Wemmick's Postbox: Paper 1 - Descriptive/Narrative Writing

Hello,

One last blog ahead of Lang Paper 1 tomorrow.

Section B - Writing (45 mins - 40 marks)

This is a big task. It's worth half the marks on the paper.

Remember, the tasks will be linked in some way to the reading material in section A, which should help you in terms of ideas, techniques etc.

You have a choice of two tasks. One will be based on a picture, the other will not. The tasks will either be to DESCRIBE or to write part of a STORY/NARRATIVE. Many English teachers are advising students to go for the picture/description option. I would tend to agree with this advice as it takes away some of your options, focusing you on HOW to write (style) rather than WHAT to write (content), but if you have a good idea for a narrative, go for it.

Please note: AQA have said it is possible for there to be two descriptive tasks or two narrative tasks (as you can see in one of the example papers at the bottom of this post). It's unlikely, but possible. Please read the task carefully.

Here's an example of what the tasks looks like:

Your first step is to pick out the key words in the task that tell you about the form, audience and purpose. These must be at the forefront of your mind throughout. For example:

E.g.
Task 1
Form - descriptive writing
Audience - people of your own age
Purpose - to describe (to win a creative writing competition!)

Task 2
Form - a story (only the opening)
Audience - readers of your own age
Purpose - to describe and narrate (for a creative writing competition)

These details can be very important. For instance, you'd write differently for people of your own age compared with, say, your parents.

Please note: the initial information about the 'creative writing competition' for 'people of your own age' is for both tasks, not just the first. Look carefully. This is true for all the other specimen papers too (see the bottom of this post).

Next, either annotate the picture with ideas (if you are doing the first task) or make notes or a plan.

Picture-based tasks

If you go for the picture-based task, draw boxes around the most interesting things to focus on, and decide on an order in which to describe them:

Here, I've picked out four key areas to focus on. I'd start with the waves and the weather conditions, before focusing on the coloured houses (which perhaps I might personify as suffering in the conditions). Then I'd bring in the train, starting with the front (again, it could be compared to a creature's head?) and then focusing back on the waves crashing over the carriages.

If I'd got all that done, I might take it further by having the train pull in at the station, etc. Remember, the task doesn't say 'describe the picture'; it says 'write a description suggested by this picture'. You have artistic licence to make creative decisions. But don't write a story!

Story writing

If you decide to go for the narrative option, then think about the reading material you were given in Section A (this was a part of a story) - it may help give you inspiration in terms of techniques, structure etc. I'd advise you to:

describe a setting in vivid detail and set the appropriate tone
introduce a character
end on a first key event (an inciting incident) that intrigues the reader and makes us want to know more

This is enough for most tasks. Obviously, if the task is very specific, adapt the plan above to make it work.

The benefit of the first task is that there is less to do and more stimulus material, allowing you to get started quickly and focus on showing off you skills.

Now, about showing off those skills...

This is your one and only chance to show how well you describe and how creative you are as a writer.

GOLDEN RULE: DON'T BE BORING!

Try to show what you've learnt (particularly from Dickens) about the craft of the writer.

How do you prove you're a great writer?

Make sure it's stylish and crafted
Get the basics right (spelling, punctuation, paragraphing)

Remember, if you don't write in paragraphs, you get the grade you deserve. The mark scheme pretty much assumes you write in paragraphs all the way down to the bottom. One way of making sure you write in paragraphs is to make a plan.

Evidence of conscious crafting:

Tailor your writing to suit the form, audience and purpose.
Use ambitious, precise word choices.
Have a clear structure & paragraph effectively.
Vary your sentence structures (eg. include short sentences and long, list-like sentences for effect). See pic...
Show off (but not too much): use metaphor, personification, alliteration, single word sentences, congeries, anaphora, epizeuxis, diacope etc. Revise these techniques - but don't over-do them! Clarity is important too.
Put extra thought into how to start and finish. Short sentences always work well here. Don't be obvious and don't be boring!