RW1 Thursday PM Creative writing

​RW1 Creative writing lesson

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1viKWq46Pnn7i6s-Bps9HEHq_W_sNbZY_mVBYOTa7YN4/edit

​Today we will be working on a creative writing piece linked with this text 'Early man'

Let's read the text together

Your task is to Imagine you are living in the stone age - describe an encounter with a wild and savage animal


Key focus for all creative writing
1. Describe character - 5 senses, feelings powerful verbs
2. Describe setting - adverbs, adjectives, simile, metaphor
3. Include one emotional climax - one exciting event you can build to

Your task is to Imagine you are living in the stone age - describe an encounter with a wild and savage animal


Keeping it consistent!

You will score higher marks if you use the text as inspiration and ensure the setting and character are consistent to this.

Example
Your setting will NOT be a built up city, zoo, or include roads, cars or any technology - because these things did not exist in the stone age!!!!!

Examiners give marks for:

1. Vocabulary — powerful verbs, ambitious words (stalked, putrid, ominous)

2. Sentence structure — different openers, long and short sentences

3. Punctuation — commas, dashes, ellipsis...

4. Similes and metaphors — that fit the stone age!

5. Structure — build up to ONE exciting climax

6. Consistency — nothing modern, anywhere!

7. Spelling and handwriting — only use words you can spell
   
   
   
   

5-minute plan - write one sentence per bullet point

• Setting — Where are you? Time of day? Weather? One simile.

• Build-up — What are you doing? What can you hear and smell?

• First sighting — You glimpse the animal. Teeth, eyes, movement, smell.

• CLIMAX — The one exciting event. It charges... you're cornered... it's been hunting YOU!

• Resolution — Escape? Fight? End with a feeling or a short, punchy line.
  
  
  
  

HInt on Simile and metaphors

- Try not to use similes which include modern rferences - as these won't make sense if your living in the stone age!
Example
The rocks were as sharp as the daggers I had made
NOT The rocks were as sharp as kitchen knives

Plan

Model paragraph - what works?

As the sun began to set over the forest, I carefully and silently moved along the narrow rocky path. Softly placing my feet on damp leaves, so as to make no noise - I watched and waited. My prey was a large saber tooth tiger I had spotted entering the undergrowth whilst the sun was high. Clutching my wooden-handled spear, I had been pursuing it as the day grew dark. Suddenly, I spotted a movement in the clearing ahead of me, a large ominous shape appeared and I knew it was the beast.

You now have 15 minutes to write 2-3 paragraphs

We will then compare and discuss some ways to uplevel

Plan

Model paragraph - what works?

The tiger had razor sharp teeth which grew down over its mouth, like the long jagged aggers I had made at camp. With red eyes like a burning fire, as it softly padded across the clearing. Its hind legs were incredibly muscular and I could smell the putrid stench of blood from it’s last kill. Growling menacingly, it turned to face me and with a jolt of fear, I realised it had been hunting me all along.

Let's do some vocab uplevelling

• walked → crept, stalked, prowled, slunk

• scared → petrified, my heart hammered, dread crawled up my spine

• big → colossal, towering, monstrous

• looked → glimpsed, peered, scanned

• ran → sprinted, bolted, fled, scrambled

• Sounds: a low guttural growl, snapping twigs, my own ragged breathing

• Smells: putrid stench, damp earth, the metallic tang of blood
  
  

• Start your sentences in different ways - can you use one or two of these to uplevel your own writing

  • -ing opener: Clutching my spear, I...

  • Adverb opener: Silently,... Suddenly,... Cautiously,...

  • Preposition opener: Beyond the clearing,... Beneath the ancient oaks,...

  • Simile opener: Like a shadow, the beast...

  • One SHORT sentence at your climax: It saw me.
    
    

​Your text here