4.1.1
Overview - Section B
Paper 1, Section B: Creative or Descriptive Writing
Paper 1, Section B: Creative or Descriptive Writing
In Section B of Paper 1, you will be given two questions - a written scenario and a picture stimulus - to choose from. You will select one thing to write about.
Links with Section A
Links with Section A
- The writing section (Section B) will be linked to the reading materials in Section A – try to use some information from section A, but do not just copy it!
Tips for answering Section B
Tips for answering Section B
- Choose ONE task – do not do both!
- Write in paragraphs.
- Read the instructions very carefully – check if you are writing a description or a narrative piece.
- A narrative piece follows a story line – it has action and tells the reader about some sort of experience that happened (either real or fake).
- A descriptive piece uses more sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to describe a place, person or feeling. There is no story line.
- We will cover these two types of pieces in more detail later.
Timings for Section B
Timings for Section B
- Spend 10 minutes planning your ideas before you start writing your answer – this plan can take whatever form you like (spider diagram, bullet points, etc) because it will not be marked.
- Spend 30 minutes writing your answer.
- Spend 5 minutes checking – focus on spelling, punctuation, and whether or not your sentences make sense.
Marks for Section B
Marks for Section B
- Section B is worth 40 marks.
- Spelling, punctuation and grammar is worth 16 marks.
Section B: Descriptive Writing
Section B: Descriptive Writing
A descriptive piece uses sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to describe a place, person or feeling. There is no story line. Here are some tips for writing a descriptive piece:
Use figurative language
Use figurative language
- Using figurative language helps to bring descriptions to life.
- Figurative language uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive or impactful. Metaphors and similes are uses of figurative language.
- E.g. My bedroom is a freezer!
Figurative language - example
Figurative language - example
- Read this example:
- There were lots of people in the room. It was crowded. I was feeling claustrophobic. I started to panic.
- These sentences are grammatically correct, but the description is boring. Let's now look at an example using figurative language:
- The people in the room were bunched together like battery chickens on a tiny farm. Panic rushed over me like a wave crashing into shore. Claustrophobia swallowed me.
- The similes and personification in these sentences make the writing much more exciting.
Use vocabulary to create the right tone
Use vocabulary to create the right tone
- The tone of your writing is very important. The tone is the writer's feelings towards what they are describing.
- To create the right tone:
- Choose words carefully - using positive adjectives will help to create a light-hearted feel. Using negative/aggressive adjectives will help to create a foreboding atmosphere.
- Use varied sentences - using short, simple sentences will help to create suspense and quicken the pace. Using long, complex sentences will slow the pace and create a relaxed feel.
Tone - examples
Tone - examples
- The howling, raging storm smashed everything in its path.
- The aggressive adjectives help to create a negative tone. The writer wants us to think of the storm as a negative force.
- The sweet, little girl flickered her sky-blue eyes as she tossed her honey golden locks.
- The positive adjectives create a positive tone. The writer wants us to think of the girl as an attractive and likeable character.
Tone - examples
Tone - examples
- He looked. He looked again. Where was she? Where had she gone? Panic smacked Joe in the face. She was missing. Gone without a trace.
- The series of simple, short sentences help to create suspense and quicken the pace - reflecting Joe's panic.
- The golden sun stretched out his magnificent arms and spread honey rays far and wide, warming his beloved Earth and waking her creatures one and all.
- The long, complex sentence creates a relaxed feel - reflecting this lethargic start to the day.
Use a range of language devices
Use a range of language devices
- Language devices play a key role in creative writing. Using a variety of the language devices covered in the 'Key Terms' section can help you to:
- Make your writing more interesting.
- Engage the reader in your story or help them to visualise your description.
- Help you to build up the image/experience you have in your own head.
- We will recap these language devices in the 'Checklist of Techniques' section.
Good techniques
Good techniques
- Adjectives.
- Analogies.
- Metaphors and similes.
- Devices that create a visual picture in the reader's mind.
Section B: Narrative Writing
Section B: Narrative Writing
A narrative piece follows a story line – it has action and tells the reader about some sort of experience that happened (either real or fake). Here are some tips for writing a narrative piece:
Use a range of language devices
Use a range of language devices
- Language devices play a key role in creative writing. Using a variety of the language devices covered in the 'Key Terms' section can help you to:
- Make your writing more interesting.
- Engage the reader in your story or help them to visualise your description.
- Help you to build up the image/experience you have in your own head.
- We will recap these language devices in the 'Checklist of Techniques' section.
Identify the part of the narrative
Identify the part of the narrative
- Remember that many different parts make up a narrative piece (e.g. an opening, a climax, an ending etc.). You may only be asked to write about a part of a narrative story.
- If the question asks you to write an opening, focus on introducing the characters and settings instead of including lots of action. You are NOT being asked to write a complete story.
Show, don't tell
Show, don't tell
- Many students make the mistake of 'telling' the reader something rather than 'showing' it to the reader. Showing, rather than telling, makes narrative writing far more impactful.
Show, don't tell - example
Show, don't tell - example
- Here is a writer 'telling' the reader about an alcoholic:
- Lucy was desperately searching for more wine. Her withdrawal symptoms were driving her crazy.
- The description is grammatically correct, but dull.
- Here is a writer 'showing' the reader an alcoholic:
- Her head was rattling; mirroring her quaking limbs. Her eyes darted to and fro as the sweat trickled down her forehead. Her tongue craved a trickle of liquid salvation.
- This description creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
Create the right tone
Create the right tone
- The tone of your writing is very important. The tone is the writer's feelings towards what they are describing.
- To create the right tone:
- Choose words carefully - using positive adjectives will help to create a light-hearted feel. Using negative/aggressive adjectives will help to create a foreboding atmosphere.
- Use varied sentences - using short, simple sentences will help to create suspense and quicken the pace. Using long, complex sentences will slow the pace and create a relaxed feel.
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
Jump to other topics
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
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