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It's worth saying at this point, that you can get a really good grade by just sticking to what's gone on before: find an emotional tone, break the picture up, and describe the experience of your senses. However, there is one final piece of icing for this cake - and if you can master it, your writing will go up a full grade or two!
It's worth saying at this point, that you can get a really good grade by just sticking to what's gone on before: find an emotional tone, break the picture up, and describe the experience of your senses. However, there is one final piece of icing for this cake - and if you can master it, your writing will go up a full grade or two!
The truth is that most student writing has sentences that start with a determiner or a noun: He went to the shops. The shops were at the end of the road. He went into the shop and found some bread... etc. It's pretty dull.
The truth is that most student writing has sentences that start with a determiner or a noun: He went to the shops. The shops were at the end of the road. He went into the shop and found some bread... etc. It's pretty dull.
The key to making writing sound and feel exciting is varying your sentences. Imagine that writing is like food, and varying sentences is like varying your diet. There's nothing wrong with starting a sentence with a determiner or a noun, but don't do it all the time! Equally, there's loads of fun to be had from varying your sentences - but don't feel like every one has to be a show-stopper.
The key to making writing sound and feel exciting is varying your sentences. Imagine that writing is like food, and varying sentences is like varying your diet. There's nothing wrong with starting a sentence with a determiner or a noun, but don't do it all the time! Equally, there's loads of fun to be had from varying your sentences - but don't feel like every one has to be a show-stopper.
This time I'm going to take the opening paragraph - the one about the forest path - and I'm going to apply the A-Z of sentences to it. For this I'm going to use the phrase MRSTEP and see what I get...
This time I'm going to take the opening paragraph - the one about the forest path - and I'm going to apply the A-Z of sentences to it. For this I'm going to use the phrase MRSTEP and see what I get...
m) A so, so sentence: It was so incredible to watch, so unforgettable to have been there.
m) A so, so sentence: It was so incredible to watch, so unforgettable to have been there.
r) Starts with a preposition: In the centre of it all I found myself
r) Starts with a preposition: In the centre of it all I found myself
s) Starts with three adjectives: Delicate, crisp, fragile; the snow surrounded me as far as I could see.
s) Starts with three adjectives: Delicate, crisp, fragile; the snow surrounded me as far as I could see.
t) Contains three ing words in a row: Drifting, dancing, tumbling; the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
t) Contains three ing words in a row: Drifting, dancing, tumbling; the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
e) Uses onomatopoeia: The drifts crunched underfoot as I moved through them
e) Uses onomatopoeia: The drifts crunched underfoot as I moved through them
p) Contains two wow words: A petrifying tempest, a boreal blast
p) Contains two wow words: A petrifying tempest, a boreal blast
The forest path stretched out before me - so long, so alluring. Amidst the calm of the woodland, my shuffling feet seemed loud and almost intrusive. But the earth below me was soft, mossy, comfortable, and its welcoming touch seemed to pull me forward. I was driving, searching, chasing for something but I didn't know what it was or where I'd find it. With a snap, a broken twig suddenly brought me back to the scene and I realised where I was: in a place of tranquility, a sanctuary for all living things.
The forest path stretched out before me - so long, so alluring. Amidst the calm of the woodland, my shuffling feet seemed loud and almost intrusive. But the earth below me was soft, mossy, comfortable, and its welcoming touch seemed to pull me forward. I was driving, searching, chasing for something but I didn't know what it was or where I'd find it. With a snap, a broken twig suddenly brought me back to the scene and I realised where I was: in a place of tranquility, a sanctuary for all living things.
I ended up with a very different piece of writing this time. It's worth saying that in some ways, I preferred the previous piece because I find that too much technique makes me feel a little sick - like a cake that's got too much icing on it.
I ended up with a very different piece of writing this time. It's worth saying that in some ways, I preferred the previous piece because I find that too much technique makes me feel a little sick - like a cake that's got too much icing on it.
But there is a simple strategy here:
But there is a simple strategy here:
- Read through the sentences below
- To practice, pick a word at random - your name, or your favourite book or film, whatever!
- Write a paragraph that uses each different sentence type in it
- Over time, though, you should just choose four or five sentence types that you really enjoy using and make sure you use them in your exam somewhere
Remember: A couple of special moment are often enough to lift a piece of writing from a 4 to a 6 - or a 6 or an 8!
Remember: A couple of special moment are often enough to lift a piece of writing from a 4 to a 6 - or a 6 or an 8!
The A-Z of Sentences
The A-Z of Sentences
a) Starts with an ‘ing word: Swirling around like stardust, the snowfall left me breathless.
a) Starts with an ‘ing word: Swirling around like stardust, the snowfall left me breathless.
b) Starts with an adverb: Gently drifting down, the snow made the world seem like it had slowed.
b) Starts with an adverb: Gently drifting down, the snow made the world seem like it had slowed.
c) The two simile sentence: It fell like a graceful dancer, like a slow-motion, acrobatic dream.
c) The two simile sentence: It fell like a graceful dancer, like a slow-motion, acrobatic dream.
d) Five words exactly: It was purely, simply: astonishing
d) Five words exactly: It was purely, simply: astonishing
e) Uses onomatopoeia: The drifts crunched underfoot as I moved through them
e) Uses onomatopoeia: The drifts crunched underfoot as I moved through them
f) The past tense verb – ‘ed starter: Rested and calm, I headed for home.
f) The past tense verb – ‘ed starter: Rested and calm, I headed for home.
g) End with ellipses: But that wasn’t the end…
g) End with ellipses: But that wasn’t the end…
h) Starts with a conjunction: Because really the world was just sleeping
h) Starts with a conjunction: Because really the world was just sleeping
i) Be three words long: A magical creation
i) Be three words long: A magical creation
j) A rhetorical question: Was there anything more beautiful?
j) A rhetorical question: Was there anything more beautiful?
k) Contains a metaphor: A thick blanket of snow.
k) Contains a metaphor: A thick blanket of snow.
l) 3 adjectives in a row: I couldn’t believe my eyes: graceful, delicate, soft.
l) 3 adjectives in a row: I couldn’t believe my eyes: graceful, delicate, soft.
m) A so, so sentence: It was so incredible to watch, so unforgettable to have been there.
m) A so, so sentence: It was so incredible to watch, so unforgettable to have been there.
n) Starts with a verb: Drawing a deep breath, I stepped into the wasteland
n) Starts with a verb: Drawing a deep breath, I stepped into the wasteland
o) Uses personification: The cold slipped its fingers around my throat.
o) Uses personification: The cold slipped its fingers around my throat.
p) Contains two wow words: A petrifying tempest, a boreal blast
p) Contains two wow words: A petrifying tempest, a boreal blast
q) Rhyme: It was a circus show of falling snow, and one that only I would know.
q) Rhyme: It was a circus show of falling snow, and one that only I would know.
r) Starts with a preposition: In the centre of it all I found myself
r) Starts with a preposition: In the centre of it all I found myself
s) Starts with three adjectives: Delicate, crisp, fragile; the snow surrounded me as far as I could see.
s) Starts with three adjectives: Delicate, crisp, fragile; the snow surrounded me as far as I could see.
t) Contains three ing words in a row: Drifting, dancing, tumbling; the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
t) Contains three ing words in a row: Drifting, dancing, tumbling; the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
u) Contains alliteration: A terrible tempest of touch, like a boreal blast from above.
u) Contains alliteration: A terrible tempest of touch, like a boreal blast from above.
v) Contains sibilance: Slipping and sliding, I sliced my knees.
v) Contains sibilance: Slipping and sliding, I sliced my knees.
w) Contains assonance: It was a dry, wild kind of sky.
w) Contains assonance: It was a dry, wild kind of sky.
x) Contains a sub clause: I moved through it with care, there were invisible rocks after all, but made it to the summit.
x) Contains a sub clause: I moved through it with care, there were invisible rocks after all, but made it to the summit.
y) Uses repetition: I’d keep going even though I was cold; I’d keep going even though I was tired; I’d keep going even though I was wet. I’d keep going.
y) Uses repetition: I’d keep going even though I was cold; I’d keep going even though I was tired; I’d keep going even though I was wet. I’d keep going.
z) Contains a complex list: It was silent, except the sound of my feet as they crunched through the drifts; the sound of the birds as they sang in the trees; and the sounds of my thoughts as they drifted away.
z) Contains a complex list: It was silent, except the sound of my feet as they crunched through the drifts; the sound of the birds as they sang in the trees; and the sounds of my thoughts as they drifted away.
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