1. What makes a good piece of descriptive writing?

2. And that’s how you’ll be marked!

3. 1.The content will engage and interest the reader. For example: Describe a school sports day. 1.The content will engage and interest the reader. For example: Describe a school sports day. It was a lovely day and a school sports day had started. The sun was shining on everyone. A man was sitting on the grass in shorts and a yellow top. He was bald and his head was sunburned. He was shouting at his son, “Go Louis.” What makes a good piece of descriptive writing? It was a beautiful day and a primary school sports day was underway. The sun was glaring down upon the competitors and the spectators. A man was sitting on the grass in bright blue shorts and a bright yellow top. He had no hair and his head was already starting to show signs of sunburn. He was shouting encouragement at his son, “Go Louis, go, go…”

4. 2. The organisation of the writing will be clear and orderly. Paragraphs will be used effectively with some structure and style. For example: The land appeared through the clouds. We were getting to the harbour. Maybe the seagulls were welcoming us back. We couldn't wait to dock. We ran around. We were finding our stuff from the long trip. Then we heard the bell and we knew it was time to land. For example: The land appeared through the clouds. We were getting to the harbour. Maybe the seagulls were welcoming us back. We couldn't wait to dock. We ran around. We were finding our stuff from the long trip. Then we heard the bell and we knew it was time to land. What makes a good piece of descriptive writing? Activity – rewrite the paragraph!

5. 3. You need detail in description and you need thoughtful vocabulary to make the meaning of the description more precise. Using well-selected: Nouns Verbs Adverbs Adjectives Using well-selected: Nouns Verbs Adverbs Adjectives For example: The rain fell swiftly and silently, soaking the old woman striving to get home with her overstuffed shopping bag. For example: The rain fell swiftly and silently, soaking the old woman striving to get home with her overstuffed shopping bag. What makes a good piece of descriptive writing? Activity – rewrite the paragraph!

6. Activity! Rewrite the sentences below. 1.Close to the gate, a woman holds a baby. 2.A group of mothers talk about the nursery teacher’s marriage. 3.Cheerful sounds, the musical equivalent of candyfloss, play though hidden speakers in the wall. 4.The girl drinks her Coke, coughs as the bubbles go up her nose. Her companion – a boy her age – laughs and hits her on the back. Nouns Verbs Adverbs Adjectives Nouns Verbs Adverbs Adjectives

7. Pay attention to adverbs and adjectives The point of descriptive writing is to create a vivid mental image to your readers as clear a sense as possible of place, an event or a person Adverbs are words that describe verbs and tell us how an action is performed. For example, you could say that someone ‘walked’ across a room, but if you add the adverb, ‘casually’, you will give a more precise image of someone walking in an unhurried way. The adverb ‘briskly’ would change this image completely and show a sense of urgency. Adjectives describe nouns and tell us what they look like. For example, think about the mental image you get from the sentences below: ‘In the corner there was a couple holding hands.’ ‘In the corner there was an elderly couple holding hands.’ How did that change you mental picture and your response to it? Pay attention to adverbs and adjectives The point of descriptive writing is to create a vivid mental image to your readers as clear a sense as possible of place, an event or a person Adverbs are words that describe verbs and tell us how an action is performed. For example, you could say that someone ‘walked’ across a room, but if you add the adverb, ‘casually’, you will give a more precise image of someone walking in an unhurried way. The adverb ‘briskly’ would change this image completely and show a sense of urgency. Adjectives describe nouns and tell us what they look like. For example, think about the mental image you get from the sentences below: ‘In the corner there was a couple holding hands.’ ‘In the corner there was an elderly couple holding hands.’ How did that change you mental picture and your response to it?

8. It is always a good idea – where possible – to use your personal experience, to give your description a sense of realism. For example: Most people will have visited a dentist and sat in the surgery. This would be an easy opportunity to simply picture the scene and start writing. To perhaps make it more interesting, you could combine your memories of two or three visits to a waiting room and pick out the most interesting characters or details. It is always a good idea – where possible – to use your personal experience, to give your description a sense of realism. For example: Most people will have visited a dentist and sat in the surgery. This would be an easy opportunity to simply picture the scene and start writing. To perhaps make it more interesting, you could combine your memories of two or three visits to a waiting room and pick out the most interesting characters or details. SeeHearSmell Activity Sights, sounds and smells really do add to the picture you are trying to create. Complete the table for the things you can see, hear and smell in a dentist surgery. Be as specific as you can. Activity Sights, sounds and smells really do add to the picture you are trying to create. Complete the table for the things you can see, hear and smell in a dentist surgery. Be as specific as you can.

9. Make it sound real Try to include authentic details, including physical description and snatches of dialogue. This is simply a way of making a scene seem real and convincing. Make it sound real Try to include authentic details, including physical description and snatches of dialogue. This is simply a way of making a scene seem real and convincing. For example: In the dentist’s waiting room you would find old magazines, or a tank full of fish or the posters about dental health, but other details would be different and would vary. For example: In the dentist’s waiting room you would find old magazines, or a tank full of fish or the posters about dental health, but other details would be different and would vary. Behind me two tiny children are rummaging in the toy box. A gasp of delight is quickly followed by, “Oh, yes! They’ve got Buzz Lightyear!” Dialogue is a useful device, but do not over use it.

10. As an observer: Act like a fixed camera – recording what is seen and heard around you. For example, you could be sat in a stadium recording what is going on in a sporting event or at the checkout in a supermarket, observing what is happening around you. As an observer: Act like a fixed camera – recording what is seen and heard around you. For example, you could be sat in a stadium recording what is going on in a sporting event or at the checkout in a supermarket, observing what is happening around you. As an observer Act like a moving camera – recording the events as they unfold around you, whilst you move around. For example, you could be moving through a funfair or a market, trying to convey the sights, sounds and atmosphere. As an observer Act like a moving camera – recording the events as they unfold around you, whilst you move around. For example, you could be moving through a funfair or a market, trying to convey the sights, sounds and atmosphere. Remember that a camera can zoom in close to look at specific details and individuals. Examiner tip The best responses establish a relationship with the reader, often using humour and other devices such as snatches of dialogue to keep the reader interested. Examiner tip The best responses establish a relationship with the reader, often using humour and other devices such as snatches of dialogue to keep the reader interested.

11. Now create the opening paragraph for a piece titled ‘The Dentist’s Waiting Room’. Think about what you could see, hear and smell – also, consider your own experiences. What tone do you want to set for your piece of writing? Zoom in on the tiniest details. How are you going to use verbs, adverbs and adjectives effectively? Do you need to add in a snippet of dialogue, for effect? Now create the opening paragraph for a piece titled ‘The Dentist’s Waiting Room’. Think about what you could see, hear and smell – also, consider your own experiences. What tone do you want to set for your piece of writing? Zoom in on the tiniest details. How are you going to use verbs, adverbs and adjectives effectively? Do you need to add in a snippet of dialogue, for effect? Activity!

12. And that’s how you’ll be marked!