LO: Q5 - review abstraction

and planning a creative

response
Reminder: Q5

• A choice between a narrative or descriptive question BUT your

approach to the tasks will be very similar.
• The descriptive task will have an image to use as a source of
inspiration AS WELL AS a focus in the task explanation (e.g. write a
description of a forest as inspired by this picture)
• 24 marks for content and organisation; 16 marks for SPaG – accurate
and consciously crafted use of it
Tips for Q5

• Let’s read through the tips for this question.

• Let me know if you have any questions.
Review structures for descriptive and
narrative writing

• Calm – action – calm

• Following a character’s viewpoint
• Comparing two different moments in time – of day, season, historical
period
• Flashback triggered by a specific detail (physical object, sound, smell)
• Two characters from different backgrounds
• One character makes a false assumption about another character

• Time connectives and prepositions are vital for all

“Calm-action-calm” – what is it?

• Calm – beginning with a serene description of a setting

• Action – introducing a contrast in action and creating tension
• Calm – returning to a serene setting. Resolution.

This does NOT mean you should only have three paragraphs in your
description/story! Consider them as three sections.
1. Write a description of a garden as inspired by this image.

2. Write a story about a character who moves to an unfamiliar setting.

Why does it work?

It…
• Demonstrates that you have consciously organised your piece. (It is,
after all, a cyclical structure!)
• Allows you to focus on the climax (action) so that something engaging
happens.
• It stops you from forming a convoluted and/or unrealistic plot… so long
as you plan the final calm section BEFORE writing
 Model for descriptive task

• CALM: person sitting alone in garden. Beautiful

• ACTION: flashback to birthday party – lots of people and noise.

Argument that followed

• CALM: person realizes their behaviour was the cause of the argument.
But realizes it’s too late to ask for forgiveness. Looks at family of birds
and feels sad.

• Abstraction: how selfish some people can be, importance of friendship.

Maybe solace in nature?
One character makes a false assumption
about another:
• open: focus on character one and describe in detail
• Move to character two and describe in detail
• Back to character one – they now see character two and make false
assumption
• Character two sees character one
• They meet and character one realizes they were wrong
• OR
• They don’t meet – character one either realizes they were wrong or
not.
Time connectives and prepositional phrases
are vital for cohesion

Time connectives Prepositional phrases

• The next morning • Underneath/below
• Almost …years/days on • Beside
• Within a few moments/minutes • Above
• That evening • Inside
• After • Outside
• Suddenly • In front
• Behind
• What is meant by abstraction?
• How does it enhance descriptive and narrative
writing?
What is abstraction?
Abstraction: dealing with social, historical and philosophical ideas,
usually prompted by a specific element of your writing

As she looked at the birds, she realized they were happy: not weighed
down with the need to be cool, to fit in.
What “abstract” things could you write about?
What “abstract” things could you write about?

• The dominance of technology

• An increasingly materialistic society

• An increasingly individualistic society

• The briefness of human life and the passage of time

• The gap between the rich and the poor

• Climate change and the destruction of the earth

• Discrimination
Narrative writing: 6 key rules

• Cover a short space of time (or two short spaces if introducing a time
change).
• Focus on a maximum of two characters.
• Use a realistic setting.
• One central event only.
• Include one-three lines of dialogue
• Do not start writing until plan is finished – you must know how it will
end
• In summary: KEEP IT SIMPLE!
Plan a response to one of the options:

• Write a description inspired by this picture.

OR
• Write a story with the title ‘a work of art’.
You must use calm-action-calm
You must use abstraction
 Description
• CALM: teenager bored, being dragged round art gallery by parents. Doesn’t see
the appeal.
• ACTION: wanders off, ends up in empty gallery, and is very moved by the art work.
• CALM: returns to parents a changed person
• ABSTRACTION: beauty and importance of art

Story
• CALM: fan goes to a concert having saved for months, desperate to meet the star
• ACTION: fan waits outside afterwards, but star hurries past into car. Drops her set
list; fan picks it up – to her it is a work of art
• CALM: fan returns home happy. Star is none the wiser; doesn’t care at all about
her fans.
• ABSTRACTION: celebrity culture
Plan a response to one of the options:

• Write a description inspired by this picture.

OR
• Write a story with the title ‘a work of art’.
You must use calm-action-calm
You must use abstraction
Vary the way you start your sentences

Use each sentence starter to write a description of weather – any

interpretation you like. The examples below show you the basic structure to
use.

• an adverb ending with ‘ly’: Hurriedly turning away, the woman hid the small
dog in her bag

• a prepositional phrase: Underneath the bridge, two men were exchanging

gifts

• a verb ending in ‘ed’: Exhausted, the boy slumped to the floor

• a verb ending in ‘ing’: Looking through the window, the girl is lost in a reverie

• a conjunction: Because of his attitude, he was dropped from the squad

Return to tips sheet – are there any we can
add?

• Make a note in your exercise books – what do you need to work on

most for this question?