New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing

I can use descriptive writing to enhance my narrative writing.

New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing

I can use descriptive writing to enhance my narrative writing.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Narratives that try to tell too much story are often unsuccessful
  2. Instead,you can use an emotion-led narrative, which will help keep your plot manageable so you don't try to say too much
  3. Use skills from descriptive writing to elevate your narratives, especially when describing emotions
  4. Use figurative language to make your narrative descriptions more vivid
  5. It is better to describe your character's physical symptoms of emotion rather than just stating what the emotion is

Keywords

  • Falter - To falter means to lose strength or purpose, and almost stop.

  • Accustomed - If you become accustomed to something, you become used to it.

  • Demeanour - A person’s demeanour is the way they look or behave.

  • Furrow - A furrow is a long, narrow cut or line in an object's surface. We use the word furrow to describe the lines formed when someone frowns.

Common misconception

Students think using figurative language to describe emotions means using similes and metaphors.

Students should use figurative language more subtly, in verbs and adjectives to create extended metaphors.

After task A in learning cycle 1, take some examples of emotion-led plots from the class and give feedback on these. You could also take the time to practice a few more examples as a group, ensuring the emotions are distinct and the action is small.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the model answer used in this lesson. You will find it in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

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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6 Questions

Q1.
A basic plot consists of a beginning, middle and .
Correct Answer: end, end., End, End.
Q2.
What distinguishes a narrative from a description?
thoughts
Correct answer: events
speech
characters
Q3.
Select the narrative statements.
The door was a deep mahogany colour, with a large knocker.
Correct answer: She spun around, her eyes darting everywhere.
His lips were like two fat slugs that had crawled onto his face unannounced.
Correct answer: She was greeted by an immense dog, with patches of grey and white fur.
Correct answer: The atmosphere suddenly turned sour and the crowd began to look uncomfortable.
Q4.
Which of these might be used as synonyms for beautiful?
abhorrent
Correct answer: mesmerising
Correct answer: stunning
cute
Correct answer: gorgeous
Q5.
Which is the most appropriate description of the clouds?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: The clouds gathered above.
The clouds sat above.
The clouds grouped above.
The clouds stood above.
The clouds gossiped above.
Q6.
Which of the following is the best description of this landscape?
An image in a quiz
The hills were immense, with walls separating the fields.
There were groups of trees within the hills.
Correct answer: The various hills were all knitted together in a patchwork of green landscape.
The rolling hills stretched out for miles.
Looking out, I was met by a sea of green.
Q5 wobogre/Pixabay

6 Questions

Q1.
To keep your plot manageable, it can be useful to use an plot.
Correct Answer: emotion-led, emotion led, Emotion led , Emotion-led
Q2.
How can you make sure the plot is manageable?
Correct answer: keep the action to under ten minutes of real time
make the action something really exciting like riding in a spaceship
base the characters on your friends
Correct answer: keep the action realistic - make it something that could happen to you
Q3.
Which of the following would make good emotion-led narratives?
Correct answer: forgetting your calculator for your maths exam
your house getting swept away by a hurricane
Correct answer: meeting someone famous
getting kidnapped by time lords from the past
Correct answer: getting a detention for something your best friend did
Q4.
When choosing your three emotions for your plot, it is important that they are all emotions.
Correct Answer: different, distinct, separate
Q5.
Match the words up to their definitions.
Correct Answer:falter,lose strength or purpose

lose strength or purpose

Correct Answer:accustomed,becoming used to something

becoming used to something

Correct Answer:demeanour,someone's appearance or behaviour

someone's appearance or behaviour

Correct Answer:furrow,long line in the surface of something

long line in the surface of something

Q6.
Which of these physical responses might you use to show panic?
His fist, which hung by his side, clenched into a tight ball.
Correct answer: Beads of sweat formed at his temples, swelling as they collided with others.
His eyes softened, their corners dropping and creasing slightly at the side.
Correct answer: A huge lump formed at the back of his throat.
Correct answer: His heartbeat pounded vehemently.

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