A Letter Home from the Trenches

Preparing for the Writing Assessment – Year 8

iSPACE Sentences 12th October 2015

1. Copy the iSPACE mnemonic down into your book: I = -ing words

S = A Simile

P = A Prepositions

A = An Adjective

C = A Connective

E = -ed words

2. Write down three reasons why writers might vary the way they start sentences

Brainstorm a description of life in the trenches

Label your brainstorm words according to each iSPACE

category

I

S

P

A

C

E

Turn your words into six iSPACE sentences

Crying, he …

Like a …

Around them …

Afraid, he …

Although he was …

Exhausted,

Discuss how effective these six iSPACE sentences are

Crying, he looked down at the mud-covered bodies.

Like a mole, he crept out of the tunnel.

Around them bombs detonated.

Afraid, he stared into the distance.

Although he was surrounded by comrades, he felt alone.

Exhausted, they stumbled along in line.

Turn your own words into six iSPACE sentences then reflect on them.

Crying, he looked down at the mud-covered bodies.

Like a mole, he crept out of the tunnel.

Around them bombs detonated.

Afraid, he stared into the distance.

Although he was surrounded by comrades, he felt alone.

Exhausted, they stumbled along in line.

One by one, analyse and reflect on the effect of your sentences by answering these questions.

1. How have you changed the order of the words?

2. What effect does each sentence now have?

3. Does the word order emphasise a particular word?