Writer’s Word Choices & Their

Effect
Learning Objectives: Learners should be able to:
a. identify special words in contexts
b. suggest reasons for writer’s word choices
c. explain writer’s words and their intended effect
 WRITER’S EFFECT
It is the powerful influence that writers intend to inspire in their readers,
through the use of special words or expressions or some unique pattern of
writing. Writers commonly create effect through the use of imagery (words
that appeal to the five senses – touch, sight, smell, hearing and taste) and
powerful words (strong verbs, strong adjectives and strong adverbs)

Imagery - words that appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, & taste
 Read this text and identify all the adjectives and the verbs in it.

As the fiery Rafael stomped into the cold room, the three men
working on the box sprang and froze. His dark eyes, beaded with
sweat and spitting fire, darted from left to right and his jet-black
hair stood on end. He had a crooked nose and jagged teeth that
made him look like a starving shark waiting to leap. His greying lips
quivered menacingly as beads of sweat cascaded down the greasy,
scarred face. He wiped his face with his huge hands and let out a
ferocious cough. I was sure of my invisibility and as I was sidling
away from the tense room, he yelled, “stop!”. I stopped dead.
What other thing do you notice about how language is used in the
text?
 Read this text and identify all the adjectives and the verbs in it.

As the fiery Rafael stomped into the cold room, the three men
working on the box sprang and froze. His dark eyes, beaded with
sweat and spitting fire, darted from left to right and his jet-black
hair stood on end. He had a crooked nose and jagged teeth that
made him look like a starving shark waiting to leap. His greying lips
quivered menacingly as beads of sweat cascaded down the greasy,
scarred face. He wiped his face with his huge hands and let out a
ferocious cough. I was sure of my invisibility and as I was sidling
away from the tense room, he yelled, “stop!”. I stopped dead.
What other thing do you notice about how language is used in the
text?
 More practice makes one perfect!
Re-read the descriptions of:
(a) the forest in paragraph 4, beginning ‘Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest ... ’

(b) Bo’s reaction to the sudden noise in paragraph 8, beginning ‘Was it minutes or hours later?’
 
Select three powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should include
imagery.
 Explain how the write used your chosen words or phrases to create effect.
 
Write about 200 to 300 words.Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer.
 Re-read the descriptions of the forest in paragraph 4, beginning ‘Soon
he was surrounded by ancient forest ... ’
Paragraph 4:
Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest, footsteps muffled by centuries of
discarded leaves. Myths of terrifying forest guardians suddenly seemed much more
plausible as the endless acres of trees stood watch, stern sentinels of the trail. The
silence was spellbinding as Bo crept onwards, down an almost subterranean tunnel
of primeval greenery. Forwards, always forwards, an intruder in a magical garden.
 
* Select three powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should
include imagery.
* Explain how the write used your chosen words or phrases to create effect.
 Re-read the descriptions of the forest in paragraph 4, beginning
‘Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest ... ’
Paragraph 4:
Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest, footsteps muffled by centuries of
discarded leaves. Myths of terrifying forest guardians suddenly seemed much more
plausible as the endless acres of trees stood watch, stern sentinels of the trail. The
silence was spellbinding as Bo crept onwards, down an almost subterranean tunnel
of primeval greenery. Forwards, always forwards, an intruder in a magical garden.
 
* Select three powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should
include imagery.
* Explain how the write used your chosen words or phrases to create effect.
HOMEWORK WEEK 1
ANALYSING LANGUAGE – PARAGRAPH 8
YOUR ANALYSIS SHOULD INCLUDE:
• AN OVERVIEW STATEMENT
• ANALYSED LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES (3)
DUE DATE: MONDAY, 12TH SEPTEMBER 2022
 Re-read Bo’s reaction to the sudden noise in paragraph 8, beginning
‘Was it minutes or hours later?’

Paragraph 8:
Was it minutes or hours later? A sharp crack, loud as a gunshot, snapped him to
attention. Ears straining, Bo quivered, listening for ravenous forest monsters ready to
devour him in one gulp; or maybe a rogue bear or wild boar, hungry for hiker meat? Bo
lifted the tent flap and peered into the gaping throat of the darkness, ready to be
swallowed.

* Select three powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should
include imagery.
* Explain how the write used your chosen words or phrases to create effect.