Writer's Effect
Learning Outcomes:
To make good progress:
Identify appropriate
words and phrases.
Outstanding progress: Outstanding progress:
Interpret words and
phrases in the text.
Writer's Effect
To make good progress: To make good progress:
Interpret words and Analyse words and
phrases in the text. phrases in the text.
Outstanding progress:
Analyse a range words and
phrases in the text,
Analyse words and
commenting on the
phrases in the text.
overall impact of language
on the reader
 Step-by-Step
1. Read question carefully
Re-read the descriptions of:
(a) the storm and its effects in paragraph 6, beginning ‘No sooner were we inside…’;
(b) what Zelda enjoyed about the morning in paragraph 7, beginning ‘Having only
managed…’.
Select 3 powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should include
imagery. Explain how each word or phrase selected is used effectively in the context. Write
about 200 to 300 words
2. What are you being asked to focus on?
3. Put a star next to the relevant paragraph
4. Re-read the paragraphs
5. Underline 4 words/phrases in each paragraph
6. Give a 2 – 3 sentence overview of each paragraph
7. Write down a choice
8. Give meaning (one sentence) and effect (2-3 sentences)
 Step-by-Step
Paragraph 6
• No sooner were we inside than there was this hammering on the roof, like machine
gun fire. It was rain. Then the wind rose, shrieking through the trees. The boat
pitched at its mooring and I feared the ropes would not hold. I made Bob go out and
check the knots. Branches of trees on the opposite bank were bent double, their
leaves snatched from them and tossed into the air as if by a manic juggler. The canal
was an angry agitation.

Paragraph 7
• Having only managed a few hours’ sleep, I was roused early by a crowing cockerel. I
opened the curtains to a transformation. The sun seemed to be smiling on the oak
trees wearing their spring foliage like new coats, and feathery clouds were dabbed
across the pale blue sky. A little distance off a heron stood motionless in the
shallows with an air of grey, religious solemnity. Droplets of water hung from flower
stems like tiny translucent pearls. Suddenly, the heron’s head shot downward and
he speared a fish which wriggled in his beak. Attractive as it was, I would have
appreciated the sight more had I enjoyed eight hours’ sleep.
 The general effect is of a ferocious storm,

feeling of being under attack “like machine gun fire”

Hammering the rain has the force of a metal This means the noise was
implement which can alter the
surface of what it hits, potential for continuously loud.
damage The simile suggests a
sense of danger and
like machine gun fire destructive, continuous, loud, rapid destruction. It gives the
sound of a weapon, dangerous /
would hurt a person who went impression that the
outside person who went outside
would be hurt.
shrieking personification – shrill, piercing
noise as though the wind is in pain
or angry, sense of fear
bent double extreme angle into which the
Remember – no marks for
branches have been forced, like a
very old person, suggests power of writing!
storm This shows…
This suggests
 The general effect is of a ferocious storm,

feeling of being under attack “snatched”

snatched the leaves have been taken by This means that the
force, personifying the wind as a
callous thief leaves have been taken
unexpectedly.
tossed into the air thrown up, careless action as if Personifying the wind
wilfully discarded
suggests it is cruel and
callous which gives it
as if by a manic the leaves are whirling around
juggler crazily in all directions, extremely power over the people.
fast, up into the air and then down
again

an angry agitation violent disturbance, the surface of

the water is stirred up by the force
of the rain Make sure your chosen
words and phrases are
focused on the storm!
 The general effect is of an awe-inspiring

scene “feathery clouds”

sun seemed to be the sun is warm and benevolent This means there were
smiling
only light clouds in the
sky. It suggests that the
wearing their spring the oaks covered with fresh green
foliage like new leaves, like clothing worn clouds are delicate which
coats ostentatiously/proudly gives the image of a
picturesque and peaceful
feathery clouds light, wispy, delicate
day.

dabbed here and there, as though an artist

has lightly marked the sky with the
clouds
Make sure your chosen
words and phrases are
focused on the morning!
 The general effect is of an awe-inspiring
scene
religious solemnity austere, sober, serious, an aura of
formality, the grey plumage is like
the clothing worn by someone
clerical/devout/spiritual
like tiny translucent the water droplets are small,
pearls round, shiny with light passing
through them, beautiful and
precious
speared sudden attack suggesting
precision/violence
“like tiny translucent
pearls”
This means the water
droplets are small and let
light through. This
suggests they are
precious and beautiful,
creating an image of
tranquillity.
This means
This suggests