Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing
I can use descriptive writing to enhance my narrative writing.
Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing
I can use descriptive writing to enhance my narrative writing.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Narratives that try to tell too much story are often unsuccessful
- Instead,you can use an emotion-led narrative, which will help keep your plot manageable so you don't try to say too much
- Use skills from descriptive writing to elevate your narratives, especially when describing emotions
- Use figurative language to make your narrative descriptions more vivid
- It is better to describe your character's physical symptoms of emotion rather than just stating what the emotion is
Keywords
Falter - To falter means to lose strength or purpose, and almost stop.
Accustomed - If you become accustomed to something, you become used to it.
Demeanour - A person’s demeanour is the way they look or behave.
Furrow - A furrow is a long, narrow cut or line in an object's surface. We use the word furrow to describe the lines formed when someone frowns.
Common misconception
Students think using figurative language to describe emotions means using similes and metaphors.
Students should use figurative language more subtly, in verbs and adjectives to create extended metaphors.
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Writing masters unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need a copy of the model answer used in this lesson. You will find it in the additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
lose strength or purpose
becoming used to something
someone's appearance or behaviour
long line in the surface of something