Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Your notes

English Language
Section B: Composition
Contents
Descriptive Writing: What the Question is Asking
Descriptive Writing: How to Get Full Marks
Model Answer: Descriptive Writing
Narrative Writing: What the Question is Asking
Narrative Writing: How to Get Full Marks
Model Answer: Narrative Writing

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 Descriptive Writing: What the Question is Asking
Your notes
Paper 2: Writing is divided into two sections:
Section A: Directed Writing
Section B: Composition
The following guide will provide you with the information you need to answer Section B
descriptive writing to a high standard. It includes:
An overview of descriptive writing
Breaking down the questions
Steps to success
Exam tips

Overview of descriptive writing

You will have a choice of two descriptive writing options: Question 2 or 3.
You are required to write about 350-450 words, which is approximately 2-3 sides of A4 in
standard-sized handwriting, and you will have one hour in which to do this.
This task is worth 40 marks. You will be awarded up to 16 marks for content and structure,
and up to 24 marks for style and accuracy. For descriptive writing, this means:

Content and structure (16 marks) Style and accuracy (24 marks)

The writing contains many well-defined and The writing contains precise, well-
developed ideas and images which create chosen vocabulary and varied
a convincing overall picture with varieties of sentence structures chosen for
focus effect
Language and tone are suitable for
the context
Spelling, punctuation and grammar
are almost always accurate

Remember, your aim is to enable the reader to picture what you are describing.
You should spend 15 minutes planning your writing, and 45 minutes writing your response
(including 5 minutes at the end to re-read and check your work).

Breaking down the question

You should carefully consider the two question choices and plan your route through your
composition, including how it will end, before you start writing. Consider how you can be
convincing and original in your use of detail, and choose your vocabulary and sentence
structures carefully to create specific effects.

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The examples below are a selection of past CIE descriptive writing tasks:

Your notes

Exam tips
Make sure you are not overly reliant on narrative to structure your response:
This results in answers which have limited descriptive content
Your description should be closely observed and focused in content:
Try to make use of more striking and original images, rather than relying on
stereotypical ideas and images
Ensure that all of the words you choose contribute to the overall atmosphere and effect
you want to create
Do not confuse tenses in a paragraph:
If you use a flashback, ensure you have written in the past tense
If you use present tense verbs for effect, then ensure you do this consistently
Do not use dialogue in a descriptive writing piece:
Descriptive writing also does not provide background information or develop
character interaction
When describing people, you should focus on their body language or movements
Zoom in and out of the image you are creating as if you are behind a camera
Include some movement to contrast and add interest
Use sensory language to create a clear mood, but adjust the focus and perspective as
your paragraphs develop:
Descriptive writing should include movement and sound, but the “narrator” should
be a silent observer
Vary your sentence and paragraph lengths to keep the style and tone dynamic

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It is effective to repeat ideas related to colour:
Consider picking out a key detail in order to do this, such as the colour of houses’ Your notes
roofs
Remember, this is not a story:
You do not need to provide a “happy ending”

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 Descriptive Writing: How to Get Full Marks
Your notes

Descriptive writing: how to get full marks

Section B requires you to write for a specific purpose and in a specific form. It is important
that you write in the correct format and use the conventions of this form, as the mark scheme
states that you should adapt your tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and
audiences.
This means:
The tone (the sound of the narrator’s “voice”) is appropriate and convincing
The register (your vocabulary and phrasing) is suitable for the purpose
The style of the writing (the sentence structure and the overall structure of your writing)
is dynamic and engaging
As with any extended piece of writing, planning is vital. You should spend 10-15 minutes
mind-mapping your ideas before you start writing. Here, we will consider how you can
produce an effective piece of descriptive writing.

How to structure your descriptive writing

Descriptive writing is observational writing. This means that the narrator does not interact
with their surroundings, or other characters. In fact, no characters are crafted. Descriptive
writing is like imagining you are behind the lens of a camera, describing a “snap-shot” of a
moment. However, this does not mean the scene you are describing is static; it is important
to note the movements and action you “witness”.
Below is a suggested step-by-step structure for a piece of descriptive writing, including the
techniques to use during each of the six steps:

Stage Details of descriptive writing structure

Step 1 Panoramic Broadly describe the scene

Introduce the time and atmosphere

Step Zoom Focus your lens on one segment of the “image”

2
Choose smaller, less obvious details

Step Single line Emphasise the key feeling of your description in one line
3

Step Shift Focus your lens on another segment of the “image”

4
If you started in the foreground, then move to something in the
background

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 Step Shift Now move your lens to a final segment of the “image”, or
5 suggest something that is just “off camera”
Your notes
Step Panoramic Zoom out again to look at the scene from a new perspective
6
How has it changed? Time? Atmosphere? Mood?

Remember, you can include action or movement in your description, but this should not
involve any story progression or interaction. Any action should only cover a short period of
“real time”, such as the wind blowing a basket over. Something seemingly inconsequential
could move in the background, which is especially effective if you contrast this with things
that remain still.
Your paragraphs should be appropriately linked, but should vary in terms of size and
structure. Variety and accuracy are key; you are bringing a scene to life for your reader, so
they should be able to picture it, hear it, even smell it!

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember, this is an extended written response. Therefore, the most effective
answers will demonstrate a well-planned answer which has considered what details
are the most interesting to the reader and the most effective way to order the writing.

Descriptive writing techniques

Tone
Descriptive writing should craft a tone of voice in keeping with the mood of the scene. This
means your sentences should reflect the atmosphere. For example, if the scene is
mysterious and frightening, your sentences should reflect this suspenseful mood.
In order to craft a tone in keeping with the mood of your description, consider how you can
use sentence lengths and types:
Short sentences reflect tension and unease, e.g. “No sound could be heard.”
Longer sentences and listing can create a sense of being overwhelmed, or of
abundance, e.g. “The market was laden with apples, grapes, oranges, loaves of bread,
chunks of cheese and every type of vegetable one could imagine.”

Style and register

The style of your descriptive writing is closely related to the language you use. For example,
the best descriptive writing responses show evidence of careful word choices and the
deliberate but judicious use of linguistic techniques.
Descriptive writing helps the reader to visualise the person, place, or situation being
described. Your word choice and linguistic techniques should conjure a vivid, sensory
impression in the reader’s mind.

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The best way to do this is to:
Use vocabulary which is useful to the reader: Your notes
For example, describing something as “brilliant” or “amazing” is not descriptive
Be specific and ambitious in your choice of adjectives
Use sensory language to bring the scene to life:
Focus not just on what can be seen, but also what can be heard, smelled or felt
Emphasise key ideas or impressions using language techniques and imagery:
For example, you could use a simile to create associations about size or colour
Personification is a useful technique when describing weather or objects
Ensure you describe the important details:
For example, you do not need to describe every inch of a person or scene bit by bi;
instead, focus on key features
When considering the detail you should include in your description, it is useful to consider
the types of things that bring a scene to life. These things are normally rooted in contrast. For
example:

Sound and Noise contributes to the reality of a scene:

silence
Chatter, background noise, the weather or nearby wildlife all
bring the scene to life
Using moments of silence can also be effective:
A momentary lull, or a really purposeful moment of quiet

Movement and Some things may move:

stillness
This could be the main focus of your writing, or something in
the background
It could be human, animal or object - use personification
Powerful verbs and adverbs can create dynamic movement in
a piece of writing
For example: “The swarming, struggling crowd.”
Other things will remain still:
Try to focus on things that resist being moved, or whose
stillness is in contrast with the movement of something
Avoid cliches such as “still as a statue”

Light and dark There will be sources of light, so describe them:

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 But also describe the way the light hits other things in your
description
Your notes
Where there’s light, there’s also darkness:
Consider what shadows are cast or where the light does not
reach
Who, or what, is left in the darkness?

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Keep using sensory language throughout, but adjust the focus and perspective as
your paragraphs develop. Make sure that you include description of movement and
description of sound to effectively craft a mood.

Let’s consider the following example of an opening paragraph of a piece of descriptive

writing:

Steps to success
1. Read the two task options carefully:
Decide which one you can best picture in your mind
2. Spend 10-15 minutes planning your writing:
Use a mind-map or a table
Use the “panoramic, zoom, single line, shift, shift, panoramic” six-step structure

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3. Write down some reminders of figurative language or literary techniques to include to
add interest and detail:
Your notes
It might be helpful to jot down “sound and silence”, “movement and stillness” and
“light and dark” to prompt you
4. Write your description, sticking to your plan
5. Try to leave five minutes at the end to re-read your writing carefully, correcting any
obvious mistakes you have made

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 Model Answer: Descriptive Writing
Your notes
Paper 2: Writing is divided into two sections:
Section A: Directed Writing
Section B: Composition
The following guide will provide you with a full mark model descriptive writing answer.

Planning your descriptive writing

Once you have decided on your choice of title from the options, you should spend 10-15
minutes planning your writing.
Let’s take this descriptive writing task as an example:
“Describe trying to sleep before an important day.”
We can use “panoramic, zoom, single line, shift, shift, panoramic” six-step structure to plan
our response:

Stage Suggested techniques and details

Step 1 Panoramic Introduce motif of clock

Dark outside, contrasting with light and stillness
Describe what I can hear and feel

Step 2 Zoom Focus on a fly - add movement and sound

Step 3 Single line Turn over/re-adjust bedding

Step 4 Shift Focus on what is going on in my mind

Use imagery to convey inner thoughts

Step 5 Shift Describe what can be heard outside in the street

Step 6 Panoramic Wake up - must have fallen asleep

Describe changes in light and atmosphere
Return to motif of clock - late

Descriptive writing model answer

The following model answer demonstrates a top-mark response to the above task:

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 Your notes
Worked Example
Question
Describe trying to sleep before an important day.
[40]
Answer
The soft glow from the digital display flickered as the minutes sluggishly passed. The
pale green cast an eerie shadow across my bed, while outside was as dark as a raven’s
pupil. The streetlight outside of the window had blown its bulb and towered,
redundantly, over the pavement. Nothing moved, apart from me, anxiously turning
and fidgeting my blankets into a tangle. I heard a faint hum from downstairs; the
sound of the dishwasher automatically starting, churning and rumbling the plates
from dinner until they sparkled. My mind churned like the machine, impossible to turn
off now it had started. I checked the clock again. The night felt endless.
I shuffled over to turn on the light. Silhouetted against the inside of a shade, a fly lazily
crept to the top, balancing on the rim like a tiny tightrope walker. I watched as it
fluttered its wings slightly, before it took off in a frenzy of buzzing around the top of
my bed, going nowhere in particular. I wondered what its purpose was. Why was it
here? It hummed close to my face and I swatted it away gruffly. It landed back on the
rim, satisfied with its little flurry of activity, as I reached over to turn off the light again.
I straightened out my blankets and turned again.
The clock’s mechanical glow informed me that only a few minutes had passed. I
sighed and attempted to still my mind. I had numbers, facts and figures spiralling
down a rabbit hole in my mind, becoming jumbled and muddled. I could see the dim
outlines of my post-it notes, meticulously written and ordered, with all of the
information I could ever need neatly written in my careful handwriting. But now all of
that order had turned to chaos, as I struggled to remember even the simplest of
equations. I needed to get some sleep, but my brain point-blank refused to let me.
Outside, I heard the sudden honking of a horn and a dog’s incessant barking. Voices
muffled by wall and curtain were just about audible, sounding like they were being
spoken through a thick soup of fog. A car door slammed; the dog’s barking became
increasingly urgent. Voices raised again, before another slam and the roar of an
engine increased and then faded out as the car disappeared down the street. The
dog stopped barking and all was still once again. I stared at my curtains, considering
whether to go downstairs to make myself a drink.
The light now was different. The glow from the clock was less lurid, more muted, and
the darkness of the room less extreme. I lazily looked up at my curtains once again,
and my mind registered that the soft light of day had altered the atmosphere in the
room from one of suspended animation to action. I turned over and saw the time. Like
a jack-in-the-box, I jumped wildly out of bed. What was, just a few seconds ago,
stillness and peace, was now urgency and panic. I was late.

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Commentary
Your notes
The first paragraph employs contrast and literary techniques to establish an eerie
atmosphere of the middle of the night
The second paragraph zooms in on detail and incorporates movement
A single sentence is used for contrast and effect
The motif of the clock is woven throughout the response
The focus shifts to something “off camera”, using sensory language
The final paragraph indicates a shift in time and mood
It contrasts stillness with activity

Summary
Remember, you are not writing a story, so think of describing a scene as though from
behind the lens of a camera
Spend 10-15 minutes planning your writing, using the suggested six-step structure
above
Allow five minutes to re-read and check your writing for any obvious mistakes with
spelling, grammar or punctuation
Employ sensory language, shifts in perspective, figurative language and contrasts to
add interest and detail to your writing
Do not include dialogue
Vary your sentence and paragraph lengths
Make sure you add movement to your description

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 Narrative Writing: What the Question is Asking
Your notes
Paper 2: Writing is divided into two sections:
Section A: Directed Writing
Section B: Composition
The following guide will provide you with the information you need to answer Section B
narrative writing to a high standard. It includes:
An overview of narrative writing
Breaking down the questions
Steps to success
Exam tips

Overview of narrative writing

You will have a choice of two descriptive writing options: Question 4 or 5.
You are required to write about 350-450 words, which is approximately 2-3 sides of A4 in
standard-sized handwriting, and you will have one hour in which to do this.
This task is worth 40 marks. You will be awarded up to 16 marks for content and structure,
and up to 24 marks for style and accuracy. For narrative writing, this means:

Content and structure (16 marks) Style and accuracy (24 marks)

The plot is well-defined and strongly The writing contains precise,

developed with features of fiction writing such well-chosen vocabulary and
as description, characterisation, effective varied sentence structures
climax and convincing details chosen for effect
Language and tone are suitable
for the context
Spelling, punctuation and
grammar are almost always
accurate

Remember, in narrative writing, your aim is to craft a convincing story.

You should spend 15 minutes planning your writing, and 45 minutes writing your response
(including 5 minutes at the end to re-read and check your work).

Breaking down the question

You should carefully consider the two question choices and plan your route through your
composition, including how it will end, before you start writing. Consider how you can be

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convincing and original in your use of detail, and choose your vocabulary and sentence
structures carefully to create specific effects.
Your notes
The examples below are a selection of past CIE narrative writing tasks:

Exam tips
Ensure that your response is a well organised and thoughtful interpretation of whichever
title you choose
Demonstrate your ability to shape a narrative, including moments of tension and drama
Use characterisation to create believable protagonists and characters
Avoid cliches or over-used narratives, such as abandoned cabins in the woods
Do not just “tell” a series of events:
Consider imaginative ways to tell your story, apart from just a chronological account
Include your characters’ thoughts and feelings, not just what happens
Do not over-complicate your language unnecessarily:
Do not underestimate the power of simple words and sentences to create powerful
effects
Start at your story’s main setting, not in the journey or build up
Ensure that all of the words you choose contribute to the overall atmosphere and effect
you want to create
Vary your sentence and paragraph lengths to keep the style and tone dynamic
Do not over-use dialogue:
Only use dialogue if it drives forward the plot and you are able to punctuate it
correctly
Consider the “message” of your story and how your characters represent this

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Consider the narrative perspective which will work most effectively for your story

Your notes

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 Narrative Writing: How to Get Full Marks
Your notes

Narrative writing: how to get full marks

Section B requires you to write for a specific purpose and in a specific form. It is important
that you write in the correct format and use the conventions of this form, as to get the
highest mark you will need to adapt your tone, style and register for different forms,
purposes and audiences.
This means:
The tone (the sound of the narrator’s “voice”) is appropriate and convincing
The register (your vocabulary and phrasing) is suitable for the purpose
The style of the writing (the sentence structure and the overall structure of your writing)
is dynamic and engaging
As with any extended piece of writing, planning is vital. You should spend 10-15 minutes
mind-mapping your ideas before you start writing. Here, we will consider how you can
produce an effective piece of narrative writing.

How to structure your narrative writing

Narrative story writing develops an idea to a conclusion. The way to achieve this in an exam is
by planning an ending with a resolution (you should plan whether your story will end happily or
not).
In the exam, it is best not to plan a complex story which takes place over a long period of
time, employs multiple characters or that has more than one setting or plot twist.
In order to adhere to the conventions of story writing, it is best to:
Plan your writing in an order which takes your character (and reader) on a clear journey:
The best way to do this is to plan one main event
Ensure your plot is simple enough to be coherent and cohesive
Consider employing structural techniques, such as a flashback:
This can give background information to the reader and provide context
Ensure you use past-tense verbs for this
Develop your characters:
Consider essential narrative character archetypes, such as “villain”, “victim”, “hero”,
etc.
Decide on how your characters fit these descriptions
When describing people, focus on relevant details only:
For example, black and grey or green and blue

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 You could focus on their body language or movements
If using dialogue, the verbs you use to describe how your characters speak can Your notes
reveal more about them than what they say, e.g. “shrieked”, “mumbled”,
“whispered”
It is effective to repeat ideas related to colour
You can repeat ideas for emphasis:
Narrative writing responses should be structured into five or six paragraphs. You should plan
your response carefully as you have limited time to create a cohesive plot. Writing a response
which has not been planned is likely to have an abrupt ending, or no ending at all, which will
not get you high marks.
There are lots of different narrative structures or arcs that you could use to plan your story.
Bearing in mind you only have 15 minutes to plan, your story needs to be controlled and
concise. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to consider a five-part narrative structure,
such as Freytag’s Pyramid:

Stage Description of narrative structure

Step 1 Exposition (setting Stick to one main setting and start at the location:
the scene)
Do not include a lengthy 'journey' before the main
action of your story starts
Hook your reader:
Give them clues as to what will happen later, but do not
give everything away all at once
Decide which narrative perspective and tense you are
going to write your story in:
First person 'I' and the past tense are easier to control
Stick to no more than two characters and introduce
them

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 Employ the five senses to create an atmosphere:
The scene's mood should reflect your main character's Your notes
mood
This paragraph could end with an 'inciting incident', which
prompts the rising action and moves the story forward

Step Rising action This paragraph should build tension, drama or interest:
2
It should directly lead to the turning point of the story
(the 'climax')
This paragraph should also develop your character(s):
You could use dialogue, monologue, direct or indirect
characterisation to create well-rounded, 3D
characters

Step Climax This is the turning point of your story:

3
It is the moment everything changes and your
character(s) cannot go back
Your protagonist could face an external problem, or an
internal choice or dilemma:
Their choice is made in this paragraph
You should vary your sentence structure, length and
language here for dramatic effect

Step Falling action What happens in this paragraph should be as a direct result
4 of the climax paragraph:
It shows the consequences
It should also focus on your characters' thoughts and
feelings as a result of the climax of the story
This further develops a sense of characterisation

Step Resolution or You can choose to resolve your story, or end on a cliff-
5 denouement hanger:
However, a cliff-hanger is not a sudden ending; it is a
suspenseful ending
It is also important to avoid cliches, such as 'I woke up
and it was all a dream.'
Your setting and atmosphere could reflect a change from
the setting or atmosphere you established in your opening
paragraph:

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 Or it could refer back to imagery you used in your
opening paragraph to create a cyclical structure
Your notes
Remember, each paragraph does not have to be the same length. In fact, better answers
vary the lengths of their paragraphs for effect. What is important is to develop separate
ideas or points in each paragraph, and to avoid repeating the same descriptions throughout
your response.

Narrative writing techniques

Once you have planned out the structure of your narrative, it’s a good idea to consider how
to incorporate methods and techniques into your response. Below we have included some
guides to help you when thinking about setting, characterisation and other linguistic
techniques to make your narrative as engrossing as possible.

Setting
As this task assesses the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, it is
important to consider how to use language constructively in a short story to convey an
atmosphere or mood. Building an effective setting is key as it contributes to atmosphere
and mood.
Your setting should reflect your main character’s mood:
You may know this as pathetic fallacy, which reflects the character’s mood in the
environment, e.g., “the lonely road”
As your setting reflects your character’s mood, your setting may change as the story
progresses:
Contrasting scenes is an effective way to convey ideas and to engage your reader:
For example, your story may have started on a sunny afternoon, but may end as
the sun sets or as a storm approaches
Whatever way you decide to contrast the scenes, ensure it reflects your character’s
mood
The best answers build a clear setting before introducing other information, such as
introducing character:
Describing setting is best done with sensory language as we experience places
with all of our five senses
This means you could describe the dark, light, colours, sounds, smells and weather
The best way to clearly create setting is to allow an entire paragraph to describe the
scene without confusing readers with other information like who is there
Ensure all of your descriptive language builds the same mood and avoid mixing
ideas. For example: “The graveyard was dark, cold and smelled like fragrant flowers”
is confusing for your reader
However, do not give too much away all at once!

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 Keep your reader guessing and asking questions, such as “What is going on?”, “Why
is this like this?” and “Who is this?”
Your notes
Think of establishing a setting a bit like the game “Taboo”, in which you have to
describe something without stating explicitly what it is

Characterisation
This question asks you to create a short story and therefore you will need to build some
elements of detailed characterisation. This means you need to consider what your
character(s) represent. They may represent an idea, such as hope or strength or
abandonment, or you could include a villain to represent injustice or evil. It is best to limit
yourself to two characters in the time you have.
Well-rounded characters are taken on a journey: a character should undergo some form of
development or change. The mark scheme rewards answers which clearly and effectively
convey ideas, meaning that you need to consider the most effective ways of building a
character in a short piece of writing. Ideally, you should focus more on indirect
characterisation than direct characterisation:

Direct characterisation Indirect characterisation

The writer describes the character The writer hints to the reader what
through narration the character is like
The writer describes the character’s An impression is formed of the
physical appearance, personality and the character through their speech,
things that motivate them thoughts and feelings, interactions
with other characters and what other
It is useful for giving broad details in a characters say or think about them
sentence or two, but if used too much
direct characterisation will result in It is useful for developing more
superficial characters that a reader is not complex, well-rounded characters
able to relate to or engage with that engage the reader
This is “telling” This is “showing”

Here, we will consider how to plan your character(s) effectively to engage your reader. This is
what the examiner is looking for in your answer:

Characterisation

Appearance (direct Your character’s appearance may not always be relevant:

characterisation)
It is worth considering if it is necessary to describe
the colour of your characters’ hair, for example
Usually appearance is important if your character
represents something, for example, a king, a soldier
or someone in trouble
Facial expressions or descriptions can convey
character effectively. For example, “her tear-stained

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 face” or “he frowned”
If you choose to write in first-person, remember that Your notes
it is rare that we describe our own appearance
Third-person perspective can describe appearance
more effectively

Movements and body One of the most effective ways to describe a character is
language (indirect through their movements:
characterisation)
This is the way we judge people most accurately
Consider how you can describe your characters’
emotions or circumstances using movements, e.g.,
“His head dropped”
Verbs and adverbs can be used to effectively build
characterisation
If you are including dialogue, think about alternative
verbs to “said”, such as “whispered” or “bellowed”

Monologue (indirect If you use the first-person perspective, a monologue

characterisation) helps readers engage with the character:
This creates a personal tone and engagement with
the character
You can create a character’s “voice” using
punctuation, such as short sentences or questions:
A short sentence indicates your character may
be nervous, for example
Using emotive language will help your reader
understand your character better

Dialogue (direct and indirect Dialogue can convey the relationships between your
characterisation) characters and provide insights into what other
characters think about each other:
It is best to limit dialogue in your story, especially if
you are not absolutely certain how to punctuate it
correctly
Use speech marks and punctuation accurately
Carefully consider how the dialogue conveys an
idea:
Do not include dialogue which does not
progress the characterisation or plot

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Linguistic devices
When considering your choice of language and the techniques you wish to employ, you must Your notes
always remember that you are making deliberate choices for effect. It is important to
consider the connotations of words and phrases, and how these may add depth to your
writing.
For example, do your word choices evoke certain emotions or feelings in the reader, or do
they reveal aspects of a character’s personality, background or emotions? You should
employ the principle of “show, not tell” in order to bring your writing to life in the reader’s
mind.
Below you will find a brief explanation of some of the key techniques you could employ in
your narrative (or descriptive) writing:

Device or Explanation Example

technique

Repetition Repeating a word, phrase, image or idea. Throughout life, I have

This is much more effective if you think of learnt never to give up:
repetition as a motif that you use never give up on my
throughout your piece of writing dreams; never give up on
my hopes and never give
up on myself.

Alliteration Remember, the words starting with the The swirling mist silently
same consonant sound do not have to be settled on the sleeping
consecutive. Consider the effect you are town.
trying to achieve through the use of
alliteration

Metaphor Metaphors can be as simple as figures of She was the chief lioness
speech, but are especially effective among us, fierce,
where they are extended and developed determined and strong. It
was she who brought us all
together.

Personification A great way to create atmosphere at the The weary old tree, its
start of your writing is by personifying the gnarled branches
setting to your story or description outstretched like
weathered arms,
whispered ancient
wisdom to the breeze.

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Onomatopoeia The representation of sound on paper The crackling fire
should be more sophisticated than whispered its secrets
Your notes
comic-book terms such as “boom”. It is along with the gentle pop
also not helpful to put onomatopoeic and sizzle of the logs as
words all in capital letters. Consider sound they surrendered to the
as a way of evoking the senses in order to flames.
create atmosphere

Simile A simple comparison using “like” or “as” Her smile was as radiant as
should be used sparingly, as this creates the early morning sun on a
more impact summer’s day.

Imagery Engages the reader’s senses by using The sun-kissed waves

vivid and detailed language to create an crashed against the
image in the reader’s mind golden shore, their frothy
white caps glistening in
the morning light.

Juxtaposition Places two contrasting ideas, images or Thе еlеgant ballroom was
concepts side by side to highlight their adornеd with еxquisitе
differences or to create a striking effect chandеliеrs and finе
artwork, whilе thе servants'
quartеrs bеlow hеld
nothing but barе walls.

Emotive Words or phrases that are intentionally The devastating aftermath

language used to evoke a strong emotional left a trail of destruction,
response in the reader sorrow and misery.

Power verbs Verbs are doing, action or being words. The man stooped,
Power verbs are the deliberate, bumbling slowly towards
interesting choice of verb to help the the entrance.
reader picture what you are writing. They
can be especially useful for
characterisation

Pathetic fallacy The ability to evoke a specific mood or The lonely road beckoned
feeling that reflects a character’s internal him onwards with no end
or emotional state in sight.

Steps to success
1. Read the two task options carefully:
Highlight which one you have a strong idea for
2. Spend 10-15 minutes planning your writing:

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 Use a mind-map or a representation of Freytag’s Pyramid to plot out your story
Plan your characters - who they are, what they represent and how you will convey Your notes
this
Decide on your narrative perspective - first or third person
3. Write down some reminders of figurative language or literary techniques to include to
add interest and detail to your writing
4. Write your story, sticking to your plan
5. Try to leave five minutes at the end to re-read your writing carefully, correcting any
obvious mistakes you have made

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 Model Answer: Narrative Writing
Your notes

Model answer: narrative writing

Paper 2: Writing is divided into two sections:
Section A: Directed Writing
Section B: Composition
The following guide will provide you with a full mark model narrative writing answer.

Planning your narrative writing

Once you have decided on your choice of title from the options, you should spend 10-15
minutes planning your writing.
Let’s take this narrative writing task as an example:
“Write a story which involves an injustice”
We can use a five-part narrative structure to plan our response:

Step 1 Exposition/setting A house that nobody has lived in for a long time
Atmosphere is silent and uncared for

Step 2 Rising action Background information - grandparents’ house

Light, laughter and joy
Narrator and sister playing in a treehouse

Step 3 Climax Accident involving the narrator’s sister

Narrator gets the blame

Step 4 Falling action Aftermath - leave the house and return to the city
Family crumbles

Step 5 Resolution Present day - narrator returns to the house

Narrative writing model answer

The following model answer demonstrates a top-mark response to the above task:

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Worked Example
Question Your notes
Write a story which involves an injustice.
[40]
Answer
The house had been the epitome of life and joy, and yet it was now dead. It was merely
a shadow of its former glory, for the house was no longer alive, and never would be
again.
Sunlight no longer danced through the windows and sounds of laughter were no
longer heard; all that was left were the remains of a long since dead house. Cobwebs
littered the wooden slats and broken walls. Dusty light-fittings stared down miserably
at a table that would never again be laden with food and fun, and chairs that had not
been warm for years stood redundantly, forgetful of their original purpose. As I stood
in the hallway, the quiet crept through the empty rooms towards me, mocking me with
its oppressive silence.
The house was not always dead. I can wistfully recall all of my visits to this once
beautiful place. Every summer holiday, my parents brought me to this house, where
my grandparents lived, and their parents before them. Living in the city, I urged for this
escape: my summers spent in nature were filled with joy and laughter. The bright
sunshine, the gentle winds and the peace that had been introduced to me in this
wonderful place were the things I now treasured. My sister and I would spend hours
climbing the trees surrounding the house, building dens and having endless
adventures, before returning, wild and weary, for our family meal and the analysis of
the day. Our favourite spot was our treehouse, lovingly made by my grandfather and
decked out by my grandmother with cushions, toys and books. There was a ladder for
climbing up and a rope to swing down. My sister, not as confident at climbing as me,
was only allowed to climb up and swing down under my supervision.
But one summer I had grown weary of supervising her. I wanted some time alone, to
listen to music, mope about and generally be a teenager. My sister became a pest; a
fly to be regularly swatted away with an irritated flick of my hand. I resented having to
be the responsible older brother. That was why I was slouched on the sofa with my
headphones on when my mother rushed past me, swiftly followed by my
grandparents. The sun was still bright; the wind still gently grazed the trees, but now it
was different. One moment, without supervision, and a slip of a foot meant that our
favourite tree would never be scaled again.
In his grief, my grandfather cut the tree down, the treehouse collapsing into a pile of
firewood at its base. My parents could not watch, nor could they bear to look at me.
The blame was placed squarely on my shoulders. The injustice of it, mixed with my own
guilt and grief, was too much for us all to bear. I was just fourteen. Hardly capable of
being responsible for my own life, let alone someone else’s. But that did not seem to
matter.
It was twenty years before I returned. At first, I thought I had arrived at the wrong
house. I could not match the ruin standing before me with the bright, happy place I
had known. Flowers of all colours had filled the elegant front garden, but now there
were just weeds. In that one simple house, birthdays had been celebrated, fireworks

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 were launched and laughs were shared. Now, it was a mere shadow. It was no longer
alive, and never would be again. And the blame and sense of unfairness - well, that will
stay with me forever. Your notes

Commentary
The first paragraph uses personification to set the scene
The story then shifts to the past, with ambitious word choices
The climax of the story indicates a shift in tone, with indirect characterisation used to
make it believable
Nature imagery is repeated throughout the story
The falling action describes the aftermath and links to the focus of the story’s title:
“injustice”
The story finishes by returning to nature imagery and personification

Summary
Remember, plan the order and “flow” of your story
Stick to one setting and no more than two main characters
Vary your sentence and paragraph lengths
Employ imagery and literary devices to bring your story to life
Use indirect characterisation to make your characters realistic and believable
Consider your story as a “scene” in a film:
It is not necessary to know everything about your characters
It is better to immerse the reader with vivid “showing” techniques, such as sensory
imagery and interesting vocabulary
Write with technical accuracy

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