Creative Writing Strategies 1 From the word list below make up your own original images. They will be similes, metaphors and perhaps personification. I’ve included some examples. sea blooms clutch centuries pasture red smaller licked wind current small bank rose mind centuries ambulance yellow life gnaws measured fog stars midnight sand mind last sharp coat imagine mountains coffee spoons glass God moment sand evening nails corners leaf ten teeth heart thousand moment four forest sink picked tongue wet fingers red thousand birds bones sky I EXAMPLES OF IMAGES (a) The midnight sea gnaws at the yellow sand bank. (b) Imagine a small leaf picked by the last birds of evening. 2 Describing a colour to a blind person using other senses. i.e. sound, smell, taste, texture and feeling. e.g. Dark grey is like a crispy, new American dollar note coming of an ATM machine. Or a cloud in the sky, bulging with rain, seconds away from bursting. Brown is the dirt on your knees after a touch rugby match. 3 Group Colour poem. 5 colours on big pieces of paper. These are passed around students who are arranged in groups. Each writes an image or idea linked to the colour. The paper is folded down. Then each group writes a colour poem – from their starter. 4 Brainstorm a list of 8 words starting with a colour. Then students can either write a descriptive paragraph or a 6-8 line poem using one word from the list in order, in each line. Very successful as a structure is provided and words come from the subconscious, so connect. I showed my class my prose poem which doesn’t follow the rule but I like it. Brainstormed words are: burgundy, rich velvet, soft, voluminous, royal cloak, cold. The dark wine from Burgundy was rich in texture, like velvet it gleamed and glistened. It tasted soft against my palate and we drank voluminous quantities in a right royal toast while the poor reached for a cloak to stave off the cold. 5 Take a word such as ocean, desert of a dark night. Cover the board with associated words (got from the class). Then ask them to write a descriptive paragraph or story or poem WITHOUT using any of the words on the board, or derivatives of them. Unfortunately you can only do this oncewith a class. The groans can be heard for miles when they can’t use all the wonderful vocab they’ve come up with. 6 Make a list of adjectives and a list of nouns. eg. Think of all the nouns you can to describe ‘lightening’. Think of all the adjectives to describe ‘lightening’. List on the board. Then do the same for ‘snake’. Then use the words under the lightning column to describe a snake and vice versa. eg. “Scary lightning dug its diabolical fangs hissing into the ground. and “A fierce, fiery snake slithered like mercury above the golf course. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions 7 Each student comes up with an adjective – write on the board. Each student comes up with a noun. Write on the board. Pick odd combinations and write a 50 word description of the combination. Exactly 50 words. This produces concise descriptive writing. Students are concerned with getting the word limit so proof-read well. 8 Make a list of favourite words. Then choose – say 4, and use them in a different way – as a different part of speech and a new meaning. eg. The prattle rose above the horizon dark and ominous. It seemed frugal, threatening our whole existence. A flannel sounded a warning to the rubicund masses. 9 Childhood language poem is a favourite of his. The students wrote a list of their childhood words. Then they have to link the words with an idea and form or shape it into their own linguistically individual poem. 10 Headline poems – Using headlines, cutting up words to create a poem. General ____My paragraphs are sound. Capitalisation ____I have capitalised the first word in each sentence. ____Each of my paragraphs has one main idea. ____I have capitalised people and pet names. ____I have used correct grammar. ____I have capitalised months and days. ____I have used correct punctuation. ____I have capitalised cities, states, and places. ____Full-stops are at the end of my sentences. ____I have capitalised titles of books, movies, et cetera. ____I have quotation marks around dialogue. Word Choice ____Every word seems just right. ____My spelling is correct. ____I used a lot of describing words. ____My handwriting is legible. ____My words paint pictures in the reader's mind. Fluency ____My sentences begin in different ways. ____I used strong verbs like darted and exclaimed. ____My sentences build upon the ones before. ____I used synonyms to add variety. ____My sentences are different lengths. ____The meaning of each of my sentences is clear. Ideas ____I used a graphic organizer to create and organize ideas. ____My sentences flow and use correct grammar. ____My ideas are written in my own words. ____There are no run-ons. ____My writing is clear and focused. ____My sentences are complete. ____I understand my topic. Organization ____My writing is sequenced in order. ____My details give the reader important information. ____My ideas relate to one another. ____My introduction is exciting and inviting. ____My ideas flow and are well connected. ____I have listened to suggestions from the teacher or peers. ____I have a satisfying conclusion. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions From The 2011 NZQA Conditions of Assessment AS 1.4 Produce creative writing AS 1.5 Produce formal writing AS 2.4 Produce a selection of crafted writing AS 3.4 Produce a selection of crafted and coherent writing Assessment opportunities Good assessment practice in writing includes providing multiple opportunities for students to draft, develop and craft several pieces in appropriate text types. Each writing assessment opportunity should include all of the following stages: planning, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading. Time required to complete these stages may vary. Students should also be given opportunities to pursue their individual writing interests. For the Level 2 and 3 standards must present at least two pieces for assessment. Writing tasks can be integrated with other parts of the English programme, such as written reports developed to present connections across texts [ASs 1.8, 2.7, 3.7]. Wherever such integration between different parts of the programme occurs, teachers must ensure that the work presented for assessment is developed sufficiently to meet the criteria for the other standard. In all cases teachers should refer closely to the relevant standard including the Explanatory Notes and the Conditions of Assessment Guidelines. In order to provide sufficient evidence, writing should be a minimum of 350 words at Level 1, 500 words at Level 2, and 650 words at Level 3. While poetry may not reach these minimums, a poem considered for assessment must be of sufficient length to demonstrate depth of ideas, control of language and form. Good assessment practice Writing should not be treated as one or two short assessment events. Instead, programme design should ensure that a student’s best writing is developed over the year, then recognised for assessment. This includes providing opportunities for students to draft, develop and craft several pieces of writing. Spreading the writing programme over an extended period is essential. This approach may involve developing some pieces of writing to an early draft stage only, then ‘parking’ this writing to be revisited later when writing skills have developed further. This process can enable significant improvements in students’ writing skills. Teachers might first direct their constructive feedback towards developing content in students’ writing by commenting on ideas and structure. Feedback might then be expanded to include other elements such as crafting and the use of writing conventions. Teachers might discuss how the techniques used in exemplars can be applied to the students’ own writing. Teachers should be aware of the importance of differentiating advice to suit students’ individual strengths and development needs. Teachers might consider using a ‘hands on, hands off’ approach in the writing programme: ‘hands on’: where the teacher provides significant input in order to indicate in detail within the student’s own work the areas they should work on to improve their writing. In a ‘hands on’ Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions situation, the understanding shared by student and teacher is that this strategy is intended to directly target particular skills in the context of the student’s own work and thereby improve their writing, not to prepare a piece for NCEA assessment. The level of teacher input under a ‘hands on’ strategy is too high to claim that the writing is wholly the student’s own rather than the teacher’s. ‘hands off’: where as the programme progresses, the student has developed skills sufficiently so that the teacher has a much less specific level of input and therefore the writing can be presented for assessment. Authenticity of student work Students should complete writing intended for assessment in class to ensure authenticity. No work may go out of class in hard copy or in electronic form such as email. Drafting by hand or word processing should be completed under teacher supervision. Drafts should be regularly emailed, stored and/or printed by the teacher to document the process. Teachers may guide students through the writing process. Teachers might demonstrate how the techniques used in samples and exemplars can be applied to the students’ own writing. Where writing is to be presented for assessment, teacher feedback should not compromise authenticity but may include suggestions about areas where further developments are needed. As students develop their final drafts, teachers may offer appropriate guidance that the writing may need further work on ideas, language, structure or accuracy in grammar, spelling, punctuation or paragraphing. If writing is to be presented for assessment, teachers should ensure that the extent of their input does not compromise assessment validity; in other words, the writing is the students’, not the teachers’. If writing is for assessment, teachers can only indicate that certain types of errors [for example, grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors] require attention. Teachers should not correct errors, rewrite sentences or make detailed written annotations or give verbal feedback identifying and commenting on individual errors throughout whole pieces of writing. (Refer to “hands on”, “hands off” as described above) Sufficiency [for AS 2.4 and AS 3.4 where at least two pieces of writing are required] A student’s grade should be a reflection of what he/she is capable of as evidenced by their body of crafted writing collected over the year. Where students have produced a body of writing, the strongest pieces should then be selected for assessment for the relevant standard. For this standard teachers should collect evidence over the whole year. For example: during the year a student may have written a variety of pieces of writing able to be assessed for the standard. Some of this writing may have been formally assessed; some may not yet have been formally assessed. At the time of final assessment, the teacher will consider all evidence and award a grade that best reflects the student’s achievement. In the situation where there are varying grades, a student’s final grade should be a reflection of what he/she is capable of as evidenced by their body of crafted writing collected over the year. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Writing Level Two Essays Teaching and Learning to prepare students for 90377, 90378 and 90379 To prepare your students for (90377) Extended Text, (90378) Short Text and (90379) Visual Text response you will need to ensure you: complete a close study of the text(s) that cover the use of techniques, analysis of plot, events, conflict, character(s), themes and setting explicitly teach students how to identify and explain the effect of a broad range of verbal and visual language techniques provide historical and contextual information to broaden their understanding of issues explore how the reader/viewer is “positioned” by the writer or director explicitly teach students to plan, structure and write essays show the student a range of past questions explicitly teach students how to structure each type of paragraph teach students how to weave quotations in their sentences take students through a range of exemplars provide a number of formative assessments opportunities (such as timed essays, rewriting essays) provide specific feedback that give the students “next steps” for raising their level of achievement A suggested process for teaching essay writing (the order and activities should be reworked to suit your students readiness, interests and learning style) 1) Start by giving students a range of exemplars (without grades). Simply get students to read a range of essays. 2) From their reading, get students to collaborate on an essay structure on the whiteboard or wiki. 3) Get students to guess grades of the exemplars. Get them to write the actual grades on the exemplars and in groups come up with success criteria for Achieved, Merit, Excellence in their own language. 4) Give students a copy of the actual criteria and get them to record their success criteria next to each grade 5) Take students through assessment reports and get students to rewrite report comments in their own words. 6) For their first essay, write a detail structure collaboratively. 7) Model an effective introduction for collaborative essay. 8) Work with them on paragraph 2, taking them through effective paragraph structures, sentences starters and showing how you would weave a quote into the paragraph. 9) Start building an “Excellence” vocabulary and phrasing tool box e.g. protagonist, antagonist, positioning of reader, mis-en--scene etc… 10) Get them to complete paragraph by paragraph in timed pockets of time. 11) After they have handed in first essay. Get them to select a second topic. This time they can work on plan independently or in pairs. Teacher checks plans (give verbal feedback) and then students have two in class periods to complete it. 12) Essay is marked and returned. Teacher gives brief ”next step” feedback. 13) After second one as been marked and returned I would get students to complete at least two more as timed essays. If one of first two didn’t gain “Achieved” then this will be one of the timed essays. 14) Consider getting students to have an essay journal or blog, so they can build up a portfolio of writing and feedback. Feedback should always be used as a springboard for next essay. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Useful Online Resources Resources for English (NZQA) - http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/resources/english/index.html From this page, you can access: Assessment Specifications Exam Documents – for past papers and questions Assessment Reports – for assessor’s comments from the last 5 years Exemplars – 32008 ones are good! Study It – lots of great advice for teachers and students TKI English Online – useful resources for teachers Avoiding 'death by a thousand timed essays'... Marshalling evidence - give students blank grids (along the lines of the SEXY structure) to work in pairs on essay topics, gathering the evidence they would need to construct an essay response. Essay modelling - break down exemplar essays (e.g. NZATE resources) in groups to explore what is expected at the different levels and at achieved, merit and excellence. Discuss parts of essays which are successful, considering why they are successful, such as introductions, conclusions, linking of ideas...Look at an essay which needs lots of improvement so they can make suggestions themselves and 'be the teacher'. Explicit teaching around the exam - clarify the instructional vocabulary which they will have to know at the level they are at (e.g. 'Explain', 'describe', 'visual/verbal features' etc.). Clarify word count, what the paper actually looks like and so on. Share with theme extracts from the Assessment Report. Nothing about the process should be a secret from the students at this stage. Essay planning - provide them with a range of essays to plan in pairs for discussion, without actually writing the essay itself. Or, to write the introduction only. Mix and match structure - once you have looked at the way to structure an essay (using exemplars, SEXY grids etc.), provide them with a cut-up selection of paragraphs to arrange in the most logical and coherent structure, then share with others. Trash or treasure - similar to above. Provide them with a range of points, quotations, examples and an essay question. They must decide what points they would include (treasure) and which are not relevant (trash). Co-construction of essays - working with the teacher on the board, look at exemplars then construct parts of a different essay together, modelling the process, the style etc as you go. Then have a go in pairs. Once students are familiar with how questions for Formal Writing 1.2 are phrased (and the general range of topics), encourage the sharing of current, news articles and ask students to pose statements around them for class debate Article taken from English Secondary School Newsletter Term Four, 2006 Update for Wellington Secondary Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions 90377 Analyse extended written texts(s) Sample Essay Structure Discuss how a character or an individual was important in drawing your interest as a reader or audience in a text you have studied. P1: Introduction State title and author State who draws your interest and why they draw your interest P2: Reason 1 State first reason they draw your interest (e.g. helps you to explore theme of revenge) and techniques (e.g. soliloquy, relationships, actions) used 1st Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this draws your helps to draw your interest 2nd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this draws your helps to draw your interest P3: Reason 2 State second reason they draw your interest (e.g. helps you to explore theme of madness) and techniques (e.g. soliloquy, relationships, actions) used 1st Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this draws your helps to draw your interest 2nd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this draws your helps to draw your interest P4: Reason 3 State third reason they draw your interest (e.g. helps you to explore theme of appearances vs. reality) and techniques (e.g. soliloquy, relationships, actions) used 1st Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this draws your helps to draw your interest 2nd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this draws your helps to draw your interest P5: Conclusion Summarise main points, do not add any new material. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Unpacking the Assessment Criteria and the 2009 Assessment Report 90377 Analyse extended written texts(s) Official Criteria Your Criteria Achieved Analyse specified aspect(s) of extended written text(s), using supporting evidence. Merit Analyse specified aspect(s) of extended written text(s) convincingly, using supporting evidence. Excellence Analyse specified aspect(s) of extended written text(s) convincingly and with insight, using supporting evidence Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Assessment Report What this means to you ACHIEVEMENT WITH MERIT In addition to the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement, candidates who were awarded Achievement with Merit commonly: • responded genuinely to the ideas in the text, connecting their own opinions to the text • provided ample supporting evidence from the text • demonstrated a genuine understanding of the texts’ concerns • demonstrated an ability to connect the text to wider issues • clearly outlined the structure of the essay in the introduction • developed each point made with supporting detail • identified specific techniques used by the writers and supported this with evidence • wrote convincingly • integrated quotations and detail fluently into the body of the answer • wrote a well-structured essay, using connective language • embedded detail about writer’s purpose into the answer • embedded the cultural/historical context of the text into the answer • demonstrated a clear sense of the text as a construct, and an awareness that the text was shaped to elicit reader response. ACHIEVEMENT WITH EXCELLENCE In addition to the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement with Merit, candidates who were awarded Achievement with Excellence commonly: • demonstrated a high degree of personal engagement with the text • made connections between the text and implications for their society and/or life • used structural and textual examples from the wider text to provide support for the overall argument • made clear use of judgement statements • constructed a fully developed argument, with integrated pertinent quotations and evidence • included a stated hypothesis in the introduction which was developed and referred back to throughout the response • provided a well thought out concluding statement • demonstrated individuality in their ideas, which was reflected in a strong sense of writer’s voice • made controlled and purposeful responses • demonstrated appreciation of the historical context of texts • seamlessly linked sophisticated ideas from beyond the text – particularly with regard to the social and historical context • constructed a wide reaching and interesting argument • explored and evaluated different possible interpretations of how the reader’s response was shaped • wrote answers well over the suggested word length • demonstrated a formal academic voice. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions 90378 Analyse short written texts Sample Essay Structure With close reference to two or more poems you have studied this year, discuss the ways in which issues are raised. P1: Introduction State the title and poet for both poems. Outline what issues are raised and what techniques are used to raise them. P2: Poem 1 / 2 techniques State issue raised and techniques used 1st Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue 2nd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue P3: Poem 1 / 2 more techniques State issue raised and techniques used 3rd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue 4th Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue P4: Poem 2 / 2 techniques State issue raised and techniques used 1st Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue 2nd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue P5: Poem 2 / 2 more techniques State issue raised and techniques used 3rd Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue 4th Example (quote) showing issue / techniques Explain how this conveys the issue and the poet’s opinion of this issue P6: Conclusion Summarise main points, do not add any new material. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Unpacking the Assessment Criteria and the 2009 Assessment Report 90378 Analyse short written texts Official Criteria Your Criteria Achieved Analyse specified aspect(s) of at least two short written texts, using supporting evidence. Merit Analyse specified aspect(s) of at least two short written texts convincingly, using supporting evidence. Excellence Analyse specified aspect(s) of at least two short written texts convincingly and with insight, using supporting evidence. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Assessment Report What this means to you ACHIEVEMENT WITH MERIT In addition to the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement, candidates who were awarded Achievement with Merit commonly: • clearly understood the question and addressed the question in their answer • demonstrated a wide vocabulary with which to express their ideas • focused closely on the question, but moved beyond a narrow interpretation of the questions in their answers • revealed a thorough and convincing understanding of the texts discussed • gave equal attention to both texts • conveyed a clear sense of direction in their essays • discussed the effect of particular techniques in depth and were able to relate techniques to the authors’ purposes • provided a number of relevant examples and quotations, which were carefully considered • provided detailed, coherent analysis of techniques with supporting examples • showed personal engagement with the texts • demonstrated an awareness and understanding of authorial purpose • convincingly compared texts, contexts, ideas • convincingly wove supporting evidence into their argument • included appropriate personal response • demonstrated maturity of thought. ACHIEVEMENT WITH EXCELLENCE In addition to the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement with Merit, candidates who were awarded Achievement with Excellence commonly: • wrote a coherent and fluent essay that developed and sustained an argument • wrote confidently and concisely, conveying insightful and sophisticated ideas demonstrating considerable skill with language • wrote insightful introductions and conclusions • demonstrated a perceptive approach to the question, in which an interesting or unusual interpretation was developed • integrated analysis throughout the essay • showed an awareness of the context and purpose of the texts • provided perceptive analysis, with evidence of independent or original response to carefully selected supporting evidence • compared texts, contexts, style, character or ideas perceptively • showed a high level of engagement with and appreciation of the texts • showed a perceptive understanding of the writer’s purpose and craft • showed they knew how to 'go beyond the text' to incorporate author's purpose and the wider world • convincingly discussed the relevance of the texts to their own lives/ wider world • had read beyond the text, and used this information with insight when relevant • developed an argument in considerable depth. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions 90379 Analyse a visual or oral text Sample Essay Structure Discuss TWO ways in which a text you have studied effectively presented its ideas, opinions or information. P1 In my studied text Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott, cinematography and characterisation effectively presented the ideas of self-preservation and devastation. P2 The film Blade Runner uses specific camera angles to emphasise the devastation of Los Angeles in 2019. (Discuss specific examples and how they represent / emphasise the specific idea i.e. why and how is this technique effective). P3 Lighting is also used to add to the sense of devastation. (Discuss specific examples and how they represent / emphasise the specific idea i.e. why and how is this technique effective). P4 Characterisation, like cinematography is used to further explore the idea of self-preservation in Blade Runner. (Describe a character conveys a specific idea, use quotes and specific examples of actions to support your discussion i.e. why and how is this technique effective). P5 Another way characterisation conveys the idea of self-preservation is… (Describe another character conveys a specific idea, use quotes and specific examples of actions to support your discussion i.e. why and how is this technique effective). P6 Brief summary of main points (don’t add any new points). Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Unpacking the Assessment Criteria and the 2009 Assessment Report 90379 Analyse a visual or oral text Official Criteria Your Criteria Achieved Analyse specified aspect(s) of a visual or oral text, using supporting evidence. Merit Analyse specified aspect(s) of a visual or oral text convincingly, using supporting evidence. Excellence Analyse specified aspect(s) of a visual or oral text convincingly and with insight, using supporting evidence. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Assessment Report What this means to you ACHIEVEMENT WITH MERIT In addition to the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement, candidates who were awarded Achievement with Merit commonly: • unpacked the question successfully and understood what was required of them • used appropriate filmic/technical language in their essays • had a thorough understanding and knowledge of their film • showed that they could analyse in depth • structured their responses fluently • wrote fluently • demonstrated a wide vocabulary • applied their learning to the chosen topic (did not express pre-conceived ideas) • showed flexibility in their thinking. 8 ACHIEVEMENT WITH EXCELLENCE In addition to the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement with Merit, candidates who were awarded Achievement with Excellence commonly: • wrote considerably more than the word limit • included perceptive insights that showed original thought • demonstrated the ability to present their ideas clearly and succinctly • addressed all aspects of the question appropriately to produce responses that showed a clear development, from introduction through the presentation of arguments to well-considered conclusions • demonstrated originality in their interpretation of the question • analysed the relationship between the director and the audience • linked relevant material from beyond the texts appropriately • interwove filmic or technical language and quotations effectively within the body of their essays. Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions Essay Resource created by Claire Amos c.amos@auckland.ac.nz Secondary English Facilitator, Team Solutions