WRITER’S
EFFECT
Lesson objectives:
Identify words/phrases that show writer’s effect in a text
Explain the effect of these words/phrases in the text
WHAT IS WRITER’S EFFECT?
Its the effect on the reader’s mind created by an author’s choice of words.
To find writer’s effect ask yourself the following :
What imagery /emotion is the writer trying to create in your mind?
What words does the writer use to create these images/emotions in my mind?
WHAT MOOD OR EMOTION IS
BEING CREATED HERE?
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Figurative language such as similes,
metaphors and personification
Alliteration
Connotation
Rhyme and syllables
Allusion
Description of the setting
Characterization
USEFUL PROMPTS TO USE:
This highlights ……
This shows…
This makes us feel…
This creates…
This implies…
This connotes…
This means…
This suggests…
This represents…
This symbolises …..
The sunlight struggled through the thick canopy of leaves and fought
TASK 1
its way down to the forest floor where no creature stirred. Flashes of a) Write down four pieces of evidence
that show that the setting is lonely
sunlight momentarily penetrated the abandoned darkness with
and forgotten.
illuminated pockets of greens, yellows and browns. There were no
shrills or calls from birds, and no chirping of insects. All that could b) Analyse how these phrases show
the setting is lonely and forgotten.
be heard were the cold, damp gasps of wind aching through the Think about the effect the language
has on you as a reader.
solemn congregation of ancient trees. Long, twisting creepers spun
round the thick bodies of the towering trunks; tying branches to c) Evaluate how your evidence creates
branches and falling down the great bark bodies like melted candle a lonely and forgotten feeling.
Think about how the writer has
wax. Within the intricate lacing of the maze of giant roots that clung created this effect on you.
to the centuries old, untouched earth, darkness engulfed deep pools
that concealed small predators stalking small, slippery prey.
TASK 2
At first I thought it was a tram, but its shape was too
Read the following paragraph.
organic, too lumpy, and it was going far too slowly for
Explain how the writer uses language
that, making almost no noise. It was swaying, swaying to convey meaning and to create effect
up the street with an even momentum in a rolling in these paragraphs.
motion that was drawing it away from us like a tide, Choose three examples of words or
and every time it rocked forward, something about it phrases from each paragraph to support
your answer. Your choices should
made a soft dragging sound on the rails. As we include the use of imagery.
watched, the thing sucked in air and then let out a
deep groan.
Response A Response B Response C
The elephant is shown to The quotation that shows ‘too organic, too lumpy.’
be very out of place in that the elephant is out of This shows that the
relation to its surroundings. place in the city is, ‘too elephant resembled a tram TASK 2
It is fat. Its movement is organic, too lumpy.’ This but was too bumpy and had
very slow and it makes shows that the elephant is a a natural shape. Natalia did
very little noise. It is living creature. Natalia first not know what it was at Evaluate and discuss the
powerful and unpredictable thought it was a tram. The first but realised that it was effectiveness of the
as it moves from side to word ‘organic’ makes us not a machine but
side in quite a dangerous understand that it is natural. something living. This
following three responses.
manner which reminds It makes us feel that it does quote makes the reader
Natalia of the movement of not belong in a city which think that the elephant
the ocean. As it walks, it is inorganic. This shows seemed out of place in the
breathes and gasps deeply. that the elephant is out of city. The word ‘lumpy’
place. makes it seem cartoonish,
harmless and funny.
HOW TO RESPOND TO AN IGCSE WRITER’S
EFFECT QUESTION?
Identify 3 relevant phrases in each part of the question. Give the phrase, in quotation
marks, and explain its meaning. You can then explain its effect on the extract.
The first thing that must be accomplished is that you must identify the overall effect
(according to the question and the extract).
Find any literary devices in the underlined phrases
Now, the effects of the phrases must be jotted down.
Your response should be in continuous writing – one large paragraph for each bullet point.
BAD ANALYSIS VS. GOOD
ANALYSIS
TASK 3: PRACTICE GUIDE
Re-read the descriptions of:
(a) the forest in paragraph 4, beginning ‘Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest ... ’
Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest, footsteps muffled by centuries of discarded leaves.
Myths of terrifying forest guardians suddenly seemed much more plausible as the endless acres
of trees stood watch, stern sentinels of the trail. The silence was spellbinding as Bo crept
onwards, down an almost subterranean tunnel of primeval greenery. Forwards, always forwards,
an intruder in a magical garden.
Select three powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should include
imagery.
Explain how each word or phrase is used effectively in the context.
Write about 200 to 300 words.
TASK 3: PRACTICE GUIDE
Phrase/word Meaning What does the word/ Explanation (How this affects readers)
Identify a word/ a quote) expression denote) (What could be the writer’s aim)
Ancient forest…footsteps Old footsteps that are not visible and It creates an image of old forest yet mysterious feeling
muffled by centuries of have been covered by many leaves from about the forest
discarded leaves the trees
Introduction
WRITING IN CONTINUOUS WRITING -Write the general
effect of the whole
paragraph
The overall effect of the language used in paragraph ___2___creates a feeling/image of an old
but mysterious forest.
The writer begins by describing the forest as “footsteps muffled by centuries of discarded leaves”.
Body 1
This shows how the forest has been left without human intervention for along time since the footsteps
- quote the word/phrase
have been filled with leaves leaving them invisible. -explain the effect
The writer’s description of ______________________________
_________________________________________________evokes__________________________Body 2
__. - quote the word
-explain the effe
The writers use of ____________________________. This means
_____________________________________________________________________
The use of the verbs/metaphor/alliteration/ simile
Body 2
“_______________________________________’’
Conclusion - quote the word/phra
highlights________________________________________________________________________
-Write the general -explain the effect
_________________________________________________________________________________
effect of the whole
______.
paragraph
