An eyewitness account is:
An eyewitness account is a writing piece that presents a significant event. Through this writing piece, the reader should be able to
picture and imagine this event happening through vivid adjectives and detailed descriptions. The writer has to step into a character’s
/item’s shoes and then write from his/her perspective. When you write an eyewitness account, you should be able to write as though
you were watching the event unfold or through the thoughts and feelings of the character whose perspective you were writing for.
Things that you could start with:
First, you need to pick an event and then brainstorm about what you are going to write. Use about 10-15 minutes for this. Try to
brainstorm in your character’s/item’s shoes.
Brainstorming:
It is always best to write about events that you find:
-You find most interesting
-Saw from the start to the end
-Remember most clearly
Afterwards you should take your events that you brainstormed and then you put them in a list so that it is in chronological order, and
it makes sense to the reader. Have specific information, when you are writing . When you brainstorm, you should include these
questions.
- Whose perspective are you writing from?
- Where did this event take place?
- Who took part in this event? Who caught my attention?
- How did I feel watching this event unfold?
- What did I hear, see, smell, feel and taste?
- How significant does this scene mean to the character or you?
Attention! Be sure to check if your list has any unnecessary events, think about it, is this event important to my story?
A good eyewitness account should include:
– You should show the event unfold, not tell. Through showing, we can illustrate a picture in the readers head. As though the reader is
watching the event through the character’s mind, and feelings. Example: The flowers are pretty (Tell). The flowers are blooming in the
sunshine; they were like beautiful dancers, swaying in the wind. They attracted millions of butterflies, all gasping at the beauty of the
flowers (Show).
– Your eyewitness account should also include fabulous vocabulary, and vivid adjectives. It also should included literary devices. You
should not be using words like: good or bad. In your eyewitness account. These words often cannot give a detailed description, which
will provide a lower chance of the reader really understanding the event, instead, use: Terrific, superb, magnificent, etc. The words
should also be precise, and they are often stronger when grouped in threes. Use a thesaurus if you want to have a better use of
vocabulary.
– Also, include dialogue, which is the character’s actual speech. But don't go overboard with too much. Only have two to three direct
speeches linked together.
– Detailed descriptions are very important! Use descriptive language and precise adjectives. This helps paint a vivid picture in to the
readers head.
- Grammar can be a mix of past and present tense, also called tense shifting because you may have flashbacks, so you will need to use
past tense to write as well as present tense.
Framework:
Your eyewitness account should include a introduction, a body and a conclusion about the event.
Attention! Make sure that you keep the same voice throughout the story, not suddenly or slowly changing to your own perspective,
or the reader will be baffled.
Introduction: In the beginning of the writing, you want a hook that can grab the reader’s attention, makes them want to continue
reading on, something that makes them curious about the story .If you start off with a boring one, it is more likely that people will not
want to read your piece. You may use literary devices, like onomatopoeia, hyperboles, similes, and alliteration. You should also add
good vocabulary and vivid adjectives to spike up the introduction.
Body: You are writing from one of the characters perspective of your story. So you have to imagine yourself as the character you are
writing from or someone watching the event unfolds. Use descriptive language to describe the event that shows the event, not tell the
event. The eyewitness account is usually best written in the chronological order. You could also use a mix of past and present tense
because of things you write about in general or specifically. But of course, you can start in the middle of the scene and then you can
describe the beginning of the event through the characters thoughts, dialogue, or feelings.
Conclusion: You can end your piece whatever way you want to end it. But you must let the reader understand the importance of the
event. As well as the change in the character through the event or why you wanted to write about this event. You can also leave the
reader with a cliffhanger, making them want to know what happens next.
Peer Editing / Revising your work
After you have finished your writing, make sure that your grammar is correct. Then, share your writing with a friend. Make
them write comments about your piece, what was good or needs to be improved. Make them give you positive and
constructive criticism, you should also help them out with editing, this way, both of your writing will be fabulous!
YOU HAVE FINISHED WRITING AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT!
Pat yourself at in your back, feel good? Great! Your writing is now excellent and people are eager to read it! Share with
friends and family; prove to them how great of a writer you are!
Activity: A Guide to writing an eyewitness account
Unit: I will never forget……
Unit Question: How does descriptive language paint pictures of a significant event?