UnderstandRead the texts below. Underline the words or phrases which tell the reader where or when the story is taking place. Explain what you have learnt about the setting’s time or place after each one.

Aunt Flo led the way up to the top of the house, still chatting as easily as she breathed. Sarah found it difficult to keep up with each of the stories, all breathlessly told at speed, and instead drank in the details of her new home. Despite its size, it was still only for one family; had it really been a school in Victorian times?

At the top of the stairs, they walked down a narrow corner, passing three rooms and a large, stained-glass window filtering through bright morning light, before stopping at an old door painted in a striking brown which reminded Sarah of slugs.

On the other side of the door was a small room with thin windows coated in the morning frost. A single bed with threadbare and faded blankets stood rather forlornly amongst a clutter of ornaments, each covered with a thick layer of dust.

The hut doors burst open. David leapt out and ran. He raced along the promenade with a speed he had not known his legs capable of. Would he be in time?

Earlier, angry waves had scattered pebbles and shingle onto the grey pavement running parallel with the sea. He staggered on the uneven ground but dared not slow down. He forged onward, ploughing his way through the strong winds. His lungs burnt from gulping down the bitter, chill air.

“All I need now is rain,” David thought and, as if in answer to his fears, he saw that dark clouds were beginning to cluster overhead in the evening sky.

Writing Techniques

Persuasive WritingTIP: Getting the balance of description

right is important: too much, and the reader won’t be able to hold it

in his/her head; too little, and he/she won’t know where

or when the action is happening!

ExplainRead these two passages. Which description of the setting do you think is more effective? Explain your reasons.

1. Carl stepped out into the morning street and stepped back in surprise. Wherever he looked was a bustle of movement and chaos; great tides of traffic and rivers of people raced past in every possible direction, without ever colliding. Over the top of this, every possible noise fought to be heard above an impossible din.

2. Oxford Street in the morning was incredibly busy. The streets were crowded with traffic. Giant red buses drove along and passengers climbed aboard. Hundreds of cars moved along slowly and cyclists sped through the gaps. The pavements were full of passers by - tourists and people on their way to work. Because of this the streets were very noisy. On the road, you could hear the hum of the car engines, the beep of traffic signals and the occasional toot of a horn. On the pavement, you could hear the chatter of people and the sound of countless walking feet.

ExplainRead this text extract.

“And this” said the head teacher, finally arriving at a massive oak door, “will be your new classroom.”

With a groan of complaint, the door creaked open and Peter peered into the room in which he would spend the rest of the school year.

Windows set high in the opposite walls let faint traces of light into the shadowy room, which failed to illuminate the scene. The head teacher cheerfully ushered Peter through the door and, brushing a thick layer of dust from the light switch, turned on an ancient light which crackled and buzzed menacingly.

In the light, Peter could see that the bulk of the room was taken up with rows of ancient wooden desks, each facing the front. Faded ink stains on their surfaces told of the

students who years ago had sat in this very room. Around the walls, faded posters clung desperately to faded backing paper; whatever messages they might have once held were thoroughly faded now.

“This will be your desk,” the head teacher told him, tapping one that stood near an ancient ceramic sink with rusted taps.

“ Okay...” Peter said, struggling to force enthusiasm into his voice.

Desperately he cast about the room, trying to spot something to speak positively about and, ignoring the stuffed badger in the corner and the skeleton grinning from beside the teacher’s desk, failed.“ Where’s the interactive whiteboard?” he asked.“ Oh,” frowned the teacher. “ What’s one of those?”

What impression do you have of the setting?

Explain in your own words why this is an interesting place for the action to take place.

Challenge Write three sentences about each of these images. Make sure that you use effective word choices to make the two settings sound different to the reader.

Test Read the setting description below. Think of the different techniques the writer has used to share details of the time and place. Complete the table below with an example for each technique listed, taken from the text.

As the trail drew closer to its end, Wyatt scanned the empty clearing for evidence of another soul and found none. The only trace of life was the sound of a distant creek feebly crawling through sun-baked clay and a lonely vulture endlessly circling through the cloudless, blue sky.

This seemed to him a poor place for a meeting. The ancient, gnarled grey oaks with leafless branches offered little protection against the harsh Arizona sun. Sun-bleached grass struggled out of the dirt and waved weakly in the breeze. Here the air was hot and thick, resting on him like a heavy shawl

Tired from the long ride, Wyatt tethered his horse to a fallen tree before seating himself on one of many large, grey boulders. He pulled the stopper from his water pouch, washed some of the trail dust from his mouth and spat the water onto the cracked ground.

Adjectives

Through action

Personification

Simile

ApplyWhat could happen here?

Write a short story set in this fairground ride. Remember to describe your setting effectively.