”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Dcscri;řivc :riřing sřrucřurc
In this free lesson by [Link], we will learn a structure you can apply to any
descriptive writing piece you write for First Language English IGCSE. This will be
particularly useful for your coursework or for your Paper 2, the writing paper.
Aařck my vidco lcsson and ;rocccd :iřk řkc acřiviřics bclo:.
Answer the questions.
What is the difference between a description and a narrative?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
What does ‘connotation’ mean?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
What are the connotations of cherry blossoms?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Mark sckcmc tor dcscri;řivc :riřing
Content and Structure: how well-developed is your description and how well do
you structure it?
Ba„d C Ba„d 5 Ba„d 4 Ba„d 3
Com;lcx Dcvclo;cd Rclcva„ř Sřraighřforward
Many well- Frequent, Selection of Task is
defined and well-chosen relevant addressed with
developed images ideas, image a series of
ideas Mostly and details relevant but
Convincing convincing May be straightforward
overall picture picture tendency to details
with varieties write in a May be more
of focus narrative typical of a
style narrative
Style and Accuracy: how grammatically accurate is your writing and
how effective are your language choices?
Ba„d C Ba„d 5 Ba„d 4 Ba„d 3
Co„sisřc„řly Mosřly accurařc, Somcřimcs Sim;lc la„guagc
accurařc a„d mosřly ;rccisc ;rccisc, ofřc„ wiřh somc
;rccisc makcs small scrious crrors
crrors
Precise and Mostly Some precise Simple
effective precise vocabulary vocabulary
vocabulary vocabulary Some variety and sentence
Range of Mostly varied of sentences structures
sentence sentences Frequent Frequent
structures Mostly small errors grammar
Almost accurate errors, some
always grammar, serious
accurate some minor
grammar errors
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Excm;lar:
Why is the
opening line
Mcmorics ot Ckcrry Blossom Scason effective?
It was April, and the time had come again for Tokyo to be
velveted in a pink blanket. Shinjuku National Garden, vast and
winding, was bustling with life: lovers made eyes in pedalos on
the lake; a pretty girl posed for photos with petals in her hair; a
tourist hunted for the best picnic location, dodging and diving What do you
around swarms of sightseers; and my grandfather held my notice about the
sticky little hand, as I looked up at the blooms with awe-struck use of sentencing
and punctuation?
eyes.
The air hummed with the click of cameras, the burble of
conversation in a tapestry of languages, and the insistent
shrieks of the cicadas. Cameras, conversationalists, and cicadas
alike had all united here for a singular purpose: cherry blossom
season had arrived.
What do you think
Winter had been long. I distantly remember that December that the images
year had been brutal, bracing, unrelenting. Distantly, distantly, I symbolise?
recall biting cold mornings, snow crunching underfoot, and my
dad bundling me four layers deep before taking me to school.
Perhaps because of this, the bees were particularly thankful for
Shinjuku's reawakening landscape that year. One such bee
danced gracefully between blossoms, bathed in the soft
embrace of the late afternoon sun. Its tiny form, a marvel of What is the tone of
intricate design, moved with an inherent rhythm, as if nature's this description?
heartbeat were channelled through its translucent wings. The
bee's body shimmered like liquid gold, catching the sunlight in
an iridescent dance. Delicate wings brushed against the petals;
each touch was a renewal of life, a promise of another sunrise,
another blossoming flower.
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the park in a rosy glow, What is the
and peering intently at the bees hovering from flower to flower significance of this
paragraph?
sat my grandmother. She was hunkered down on a weathered
bench, her gaze drifting softly across the park. Every so often,
she met my eyes with a wink or blew my granddad a kiss. How
many seasons had they passed together? Had they once ridden
pedalos with the setting sun kissing their skin? How many
blossoms had they watched bloom and fall?
Softly, petals spiralled to the ground, scattering like stardust
beneath our feet. The floor was a confetti of blossoms, dusky
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
pink, alabaster, fuchsia and ivory, vibrantly alive. But soon, the
march of the crowds through the park ground the petals down
into a soggy mulch that clung to my shoes. Over time,
raindrops and footsteps worked together, coaxing the petals to
merge with the soil, creating a rich bed that would nourish the
very trees from which they had fallen.
It is April. I am no longer a little girl with sticky hands, and my
grandfather no longer walks me through Tokyo's parks. But What images are
repeated to
nature does not heed the passage of time and has filled the
create a circular
skies with fireworks of blossoms once more. It is very quiet structure? What is
here. Singular petals fall from the trees above my grandparents' their emotional
grave before winding down to earth. They find home on my impact?
clothes, in my hair. When I close my eyes, I am back there, that
April in the park when cherry blossoms briefly brought the world
to life. How precious it is, to wait all year to see something so
beautiful it cannot possibly last beyond a week and to possess
memories too beloved to ever be replicated.
Rctlccř
Look back at the mark scheme. Why would this description receive band 6 for
Content and Structure?
What is good about its use of language devices, structure and development of
imagery?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…….……………
Look at the mark scheme again. Why would this description receive band 6 for
Style and Accuracy?
What is good about its sentencing, vocabulary, punctuation and choice of
language? Can you notice any grammar errors?
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……….…………
There is no such thing as a perfect description and all descriptions can be
improved.
What suggestions would you make to improve this description and why?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………
Rccommcndcd sřrucřurc
Zoom out – long shot: describe the whole scene in detail and
mention something that you will return to at the end of your
description.
Zoom in: pick one detail, make it symbolic, and describe it in depth. This could
be a good opportunity for an extended metaphor.
Change perspective: imagine the scene through the eyes of somebody who is
there – what are they feeling?
Zoom in again: pick another symbolic detail to describe in depth. Pick something
contrasting to your earlier symbol.
Emotional ending: finally circle back to something mentioned in your opening
paragraph, highlighting the emotional atmosphere.
Gcřřing ins;ircd
Ckcrry blossoms – ins;irařion ;icřurcs
Look at the inspiration images below. Feel free to make notes in the margins
around each photo of any ideas that come to your mind.
What words or phrases could you use to describe this scene?
What would the atmosphere and tone of your description be?
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
What imagery could you zoom into?
What imagery could you circle back to?
What symbols could you use?
What perspective could you shift to?
How could you create an emotional ending?
Zoom ouř – long skoř
Zoom in (;ick a symbol)
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Ckangc ;crs;ccřivc
Zoom in again (conřrasřing symbol)
Emořional cnding (circlc back)
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Ckcrry blossoms – ins;irařion vidcos
As you watch the video inspiration shown in my video lesson, think about the
questions below.
What words or phrases could you use to describe this scene?
What would the atmosphere and tone of your description be?
What imagery could you zoom into?
What imagery could you circle back to?
What symbols could you use?
What perspective could you shift to?
How could you create an emotional ending?
Notes:
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Flanning
What tone will your writing create?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
What will you describe? Impressive vocabulary: Techniques:
(What image(s) will this paragraph focus on?) (Extended metaphor, symbolism,
semicolon list, PEAT sentence, simile,
etc)
Paragraph #1
Long shot
Paragraph #2
Zoom in
Pick a symbol
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
What will you describe? Impressive vocabulary: Techniques:
(What image(s) will this paragraph focus on?) (Extended metaphor, symbolism,
semicolon list, PEAT sentence, simile,
etc)
Paragraph #3
Change
perspectiv
e
Paragraph #4
Zoom in again
Pick a contrasting
symbol
Paragraph #5
Emotional
ending
Circle back to an
image from
earlier
Make an
emotional
impact
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
Fracřicc řask
Describe cherry blossom season.
• You should write around five paragraphs, using the five paragraph
structure explained in my video lesson.
• You can choose any location in any country, but it must focus on
cherry blossoms.
• Consider what tone you’re trying to create and make sure you keep
it consistent: exciting, overwhelmed, magical, dark, etc.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
Copyright © 2024 [Link]
”KE Dcscri;řivc Ariři„g Sřrucřurc
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
Rctlccř
Did you…?
Content and Structure Style and Accuracy
Write clearly with the Write with correct
explicit meaning easy to spelling, punctuation and
understand? grammar?
Use language devices? Use a variety of sentence
lengths for effect?
Use correct paragraphing?
Use a variety of punctuation
Develop your imagery,
for effect? : ; - ? ! …
extending some ideas?
Use precise and
Include details that bring
sophisticated vocabulary?
your overall picture to
life?
Keep your tone consistent?
Copyright © 2024 [Link]