Reviewing and refining descriptive writing: alliteration, plosives and sibilance
I can improve a piece of descriptive writing inspired by the painting 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' by making effective use of alliteration, plosives and sibilance.
Reviewing and refining descriptive writing: alliteration, plosives and sibilance
I can improve a piece of descriptive writing inspired by the painting 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' by making effective use of alliteration, plosives and sibilance.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Alliteration is when two or more words start with the same consonant.
- A writer makes use of plosives when they use the letters 'p', 't', 'k', 'b', 'd' or 'g' for effect.
- Sibilance is the repeated use of the letter 's' for effect.
- Alliteration, plosives and sibilance can be a sophisticated way to create a sense of sound.
Keywords
Alliteration - when two or more words start with the same consonant
Plosives - use of letters 'p', 't', 'k', 'b', 'd' and 'g' to make a harsh sound; unlike alliteration, these letters don’t have to be found at the start of a word.
Onomatopoeia - words which sound like the noise they describe e.g. crash
Sibilance - repetition of the letter 's' in successive words
Common misconception
Using onomatopoeia is the only way to create a sense of sound in a piece of writing.
Onomatopoeia can be a helpful tool to rely on in some pieces of writing. However, alliteration, plosives and sibilance are often more sophisticated and more subtle. They also allow for a greater range of sounds to be generated.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
trying to find the executioner's block while blindfolded
crying
guiding Lady Jane Grey towards the block
holding an axe, looking at the floor
two or more words that start with the same consonant
repetition of the letter 's' in successive words
use of the letters 'p', 't', 'k', 'b', 'd', 'g' for effect
words which sound like the noise they describe