GCSE English Revision: the descriptive writing task

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GCSE English Revisionthe descriptive writing
task!
How to effectively describe a place
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What are the key features of writing to describe?

• Present tense
• 2nd/3rd person
• Snapshots
• Five senses
• Adjectives
• Verbs
• Adverbs
• Showing not telling

• Variety of sentence lengths
• Use of imagery (personification/similes/metaphors)
  
• Develop an air of mystery
• Structure into logical sequence

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To sum up so far

• Break the view into snapshot
  scenes by planning
• Describe specific details not
  the obvious and everyday
• Use the senses to create
  atmosphere

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Activity four use language creatively
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Remember that examiners love creative use of
language

• But being creative does not mean using long,
  fancy words (avoid this!)
• Simple words can be used creatively..

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Which of these two sentences would an examiner
like the most?

• The shadows cast by a
  birch flicker and dance
  across the carpet.
• The shadow of the birch
  makes patterns on the
  carpet.

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1 or 2?

• 1. A discarded tabloid
  screams its headline
• SVEN MUST GO!
• The headline of a
  discarded tabloid
  reads SVEN MUST
• GO!

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1 or 2?

• There is a pile of Cosmopolitan magazines
• Cosmopolitan magazines share their gossip

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1 or 2?

• The bright, white light interrogates the
  patients, draining colour from their faces
• 2. The bright, white light makes everybody
  appear very pale.

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Which device is the writer using?

• Yes, its personification! Examiners love it.
• Construct three sentences for the description of
  the waiting room using personification. The verbs
  below may help
• play, sleep, mutter, beg, plead, complain,
  tease

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Activity Five Varying sentences
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Finally, use a range of sentence structures

• Try beginning some sentences in your
  description with ing clauses. Eg
• Struggling to clear his nose, the pensioner
  snorted loudly into his chequered handkerchief.
• Dont forget the comma.

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Add ing phrases to these sentences

• Remembering.., the teenager scowled
  unhappily.
• Wondering why, the receptionist answered the
  phone.
• Clutching.., a small boy sucked his thumb
• ..,.

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To sum up

• Try to use language creatively, through
  personification, for example.
• Start sentences in a range of different ways.

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Youll then create vivid pictures!
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How to plan quickly

• You are required to write four plans for
  descriptive writing pieces which are similar to
  those you could get in the exam. You will have
  three minutes to
• complete a brief plan, with five snapshots
• write an opening sentences, which begins with an
  ing clause.

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Task one

• Describe the scene in a busy market place

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Task two

• Describe your favourite place to go and relax

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Task three

• Describe the scene in primary classroom at the
  end of the day

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Task four

• Describe a park on a summers day