In this series, we will go over example essays for GCSE Descriptive Writing. I'll compare a Grade 7 and Grade 9 essay first, then explore an exam technique which will hugely benefit your revision. This is perfect for exam preparation, or to use while practicing your own writing for a teacher assessment. 

If you're struggling with any techniques mentioned, do have a look at my video lessons and other resources available on my profile, or message me directly for more information.

GCSE

English

Essential Exam Technique for GCSE Descriptive Writing

This series will go through the use of metaphors, similes and contrast in descriptive writing. We'll go through different techniques, example essays and writing prompts for you to try! 

If you want more, go to my resources tab to get some more practice questions and example descriptions. 

Descriptive Writing for GCSE: Using Imagery

Using the senses in descriptive writing is often taught at a very basic level with clichés being the norm. This series will show you some more sophisticated techniques, explaining assonance, sibilance and other stylistic choices you can use to give your writing that extra oomph. You'll be using soundscapes like Charles Dickens in no time!

If you want more, go to my resources tab to get some more practice questions and example essays.

Descriptive Writing for GCSE: Using the Senses

Get to know your verbs and vocabulary with this introductory course. You'll learn how to recognise verbs, adjectives and adverbs, and how to use them well in writing for GCSE.

Descriptive Writing for GCSE: Choosing the Right Words

This is your one stop shop for example descriptive wiritng essays for GCSE. 

I include 6 different example essays that describe walking through different settings that are familiar to me (like my local park, my home, a seafront, etc). There are also more example essays that are more difficult, such as writing tasks that force you to put yourself in someone (or something) else's shoes and write from their perspective; or use your creativity and imagination to create a living and engaging description from an image or image description; or finally create your own metaphorical world and use all the other techniques available to you. These are perfect if you're relatively comfortable with first person descriptions and want to expand your repertoire!

Each of these are analysed and unpicked to expose the techniques we have studied up until now (similes, metaphors, vocabulary, soundscapes), all of which are available as resources and videos on my profile. 

Each Journey includes a writing task for you to practice your own descriptions, to then check against the example essays or mark yourself. 

Practise GCSE Descriptive Writing: Example essays

University of Leicester

With this resource pack you'll learn to use the senses in writing just like real authors do. Using examples and practice questions from Charles Dickens, we'll discover how to write sound, smell and even taste and touch seamlessly into our writing to reach the higher grades. With a model answer to check your work, you'll be writing like a famed author in no time!

Using the senses in GCSE Descriptive Writing

This resource is an example piece of descriptive writing. I have tried to write a short story using as many adverbs as I can, 2 or 3 in each sentence. This creates a comic tone. There is also a more dramatic description, as it would appear in a novel. 
This is very useful for anyone struggling with adverbs in GCSE descriptive writing, I'll show you how to make adverbs work for you!

After reading and understanding the example, try doing the following task: 
1. Write 100-200 words of description.
2. As usual, the description should fit into a novel. If you are a reader, pick a book that you like, and imagine your writing fitting into that book.
3. Describe a moment which you want to slow down, and use adverbs just as I did in the example.
4. Remember to pay attention to what you have learned about VERBS and LESS IS MORE.

How to use adverbs in descriptive writing for GCSE

Less is more when it comes to adjectives - sometimes its easy to get carried away and put way too many in a sentence. Practice identifying adjectives first, by doing the following:
1. Read through this description and identify the 6 adjectives.
2. Highlight them on the document 'Identifying Adjectives' 
3. Check your answers with the 'Answers' document

The second exercise forces you to practice being concise and efficient in descriptive writing. Rewrite both paragraphs using the prompts and limitations given, and notice how some words can do the heavy lifting.

Less is more - Identifying Adjectives  

PART 1:
There are 14 verbs in this paragraph. Can you identify them?
The dog ran on, as she cycled behind him, calling for him to come back. Fenton kept on going, getting further away, as she pedalled as fast as she could. She could hear his excited barks as he called out to other dogs. She could tell where he was from the flocks of birds rising from the long grass and trees. She wondered why she hadn’t put him on a lead when they set off.
When you have done that, open the resource and check your answers.

PART 2: 
1. Identify the 21 verbs
2. One of them is a state (remember, the verb ‘to be’)
The surfer moved slowly and silently across the waves, out to sea. She looked behind her, trying to time the next big wave. Now she paddled hard, pushing with her palms, ready to surf the wave.
Just in time, she straightened her arms, sat up, and then got to her feet. The board was steady beneath her and she prepared for the coming rush. As the wave got bigger, she rode on its crest. Her board got quicker as she turned it from side to side, keen to stay on the surface as long as she could. She bent her knees to cope with the force of the wave and rode it towards the beach.
When you have completed this, check the answers in the resource.

Identifying Verbs

These resources include two documents explaining and describing how to choose the right comparison for your simile, where to include them in your writing and how to recognise and avoid a cliché simile, as well as a list of prompts for you to practice for yourself!

How to use similes

Ever wonder how to create contrast in descriptive writing? Here are a few examples of exactly how to do that, using 'but' sentences. A really useful technique for GCSE English, and one you can't really overdo. 

After reading and highlighting the examples, have a go at writing your own 3 contrast sentences using the same technique: one about time or the seasons, one between character A and character B, and one between air, earth, wind or fire.

How to build contrast in sentences & paragraphs

This resource pack will guide you through metaphors and how to use them, from a basic introduction to extended metaphors and practicing your own. We start with identifying metaphors and understanding what they're for, then there's a small exercise to practice this skill, then we go on to learn about the extended metaphor and end with some prompts for you to write your own metaphors!

How do metaphors work?

This is a collection of example essays, including grade 7 and grade 9 level answers, to show you the best ways to use the techniques taught in GCSE English. We explore personification, the Kingsdown Method and the Six Cameras Method. This is perfect for exam revision, or to use while practicing your own writing for a teacher assessment. If you're struggling with any techniques mentioned, do have a look at my video lessons and other resources available on my profile, or message me directly for more information.

Just show me GCSE English exam methods

This is your one-stop shop for practicing descriptive writing. I include 6 different example essays that describe walking through different settings that are familiar to me (like my local park, my home, a seafront etc). Each of these are analysed and unpicked to expose the techniques we have studied up until now (similes, metaphors, vocabulary, soundscapes), all of which are available as resources and videos on my profile. Each Journey includes a writing task for you to practice your own descriptions, to then check against the example essays or mark yourself. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Practice GCSE Descriptive Writing: Journeys through places you know

Use these resources to practice recognising and rounding out assonance, sibilance, consonance and fricatives. This is for students who are already familiar with these techniques, as there is limited explanation. There are multiple examples of each of these techniques, and two practice questions for you to sound it out yourself (answers included). 

Creating a Soundscape

This is another way to practice descriptive writing - if you've completed the Journeys Through Places You Know resource pack, or you're relatively comfortable with first person descriptions. This pack contains two example essays and writing tasks that enable you to use your creativity and imagination to create a living and engaging description from an image or image description. A little more difficult, but it will show in your grades!

Practice GCSE Descriptive Writing: Journeys through an image

This is another way to practice descriptive writing - if you've completed the Journeys Through Places You Know resource pack, or you're relatively comfortable with first person descriptions. This pack contains two example essays and writing tasks that bring out your imagination to create your own metaphorical world and use all the other techniques available to you. A little more difficult, but it will show in your grades!

Practice GCSE Descriptive Writing: Journeys through a metaphor

This is another way to practice descriptive writing - if you've completed the Journeys Through Places You Know resource pack, or you're relatively comfortable with first person descriptions. This pack contains three example essays and writing tasks that force you to put yourself in someone (or something) else's shoes and write from their perspective. A little more difficult, but it will show in your grades!

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