Objective: developing descriptive writing skills By the end of the lesson we will have looked at some descriptive writing techniques and put together a story. Descriptive writing Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Useful info! 2 To describe is to give a description of what something or someone is like. When describing, remember your thoughts and feelings are important. How does this place make you feel and why? GAPS Genre - writing a story, describing a scene, a diary entry Audience - could be anyone Purpose - to describe, to get a vivid picture in the readers' head so they almost feel like they are there Style – informal 5 min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Useful info! 3 Useful techniques When writing to describe, use adjectives and adverbs eg "He walked away casually". Use similes, eg "He is acting like a fool," and metaphors, eg "That girl is a star". Most importantly, appeal to the readers' senses: What does it look like? What does it feel like? What does it sound like? What does it smell like? What does it taste like? 5 min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Discussion + use the whiteboard to map out ideas. What makes a good short story? What are some of the ingredients? Look at the picture here. How could this make a good short story? What genre could it be? Discussion + use the whiteboard to map out ideas. What makes a good short story? What are some of the ingredients? Look at the picture here. How could this make a good short story? What genre could it be? Starter 5 min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

How could we begin to write a story about this picture? What could be the opening sentence? How could we begin to write a story about this picture? What could be the opening sentence? Discussion activity Look at these two opening sentences. Discuss and try and decide which of the two is better. Explain why! There was an old suitcase lying by the road. Nothing but a crumpled case in the stillness and silence! Look at these two opening sentences. Discuss and try and decide which of the two is better. Explain why! There was an old suitcase lying by the road. Nothing but a crumpled case in the stillness and silence! 5 min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

The opening Carry out a GAP analysis. Write it down! Put together the opening of the story. Aim for a complete first paragraph. The opening Carry out a GAP analysis. Write it down! Put together the opening of the story. Aim for a complete first paragraph. 8 min Extension activity Apart from alliteration – what other devices can you include? Extension activity Apart from alliteration – what other devices can you include? DEVICES Alliteration Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia Personification Discussion & writing Objective: developing descriptive writing skills What does it look like? What does it feel like? What does it sound like? What does it smell like? What does it taste like? Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

8 min Discussion & info DEVICES Simile and metaphor Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

8 min Discussion & info DEVICES Onomatopoeia Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

8 min Discussion & info DEVICES Personification Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

What happens? Give the story action. Introduce a character. Explain what may have happened. Put together a complete paragraph, covering the above criteria and including as many / all of the devices below. What happens? Give the story action. Introduce a character. Explain what may have happened. Put together a complete paragraph, covering the above criteria and including as many / all of the devices below. Discussion & writing 12 min Extension activity Extend this part to two complete paragraphs. Include at least one example of all of the devices discussed Include sentence variation Include a wide range of punctuation. Extension activity Extend this part to two complete paragraphs. Include at least one example of all of the devices discussed Include sentence variation Include a wide range of punctuation. DEVICES Alliteration Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia Personification Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

What happens next? Aim for at least three sentences. Explain what may have happened. Put together a complete paragraph, covering the above criteria and including as many / all of the devices below. What happens next? Aim for at least three sentences. Explain what may have happened. Put together a complete paragraph, covering the above criteria and including as many / all of the devices below. 8 min Discussion & writing DEVICES Alliteration Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia Personification Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Extension activity Extend this part to two complete paragraphs. Include at least one example of all of the devices discussed Include sentence variation Include a wide range of punctuation. Extension activity Extend this part to two complete paragraphs. Include at least one example of all of the devices discussed Include sentence variation Include a wide range of punctuation. Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Finally: How does it end? Can you give the story a twist? Put together a complete paragraph, covering the above criteria and including as many / all of the devices below. Finally: How does it end? Can you give the story a twist? Put together a complete paragraph, covering the above criteria and including as many / all of the devices below. 8 min Discussion & writing DEVICES Alliteration Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia Personification Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Extension activity Include at least one example of all of the devices discussed Include sentence variation Include a wide range of punctuation. Extension activity Include at least one example of all of the devices discussed Include sentence variation Include a wide range of punctuation. Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Research 13 Look up the techniques described below. Find out what they mean and how they are used. Include at least one example of each in your writing. Hyperbole Oxymoron 5 min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Finally: What have we covered today? Describe one of the devices we covered today How can sentence length impact on the reader? How can punctuation help? Finally: What have we covered today? Describe one of the devices we covered today How can sentence length impact on the reader? How can punctuation help? 5 min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills

How do I start? Explore ideas What do I see? What do I hear? How do I feel? What does it suggest? Create a mind map! Next: Make a rough notes on: How your story starts What is going to happen Create a crisis / interesting situation How will the story end? min Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

A beginning... (any story needs an interesting introduction) Begin by writing the first sentence – give it impact! Now add more sentences – aim for your first paragraph. This is your intro – set the scene! Development (a build up of the storyline) What is going to happen in your story? Remember to vary your words. Remember to vary your sentences. Remember to use good punctuation. A crisis - an interesting situation that provides a turning point in story. Something happens! What could this be? A resolution - things are sorted out. How? What is the outcome – positive or not? Why? Your story needs structure. Use your notes 15 min Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Extension activities: Sentence variation Short and long (short sentence can be one word long) Punctuation Punctuation can improve the impact of your story! Your turn! 15 min DEVICES Alliteration Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia Personification Your opening sentences What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you feel? Next step: Introduce characters and situation. Describe the character Describe the situation Describe how you feel What happens next? Something frightening Something shocking Something funny And finally: How will it end? Can you include a twist? Objective: developing descriptive writing skills Copyright © 2015 It's Just English

Your opening sentences What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you feel? Next step: Introduce characters and situation. Describe the character Describe the situation Describe how you feel What happens next? Something frightening Something shocking Something funny And finally: How will it end? Can you include a twist? DEVICES Alliteration Simile Metaphor Personification Onomatopoeia Extension activities: Sentence variation Short and long (short sentence can be one word long. Punctuation Punctuation can improve the impact of your story! Other devices Use other literary devices you are familiar with. Your turn! 15 min Copyright © 2015 It's Just English