5. Bringing it all together
Though it can seem like there's a lot to take on when preparing for your exams, you'd do well to break anything down into its simplest form. For descriptive writing, my advice is pretty simple:
Though it can seem like there's a lot to take on when preparing for your exams, you'd do well to break anything down into its simplest form. For descriptive writing, my advice is pretty simple:
- Choose a mood for the picture
- Break the picture up into smaller pieces
- Write a sentence about each of the senses, including thoughts or feelings
- Try to use a few fancy sentences from the A-Z
And that's not so hard, is it?
And that's not so hard, is it?
And to prove it, I'll do one right now...
And to prove it, I'll do one right now...
I'm going for a kind of hopeful mood - imagining someone arriving here for a new beginning of some sort.
I'm going for a kind of hopeful mood - imagining someone arriving here for a new beginning of some sort.
I'll focus on:
I'll focus on:
- The taxi
- The hill
- The trees either on the right
- The apartment building to the left
- The tram
And from my A-Z of sentences I'll try and use the letters from SAN FRAN - as that's where this picture was taken...
And from my A-Z of sentences I'll try and use the letters from SAN FRAN - as that's where this picture was taken...
s) Starts with three adjectives
s) Starts with three adjectives
a) Starts with an ‘ing word
a) Starts with an ‘ing word
n) Starts with a verb
n) Starts with a verb
f) The past tense verb – ‘ed starter
f) The past tense verb – ‘ed starter
r) Starts with a preposition
r) Starts with a preposition
a) Starts with an ‘ing word
a) Starts with an ‘ing word
n) Starts with a verb
n) Starts with a verb
The taxi pulls away, almost silently, and heads for the distant hill. On its roof, a white sign sits like some kind of wizard's hat - as though it was always ready to magically transport people to this land of dreams. I smile as I see the two tail-lights staring back at me, like bright red eyes, and then the indicator starts to wink, like it's saying one last cheeky good-by-and-good-luck, and then the taxi turns right and leaves me.
The taxi pulls away, almost silently, and heads for the distant hill. On its roof, a white sign sits like some kind of wizard's hat - as though it was always ready to magically transport people to this land of dreams. I smile as I see the two tail-lights staring back at me, like bright red eyes, and then the indicator starts to wink, like it's saying one last cheeky good-by-and-good-luck, and then the taxi turns right and leaves me.
My eyes return to the hill - so neat and well ordered: a single yellow line running up its centre, like some kind of spine, while white lines and tram lines run parallel to that, edging their way towards the pavement. I've always found something strange about watching cards from a distance, the of their driving creates a strange feeling in me, of something missing; something lost. The hill ahead reminds me as well of the challenges I've faced - and those that are still to come. But I can tie myself to a line, stay focused on a course - like a tram, stuck to its rails - I know I can make it anywhere.
My eyes return to the hill - so neat and well ordered: a single yellow line running up its centre, like some kind of spine, while white lines and tram lines run parallel to that, edging their way towards the pavement. I've always found something strange about watching cards from a distance, the of their driving creates a strange feeling in me, of something missing; something lost. The hill ahead reminds me as well of the challenges I've faced - and those that are still to come. But I can tie myself to a line, stay focused on a course - like a tram, stuck to its rails - I know I can make it anywhere.
Almost as though it could hear me, I'm jolted back to the moment by the ringing alarm of the San Fran tram that comes rattling up behind me. There's always been something quite classic about those things - the painting on the back reminds me of some Victorian side show, or of days out at Brighton Pier when I was a child. The bright yellows and red and greens are childish but so welcoming, so playful. Dreaming of this moment is what I've done for so many years; dreaming of seeing this place, and then making this place my home. Settled, safe, supported, that's what I hope to become.
Almost as though it could hear me, I'm jolted back to the moment by the ringing alarm of the San Fran tram that comes rattling up behind me. There's always been something quite classic about those things - the painting on the back reminds me of some Victorian side show, or of days out at Brighton Pier when I was a child. The bright yellows and red and greens are childish but so welcoming, so playful. Dreaming of this moment is what I've done for so many years; dreaming of seeing this place, and then making this place my home. Settled, safe, supported, that's what I hope to become.
To my right, two huge trees lean across the road, their branches splayed like giant leafy hands, as though they're protecting the streets from some terrible storm. As I look at them, I imagine I can hear their branches rustling in the breeze, whispering in the way they did back home; and for a moment I can remember the smell of damp earth, autumn rains and the fresh cut harvest smell I knew from my days on the farm.
To my right, two huge trees lean across the road, their branches splayed like giant leafy hands, as though they're protecting the streets from some terrible storm. As I look at them, I imagine I can hear their branches rustling in the breeze, whispering in the way they did back home; and for a moment I can remember the smell of damp earth, autumn rains and the fresh cut harvest smell I knew from my days on the farm.
But then there's a sudden shout, from an apartment building opposite, that reminds me that I'm not on the farm anymore, I'm in a city where millions of people hustle and jostle for whatever they can get. In this world, there are no chances being given and no chances that can afford not to be taken. I'll need to think on my feet, stay out of harm's way, and watch my back. At the foot of the apartment block, a vagrant sits in torn jeans and a sweat stained t-shirt and smokes. I want so much more than that. Holding this thought close to me, protecting it like a sacred child, I take my first tentative steps into my new life...
But then there's a sudden shout, from an apartment building opposite, that reminds me that I'm not on the farm anymore, I'm in a city where millions of people hustle and jostle for whatever they can get. In this world, there are no chances being given and no chances that can afford not to be taken. I'll need to think on my feet, stay out of harm's way, and watch my back. At the foot of the apartment block, a vagrant sits in torn jeans and a sweat stained t-shirt and smokes. I want so much more than that. Holding this thought close to me, protecting it like a sacred child, I take my first tentative steps into my new life...
And that was it - five paragraphs, about five different things, shifting between my senses, my thoughts and my feelings, and using the odd fancy sentence where I could.
And that was it - five paragraphs, about five different things, shifting between my senses, my thoughts and my feelings, and using the odd fancy sentence where I could.
The real trick is this: if you're writing comfortably, and you feel confident, then keep on going. Trust yourself. BUT if you get stuck - and EVERYONE gets stuck sometimes - then go back to the structure - the section, the senses, or the sentences - and use this to start you off again.
The real trick is this: if you're writing comfortably, and you feel confident, then keep on going. Trust yourself. BUT if you get stuck - and EVERYONE gets stuck sometimes - then go back to the structure - the section, the senses, or the sentences - and use this to start you off again.
And the most important thing to remember is this: If you've not written it, we can't mark it.
So whatever else you do, try to keep writing!
And the most important thing to remember is this: If you've not written it, we can't mark it.
So whatever else you do, try to keep writing!