Lesson video

Hello, welcome to your lesson today on structuring paragraphs effectively in creative writing.

I'm Miss Sutherland and I'll be teaching you today.

Our learning outcome for today is to plan and write a piece of creative writing with effective paragraphing.

We have three keywords today that are going to help us with our creative writing.

The first is alluring.

Alluring means powerfully or mysteriously attractive.

The second keyword is devour.

Devour means to eat or consume eagerly.

And intricate.

Intricate means very complex or detailed.

I hope we're going to be able to use these keywords in our work today.

I'll give you a moment to pause the video and make a note of those words.

Off you go.

Let's get started with our learning cycles.

In today's lesson, we have two learning cycles.

We're going to start off by planning effective paragraphs for creative writing, and then we're going to use our plan to write a piece of creative writing with effective paragraphs.

So let's begin with looking at approaches to planning our paragraph structure.

So Lucas, one of our Oak students, was tasked with writing a description of this scene.

He's preparing to write his description, and this is how initially he chooses to plan his paragraphs.

Paragraph one describing the weather, paragraph two describing graffiti on the wall, paragraph three describing customers, and paragraph four describing the bags for sale.

I want you to reflect upon why this might not be the most effective approach at planning this description.

Is this an interesting way to structure paragraphs? Is it the most effective way to structure a piece of creative writing? Pause the video and discuss.

I heard some really great ideas.

And whilst this method will ensure each paragraph has a different focus, it won't ensure the most cohesive and engaging piece of writing.

So our job then in today's lesson is to look at how we can create a more cohesive and engaging paragraph structure for our writing.

So, what should paragraphs do and why do we use paragraphs? So, paragraphs are the building blocks of a piece of writing.

Without paragraphs, there would be no novel, there would be no text.

Paragraphs enable us to organise our writing in an interesting way.

We should take advantage of the freedom that paragraphs give us, and we should plan the content of our paragraphs before we begin writing.

Let's say we were tasked with the same piece of writing that Lucas was asked to complete.

Instead of randomly shifting the focus of each paragraph, we can follow a structure to help us.

So here is a structure we could use to organise our paragraphs in a cohesive and engaging way.

Paragraph one, a setting is introduced.

Paragraph two, curiosity or tension grows.

And paragraph three marks the point of highest dramatic tension.

How could we use this structure to organise our paragraphs for a description of the market scene? Pause the video and discuss.

Let's take a look at what you might have said.

So.

So, for paragraph one, we could introduce the scene using a zoomed out perspective or a bird's eye view.

This helps us establish the setting.

For paragraph two, we could zoom into a particular part of the scene where conflict could occur.

So a point of interest, something that the reader might find engaging.

We could zoom into that for paragraph two.

And for paragraph three, we could mark the point of highest dramatic tension by introducing a conflict.

Perhaps a new character comes along, perhaps there's a revelation or conversation or an action.

So how could we then apply this structure to the market scene specifically? So what aspects of the market might we describe in each paragraph? What approach might we take? Pause the video and discuss.

Let's take a look at what you might have said.

So, for paragraph one where we introduce the scene using a zoomed out perspective or bird's eye view, we might describe the weather, smells, amount of people, or noise level at the market.

That allows the reader to get a general feel for this scene.

For paragraph two where we zoom into a particular part of the scene, perhaps a point of interest, perhaps a part of the scene where conflict could occur, we could describe as stall selling beautiful jewellery.

This might be a really alluring part of the scene, which helps to set up the third paragraph.

And the third paragraph is where we'll introduce a conflict.

We might introduce a new character, revelation, conversation, or action.

And, in that third paragraph, we could describe a threat.

Someone swoops in to steal a necklace.

So notice how my third paragraph is the highest point of dramatic tension, but notice also how I've cleverly linked the second and third paragraph together to ensure cohesion.

You don't want to have a completely random third paragraph where the character, the revelation, or the action is disconnected with the rest of your writing.

So ideally, you need to link your third paragraph where the highest dramatic tension occurs to whatever you zoomed into in the second paragraph, and this highlights the importance of planning ahead.

You need to make sure you have a solid idea for how your second paragraph and third paragraph will link together.

So, let's answer this question to check your understanding of what we've just discussed.

When describing a scene, we should pick out parts of a scene and describe them in any order.

Is that true or false? Remember, you're trying to create the most engaging and cohesive piece of writing.

Pause the video and answer that question.

Well done if you said that's false.

When describing a scene, we should not pick out random parts of the scene and describe them in any old order.

Now, why is that? Pause the video and justify your answer now.

Well done if you said that we shouldn't randomly pick out parts of the scene and describe them in any order, because this will lead us to have a random paragraph structure that will not be the most engaging, nor will it be cohesive.

We should plan to write about aspects of the scene in a way that will build tension and intrigue for our readers.

Now, I want you to plan each paragraph for a piece of creative writing based on this image.

So you're gonna use the same structure that we've been looking at in this learning cycle.

You'll start with paragraph one, which introduces the scene using a zoomed out perspective or bird's eye view.

For your second paragraph, you're then going to zoom into a particular part of the scene.

Remember, it needs to be part of the scene that might be an alluring aspect of the scene or might be a point of interest for the reader.

And then finally, in the third paragraph, I want you to introduce a conflict.

Remember to try and link your third paragraph to your second paragraph.

So try and plan your point of interest for paragraph two to lead to a dramatic moment or point of tension in paragraph three.

Pause the video now and plan each paragraph for your creative writing now.

Off you go.

Great job! I now want you to reread your plan.

Does it allow for curiosity and tension to build as the paragraphs develop? So do you introduce the setting first? Do you then allow curiosity or tension to grow by zooming in to a point of interest? And do you end with a point of dramatic tension? Pause the video and reflect upon your plan.

You're welcome to tweak your plan now if it doesn't quite build the curiosity and tension in the way that you envisioned.

Off you go.

Well done on all the effort you put in to planning your paragraphs there.

I can't wait to see how these paragraphs come to light in your final piece of writing.

So now let's move on to using effective paragraphs in our writing.

So imagine we were using our paragraph plan to describe this market scene.

We could begin our writing with a zoomed out perspective.

This means describing the scene as a whole without focusing on any particular person or object.

Here's what the first paragraph of the description might look like.

Raised voices, burning sun.

In the thick heat, the smell of spices, meat and antiques mingle to create an intoxicating but alluring aroma.

It is like any other Saturday at the market.

Customers burn with agitation as they haggle their way through the busy market, shifting their weight from one leg to another, waiting to be first, to choose, to devour.

This paragraph includes a general view of the scene, focusing on sense, weather, and mood, and we can see that through the highlighted phrases.

Raised voices and burning sun, that talks about the general atmosphere and the weather.

The intoxicating but alluring aroma, that phrase highlights the smells in the market.

So we're using sensory language there to provide the reader with knowledge of the scene.

And customers burn with agitation, again, allows the reader to come to know the general mood and atmosphere in this scene.

So there are a few things you could use in your first paragraph.

You could describe the weather, the mood and atmosphere, and you can use sensory language too.

Here's what our second paragraph might look like.

On the far side of the market, nearest to the river, is something unique.

Its awning is a deep velvety red and its tables covered with thick fabric.

A feast of jewels line each table: necklaces of intricate silver artfully arranged beside bracelets of gold, their surfaces glinting in the sunlight.

This paragraph zooms in to one particular stall.

It tells us the details about this stall using powerful adjectives, and it builds a sense of intrigue around the stall and its products.

We can see that through the highlighted phrases; a deep velvety red, thick fabric, necklaces of intricate silver artfully arranged beside bracelets of gold.

We can see here how curiosity and intrigue is developed through the really rich description of this stall.

And this paragraph will definitely encourage the reader to reflect upon the significance of this stall.

So the second paragraph builds enough intrigue to set up for the third paragraph very well.

And here's what our third paragraph might look like.

Hidden amongst the crowd, a figure hovers at the edge of the stall.

The sun is pulsing now, producing beads of sweats on his back, seeping through the cheap material of his t-shirt.

He edges closer; trying to blend in with other shoppers.

The heat wraps around him like a vice as he snatches the ruby pendant.

His fingers close around its hot surface.

The weight of it feels like burning coal against his thigh as he forces his way out of the crushing heat, out of the market.

This paragraph shifts to a character.

It uses language that suggests something ominous might happen, and we can see that through the highlighted phrases and words.

For example, hidden, hovers.

He edges closer, trying to blend in, and the heat wraps around him like a vice as he snatches.

Look how this paragraph begins to use more sinister language to reflect the fact that a crime might occur.

This language builds tension for the reader, allowing us to see how the mood has shifted in this scene.

To help you transition from one paragraph to another, you can use prepositional phrases.

Prepositional phrases tell you where something is or when something is happening.

So which propositional phrases might you use to move from one paragraph to another here? Pause the video and discuss.

Here are some examples of prepositional phrases you could use to transition from one paragraph to the next.

On one of the tables, underneath the green umbrella, in front of the graffitied wall, hiding behind, in front of the stall, near the entrance.

So really think about how you can use those prepositional phrases to seamlessly transition from one paragraph to the next to ensure a cohesive piece of writing.

Let's check your understanding of what we've talked about so far.

Which of the below might help us transition from one paragraph to the next when describing a busy scene? Pause the video and answer that question.

Off you go.

Well done if few said prepositional phrases which mark the location of something will help us transition from one paragraph to the next when describing a busy scene.

They're phrases such as underneath the table, in front of the graffitied wall, near the entrance.

Now, I want you to write three paragraphs describing this scene.

It's the same scene that you planned an answer to earlier.

So follow the paragraph structure that you planned earlier, and consider how you will transition between paragraphs using prepositional phrases.

Remember, paragraph one is where you set the scene.

You might want to use sensory language here to give the reader an image of the scene overall in their heads.

In paragraph two, you're going to zoom into a particular part of the scene.

Remember, you're going to want to build curiosity and intrigue in this paragraph, so zoom into something interesting.

In this paragraph, you might want to use rich adjectives.

And paragraph three is where you'll introduce a conflict.

Make sure the conflict links to whatever the focal point of paragraph two was.

In paragraph three, you might want to use sinister language that hints at something ominous occurring.

Pause the video now and get writing.

I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Off you go.

Brilliant effort there in your writing.

Now, I want you to reread your work.

Does your first paragraph provide a wide perspective by focusing on sensory experiences and a general mood? Does your second paragraph zoom into details using precise adjectives? Does your third paragraph successfully build tension? And how seamlessly did you transition from paragraph to paragraph? Pause the video and reflect upon your work now.

Off you go.

Great job on being reflective today.

That's going to really help you improve your skills ahead of your next piece of writing.

Well done! Here's what we've learnt in today's lesson.

Paragraphs are the building blocks of creative writing, allowing our writing to take on an interesting structure.

We should plan an interesting paragraph structure before we begin writing to engage the reader.

We can begin with a wide perspective, narrow into a scene, and end with a moment of tension.

And prepositional phrases help us transition from one paragraph to another.

Thank you for joining me in today's lesson.

I hope you've learnt a brilliant way to structure your paragraphs in creative writing today, and I hope to see you in another lesson soon.