descriptive language that engages the reader's five senses: sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell

the way a place or setting makes you feel; refers to the mood of a piece of writing

bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind

a state of complete emptiness or destruction

match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation

Using sensory language to write effective descriptions

English

In 'Fiction: Science Fiction', pupils identify and comment on recurring images and symbolism in texts. In 'Fiction: Books that Changed my World', pupils explore multiple interpretations of an author's language choices.

In 'Fiction: Read Around the World', pupils identify and comment on a range of language devices in extracts from texts. In 'Fiction: Science Fiction Writing', pupils identify and comment on recurring images and symbolism in texts.

In this unit, pupls read extracts from three science fiction texts and analyse how writers use language for effect. They first look at how writers use sentences and punctuation, before looking at semantic fields, noun phrases and sensory language. Pupils use this to write thier own descriptions.

Fiction: science fiction writing

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Atmosphere refers to the {{}} or feeling of a piece of writing.

'Descriptive language that engages the reader's five senses: sight, taste, touch, sound and smell' is the definition of {{ }} language.

My tongue recoils from the metallic bitterness.

The pungent acidity lingers on the breeze.

The coarse grittiness scraped against my fingertips. 

Match the sense with sentence which evokes them.

'The crunch of the gravel echoed loudly as the acrid smoke flooded my nose.' Which senses have been used in this sentence?

Andeep wishes to use abstract nouns to elevate his sensory imagery. Andeep wrote: 'Across the deserted city, the smell of {{}} was everywhere.' Which of the below would be abstract?

You have to use all five senses for it to be truly effective.

Some senses are more effective than others.

The best sensory imagery uses precise vocabulary to achieve specific effects.

'As long as you use sensory imagery - it is all equally effective.' Which of the below sets out best why this statement is incorrect?

'Like the ghostly fingerprints' is an example of a ...

Jules Verne is a famous French writer, considered an early pioneer of science fiction. Which novel did he write?

If a piece of writing makes reference to the five senses it can be described as using {{}} imagery.

Marked by vividness of expression or detail.

Marked by accuracy of expression or detail.

Marked by similarity of expression or detail.

Marked by impact of expression or detail.

What is the best definition of the word 'precise'?

The mood or feeling of a piece of writing.

The beginning and end of a piece of writing.

The characters and plot of a piece of writing.

What is the best definition of the word 'atmosphere'?

'To bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind' is the definition of which word beginning with 'e'?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Using sensory language to write effective descriptions

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.