1. Using poetry as a
source for
creative writing
Homework:
Due Thursday 17th Today I will, experiment with
January 2013 the effects of different types
of sentences and
punctuation; use a variety
Follow the instructions on of linguistic devices for
the sheet for writing your effect and continue to
own poem, employ interesting
experimenting with vocabulary to engage the
vocabulary and literary reader.
devices.

2. Thinking Task:
What questions do you
have about writing?
Write out your questions on
Post-It notes and bring
them to the white board at
the front of the room.

3. Starter:
Draw and complete the first 2
columns of this grid:
Things I know Things I want to Things I have
about writing know about, and learnt about about
practise in, my writing
writing (check my
targets)

4. Sentence and punctuation
warm up
What can you do with the
sentences and punctuation?
There was a tearing sound in the air as a gun was fired.
It was a medium-sized piece whose shell made a
clanking, rattling noise that at first sounded quaint, then
suddenly alarming as it accelerated closer to them.
Brennan and Douglas flattened themselves against the
front of the trench as it went over. The ground shook
and small pieces of earth rained down gently on their
heads. Stephen saw that Douglas's hands were
now shaking badly as he rubbed his face.
Rewrite the text above, changing the sentence structure and the
punctuation used. If you need to add words to ensure new sentences make
sense, you can. BUT YOU CANNOT CHANGE ALL THE WORDS INTO YOUR
OWN IDEAS.

5. Compare your work with the
original:
 What effects have your changes had on
the writing?
 Has the tone of the writing changed?
 Canyou add anything to the 3rd column
on your chart?

6. This extract is from a novel
called Birdsong, which is
about the events on the front
line in WWI. It contains images
of more traditional conflict.
What features of writing can you find? Pick out some interesting ones.
• Literary devices (Simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, description,
personification, repetition, alliteration.)
• Range of sentences Which sentence
• Range of punctuation
• Engaging vocabulary
is the most
effective and
why?

7. Birdsong - writing
You are writing about what it
was like for the soldiers on the
front line.
 Write a paragraph about fears, Success Criteria
thoughts, an attack, the situation You must use:
and what it was like – you decide.
• 3 different
types of
 Use some of the ideas from sentence
Birdsong to help you. You could • a range of
adapt and add to the paragraph
from earlier. punctuation
• at least 2
literary
 Write in 3rd person (he), like the devices
novel.
• engaging
vocabulary.

8. Mametz Wood
As you watch this video, think
about how it relates to
Birdsong
Thinking task:
What is similar
between this
video, Birdsong
and ‘Out of the
Blue’?

9. ‘Mametz Wood’
‘Mametz Wood’
What is the poem about?
Summarise it.
What does it show about
conflict?

10. ‘Mametz Wood’ - writing
Imagine that you are one of
the people uncovering the
mass grave
Success Criteria
You must use:
 Describe uncovering the • 3 different
skeletons – what do they look types of
like? How can you describe sentence
them? • a range of
 Use some of the language from punctuation
the poem.
• at least 2
 Include your thoughts and literary
feelings about what you are
seeing. devices
• engaging
vocabulary.

11. Peer assessment?
What do you think of someone
else’s writing?
 Add a comment – what they have
done/used well and how their writing
could improve.
 Have they met the success criteria for
both pieces of writing?
 Have they had any comments repeated?

12. What have you learnt
about writing?
Return to your chart.
 Complete the final column, using what
you have learnt from today.
Things I know Things I want to Things I have
about writing know about, learnt about
and practise in, about writing
my writing
(check my
targets)