Lesson 6

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Good morning Samuel!

We will go back to directed form in a few lessons but for now I want to see your descriptive and narrative
writing needed for paper 3. Today we are going to refresh descriptive writing.

Descriptive writing

In paper 3, after the directed task you always have the choice of 2 types of essays, the one being descriptive.

This involves the use of lots of adjectives and figures of speech to achieve the goal of describing and not
telling! We will go into that in more depth in tomorrow’s lesson but for today we are looking at the parts
that make up description.

When you write descriptively you are really painting a picture. There are a few powerful tools to use in
descriptive writing. Many students have commented that they never know what to write, or they run out of
words to say. What I usually do if we are face to face, is take them outside so that their senses can be
awakened. This is the first tool: using your 5 senses. Look at option (a) in your task: a gathering, waiting for
the cyclists to come through. Think about what you can see and hear; you can sense or ‘feel’ the excitement
and tension; you can taste the sea (if it’s the Cape Argus’, or the dust if it’s in the Free State.) All these things
are wonderful to describe.

The second tool you can use in descriptive writing is figures of speech. This includes similes, metaphors,
hyperbole, alliteration, assonance etc. I have given you a detailed list below. Use them wherever possible.
Instead of saying, for example, ‘the ladies rushed at the sale items’, one could say, ‘the ladies swooped on
the sale items’. This is a metaphor and gives the picture of birds of prey swooping down on their target. It
heightens the tension and gives an aggressive picture. In another example, using alliteration or assonance
draws attention to what you are saying, the ‘fiery fearful fox’ is far more effective than ‘the bright orange
fox’. Try to use figures of speech in every piece of writing. Even a formal letter can have a figure of speech
where you put your point of view across in a powerful way.

I’m sure you know these but here is a list to refresh your memory:

Alliteration: the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected
words. E.g. beautiful blue and beige bags

Anaphora:   a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the same word or words. E.g. with love,
with joy and with loyalty they served the king.
Antithesis: This is a contradiction that pits two ideas against each other in a balanced way. E.g. easy on the
eyes but hard on the heart; it also refers to simple opposites.

Assonance: the repetition of vowel sounds inside words that are close together. E.g. the brown cow on her
gown was the talk of the town.

Euphemism: a word or phrase that replaces a word or phrase to make it more polite or pleasant. E.g. she
passed away (instead of saying she died), or he was let go (instead of saying he was fired).

Hyperbole:  exaggeration for emphasis or effect. E.g. I have told you a million times; I could sit here forever.

Irony: using words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning. E.g. the traffic officer was
suspended for not paying his tickets; a dentist with crooked teeth; I named my miniature poodle, Killer; Oh
great! You broke my new phone!

Litotes : an understatement, when something is said to make something appear less important or less
serious. E.g. Oh, it’s just a scratch (referring to a large dent); It wasn’t particularly delicious (referring to
terrible food); It’s a little cold today (referring to sub-zero temperatures

Metaphor: comparing two things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’. E.g. The hungry sea; his heart is a lonely hunter;
bulleted through the sky; croaked his song

Metonymy: one word that has a very similar meaning can be used for another but unlike Synecdoche don’t
have to form part of the object. E.g. synecdoche for car could be wheels but metonymy for cars could be ride

Onomatopoeia: a word that sounds like what it is describing. E.g. whoosh, buzz, splat, pitter-patter

Oxymoron: contradictory terms used together. E.g. blundering efficiency; peace force; pretty ugly;
deafening silence; simply impossible; silent scream

Paradox: a statement that completely contradicts itself in the same sentence and is used to draw attention
to the truth. E.g. War is peace (we know it isn’t so the paradox makes us think); deep down he’s really
shallow

Personification: giving human qualities to non-living things or ideas. E.g. the raindrops danced; the sea
roared; the fog sang

Pun: This play on words uses different senses of the word, or different sounds that make up the word, to
create something fun and interesting. E.g. the frog, who had his vocal cords removed, is immortal - he can’t
croak; she gave him coins when he asked for change in the department
Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as." E.g. as wise as an own; like
peas in a pod;

Synecdoche: when a part represents the whole or the whole is represented by a part. E.g. plastic – credit
card; a coke – any carbonated drink; wheels – a car; nice threads – nice clothes

English is so much fun! Having tools with which to approach your tasks gives you power and confidence to
write at the highest mark band level.  Please never be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t understand
something I’ve said, just ask. I love to answer and there is never a silly question.

Now your task:

Choose one of the two options below and focus on adjectives and figures of speech. Describe it to me,
don’t tell me a story. Put yourself behind a figurative ‘video camera’ and have fun!

Write at least a page and a half 

Descriptive Writing

3 (a) A major cycling race is coming through your town centre. Imagine you are at the front of the crowd
waiting for the cyclists to appear. Describe the sense of expectation and the arrival of the competitors.
(25)

OR

(b) You are accidentally locked in your school after everyone has left. Describe the atmosphere and how this
makes you feel. (25)

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