices?
Learning Objective:
To make assured judgements about the effects of depth and detail on the readers’ engagement.
Can you remember each of the descriptive devices? V A M P O S
aried verbs and adjectives
If you are ever stuck when descriptive writing, remember VAMPOOSA, the evil vampire girl!
lliteration
etaphors
ersonification
nomatopoeia
xymorons
imiles
dverbs

4. Senses Game!
You are going to be shown several pictures. The aim of the game is to be able to describe them, using the senses!
Your teacher has six ‘sense cards.’ These are to be turned over and shuffled. When it is your turn, pick a card. This is the sense that you must use to describe the picture. You are allowed to use your imagination (because obviously you can’t smell, hear, taste or feel the picture!)
You can only use one sentence in your description. But be quick, you only get 20 seconds!
POINTS ARE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS:
1 point for any correct descriptive sentence using adjectives, verbs, and/or adverbs.
2 points if you use a simile, alliteration, or onomatopoeia.
3 points if you use metaphors, personification, or oxymorons.
An example is on the next slide.

5. SIGHT: “He was laughing like a manic villain!”
HEARING: “The horse howled hilariously.”
SMELL: “His breath smelt like he had eaten a skunk!”
TASTE: “That carrot tasted mouldy and digusting!”
TOUCH: “The wall was cold and hard, trapping the horse like a prisoner.”
THOUGHT: “My heart bled for the poor, stable-confined horse.”

12. Creating a ‘Hook’ and Adding Mystery
When something grabs your attention, it’s hard to divert your attention elsewhere. In writing, this is called ‘the hook.’
THINK: Why might it be called ‘the hook?;
There are a few ways of doing this:
THINK: What might they be?
- Start with an interesting fact or statistic;
- Find out who your audience are, and capitalise on their interests;
- Use a wow sentence or a great descriptive technique
OR, add mystery.
Mystery means not giving the reader all of the information. If they know everything, they will quickly lose interest and stop reading.
THINK: What texts do you know that are good at maintaining an element of mystery?

13. Analyse Task Now take a look at the worksheet ‘Her.’
It includes a description of a mysterious woman. Read it carefully, highlighting some of the key techniques that we have discussed today.
Then, answer the questions down the right hand side. They become progressively more difficult.
Try to use P (Point) E (Evidence) E (Explanation) where you can for the later questions.
If you finish, complete the extension task at the bottom of the page. This will help us to form our success criteria.

14. Create Task This will be the main independent task for this lesson.
Learning Objective:
To make assured judgements about the effects of depth and detail on the readers’ engagement.
Create Task
This will be the main independent task for this lesson.
Your task is to describe a mysterious person.
SOME IDEAS – this could be…
A person whom you have met in real life;
Somebody who has scared you;
Somebody who you have been in love with or admired;
A ghost or evil spirit;
Remember to use our success criteria, and show that you can meet the learning objective for the lesson (in the top corner.)

15. Plenary – Peer Assessment
Firstly, mark your partner’s attempt for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Next, using the success criteria, give them...
One tick (what went well)
One target (even better if)

16. Citation of Images – All images are licensed for commercial use.
Slide 1: ‘Miracles of Gautama Buddha.’
Slide 3: ‘Lucien LeGret Animated Final.’
Slide 5: Miroslav Vadic: ‘Horse hilarious laughter.’
Slide 6: Brian Geek: ‘Just Hilarious.’
Slide 7: Funny Pictures: ‘Beware of the cute duckling scam.’
Slide 8: Wikimedia Commons: ‘Funny Kitten.’
Slide 9: MetalMario2345: ‘Funny Picture.’
Slide 10: Flickr: ‘Chair Illusion.’
Slide 11: Flickr: ‘2 Headed California Kingsnake.’
Slide 12: Derek Gavey: ‘Prickly Hooks.’
Slide 12 and 14: Purple Slog: ‘Question Mark.’