A* Descriptions and Structure to Instantly Upgrade Your Writing 🌟 First Language English IGCSE 

Thank you! I always end up writing sad stories even when I try to write something different 😭 Best of luck with your exam tomorrow! 🌟

@@TaughtlyI got an A* not sure I could’ve done it without binging your videos the night before. Thanks 🤍

I'm so glad! Thank you :):)

Thank you for your lovely comment! Unfortunately I don't have time to film again until the October half term 😔 BUT I do have a blog post about narrative writing with an example that will be published this weekend: taughtly.co.uk/blog Happy writing 🌟

My blog post with an A* narrative is up! I also explain section-by-section why this is an effective story. Hope it can help you: taughtly.co.uk/model-narrative-for-igcse-first-language-english-the-reunion/

@@Taughtly thank you!!

Good question! A narrative would have features such as: setting, characterisation, dialogue and plot, including a climax. Of course, a narrative has some features of a description and a description has some features of a narrative. BUT in your description nothing should HAPPEN. So in my example, we're really just seeing aspects of the park, a girl with her grandad, and then cherry blossoms at her grandad's grave, like scenes. But we don't know her name, her personality, she doesn't speak, we don't know how grandad died. The focus is on the setting and, to a lesser extent, her emotions. Cambridge's Paper 2 questions often have elements of this emotion. E.g. past questions include, "describe the moment you receive some welcome news" or "describe finding something unexpected". These descriptive prompts will have some feelings and some movements, but you're focusing on what you can see, smell, touch, taste, hear and perhaps some emotional reactions to this situation. Hope that helps!

Let me tell you a little bit about evaluation. Evaluation is taking a point stated in the original text and being critical of its ideas, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses. Yes, this can often be your own opinion on the topic. Do make sure that your own opinion is relevant to the issues raised in the two texts, however. You must stay on topic. So to get 10/15 for reading, you only need to have ONE successful evaluation. If you have ONE then the examiner must give you a minimum of 10/15 because you have "some successful evaluation". This might make you feel better that actually the bar is incredibly low for the reading mark scheme, although I rarely see students getting 13+/15 for this question. * Include details from both texts - this is "explicit information" and is needed to get a higher reading mark. You're showing the examiner that you understand the arguments made in the texts. * Never JUST summarise and agree with what the texts say - always think about flaws in their argument or how you could better support that argument with extra ideas of your own. Remain critical throughout. * Evaluation is basically an effective counterargument - you're taking a point that the original text says and evaluating its strengths/weaknesses by considering holes in the argument or areas it could have expanded upon E.g. The original texts says: "The only way we have ever improved issues with global warming is when governments take action. Individual action is useless if governments don't act." EVALUATION: "Yes, but even small actions can accumulate over time to create big change. We have to realise that individuals can also act as a group to promote change." NOT EVALUATION: "Only big changes come from government action so our governments should stand up! Make change now!" The last point is not evaluation because it is just summarising and agreeing without any criticality.

@@Taughtly Thank you! This is really helpful.

That's such a nice comment :) Like many English teachers, I did once hope to become a published writer. Maybe some day! I have more creative writing for IGCSE on my blog though - taughtly.co.uk/blog

@@fazeelfarhan7567 nope, not at all! Not on the mark scheme, so it's not an assessed aspect of the text. You wouldn't be penalised at all; you also wouldn't gain any marks for giving a title.

Could you do a flashback to when it was clean/how it became so dishevelled? Or like a time lapse of bit by bit the dirt accumulating in the past?

You can change slightly :)

@@Taughtly Thanks, that's quite helpful to know because I always write third person narratives, and such prompts mostly are in first person.

Absolutely none!

@@Taughtly OMG THANK YOU SO MUCHHHH!!! Am I still eligible for top band marks?

@@ricscapics9128 Yes absolutely, you don't lose or gain marks for having a title at all - that's why a title is never mentioned in the mark scheme. I hope you get your A*! :)

@Taughtly OMG, thanks so muchhhhh!!!! Not only for this advice but also I found your video lessons to be exceptionally useful in my revision.