Non fiction descriptive - persuasive texts

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Descr ipt ive - Per suasive Text s

These assignment s wer e f ir st used as f ollow-up act ivit ies af t er a gr oup wr it ing session ent it led "Est at e Agent s' Ads" ? visit our web sit e f or lesson plan, shar ed t ext , over head t r anspar ency and ot her r esour ces. Act ivit ies ar e suit able f or levels E2-L2, alt hough not all aims and obj ect ives will apply t o ever y level.

Assignment s can also be used as st and-alone act ivit ies, but do r emember t hat ... ? Gr oup wr it ing sessions give st udent s conf idence and an awar eness of t he planning, dr af t ing and edit ing pr ocess. ? The shar ing of ideas incr eases gr oup cohesion. I t also gives lower level st udent s t he chance t o cont r ibut e or ally and see t heir ideas t r ansf or med int o wor ds. ? Obser ving t he t ut or plan, dr af t , er ase and cor r ect on t he whit eboar d helps all st udent s r ealise t hat no one wr it es a per f ect piece of wr it ing st r aight of f !

Gener al aims / obj ect ives / t ar get s

Recognise dif f er ent pur poses of t ext Under st and t he dif f er ence bet ween f act and opinion Use language, f or mat and st r uct ur e suit able f or audience To plan, dr af t , and edit wr it ing.

Text Focus

Curriculum Links

? Recognise t he dif f er ent pur poses of t ext (f ocusing on descr ipt ive and per suasive t ext s). Rt / E3. 2

? ...and how language and t ext ual f eat ur es ar e used t o achieve dif f er ent pur poses (be able t o dist inguish bet ween an obj ect ive descr ipt ion and a per suasive descr ipt ion e.g. a descr ipt ion of what is an NVQ por t f olio, compar ed wit h a descr ipt ion in an adver t ). Rt / L1. 2

? ...and inf er meaning t hat is not explicit (ar e t ext s aiming t o give: per sonal opinions / obj ect ive f act s / explain a pr ocess / complain et c.). Rt / L2. 2

? Use language suit able f or pur pose and audience. W t / L1. 4

? Use f or mat and st r uct ur e f or dif f er ent pur poses W t / L1. 5

? Plan, dr af t and edit wr it ing. W t / E3. 1 W t / L1. 1 W t / L2. 1

? Pr oof r ead and r evise wr it ing f or accur acy and meaning. W t / E3. 4 W t / L1. 6

Sentence Focus

? To under st and t he t er m "adj ect ive" and use adj ect ives in wr it ing. To look at posit ive, negat ive and passive adj ect ives. W s/ E2. 2

Examples / sample act ivit ies f r om adult cur r iculum shown in it alic.

Contents

Page 1 - This page

Page 5 ? Wr it ing: obj ect ive descr ipt ions, per suasive

Page 2 ? Handout f or Level 1/ 2 st udent s.

descr ipt ions, ext ension ideas. Levels E3, L1, L2

Page 3 ? Reading: Pr oper t y pages, f act v

(could be adapt ed f or E2 st udent s).

opinion act ivit y f or E2 (wit h help), E3, L1, L2.

Page 4 ? Blank char t f or page 3 act ivit y.

Adult Lit er acy. Level E2 upwar ds

Reading and W r it ing: T ext Focus ? descr ipt ive / per suasive t ext s. Sent ence Focus ? adj ect ives.

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Non-Fict ion Descr ipt ive Text s

This type of text describes actual places, events or objects.

Some descriptive texts are just straight facts and do not give the reader any ideas about the feelings or opinions of the author. These are objective descriptions. For example, descriptions in a field guide such as "The British Book of Wildflowers".

However, many descriptive texts are also persuasive and tell us something about the writer's feelings and opinions. These are subjective (or persuasive) descriptions. For example, a travel book such as "Notes from a Small Island" by Bill Bryson.

Pr oper t y pages and holiday br ochur es ar e f ull of descr ipt ions; t hey ar e also per suasive.

These types of descriptions contain facts. Facts can be checked out or proved: 4 bedrooms semi-detached built in 1974 fenced gardens gas fire parking for 3 cars

They also include opinions. Opinions are just that! Your opinion may be different from the writer's. highly desirable well maintained popular village beautiful sitting room further benefits

1. A garage thought to date from the 1950s. 2. A well-maintained garage thought to date from the early 1950s.

1. The cottage is situated in the village of Longstone, in the heart of the Dales. The conservatory looks out over the countryside. It is suitable for walkers and tourists.

2. The cosy and comfortably furnished cottage is situated in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. It is in the small, picturesque village of Longstone. There is the added advantage of a conservatory at the rear with superb views over open countryside. Perfectly situated for exploring the beautiful scenery in the immediate area on foot, there are open fells and moors nearby.

1. A house situated in a cul-de-sac location within the Springside Development, near shops and schools.

2. A good-sized modern four bedroom detached house well situated in a cul-de-sac location within the popular Springside Development. Easy pedestrian access to town centre and nearby good schooling

Dif f er ences bet ween t hese 3 pair s of t ext s...

Look at the underlined words in the example texts, most of these words are adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns.

Nouns ar e naming wor ds - f or people, places, t hings, f eelings or ideas. For example: gar age, village, conser vat or y, Longst one, count r yside, locat ion.

The second version of each text describes the buildings in a more interesting and appealing manner. The writer is "persuading" the reader buy the house, go and take a look at the garage, rent the holiday cottage, etc.

Adult Lit er acy. Level E2 upwar ds Reading and W r it ing: T ext Focus ? descr ipt ive / per suasive t ext s. Sent ence Focus ? adj ect ives.

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Descr ipt ive - Per suasive T ext s: Looking at Pr oper t y Pages

Fact s or Opinion?

Use the numbered texts available in class or choose your own from the newspapers and magazines available.

!Substantial four bedroom detached

house, offering well-proportioned family accommodation, situated in a pleasant non-estate location on the

edge of this small sought after village.

a) Read a variety of descriptions and list them below under the appropriate heading.

b) If you use one of the newspapers or "Property Guides" available in class please cut out the descriptions, number them clearly and attach them to your work.

c) You may find highlighter pens or underlining helpful. d) Study at least three or four different descriptions. e) Continue on another sheet if you wish.

Pr oper t y no.

(ex ampl e)

Fact s

f our bedr oom det ached non-est at e

Opinion

subst ant ial well pr opor t ioned pleasant small sought af t er village

Adult Lit er acy. Level E2 upwar ds Reading and W r it ing: T ext Focus ? descr ipt ive / per suasive t ext s. Sent ence Focus ? adj ect ives.

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Pr oper t y no.

(ex ampl e)

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Fact s

Opinion

cot t age f ur nished in Longst one conser vat or y at r ear

super b views beaut if ul scener y small pict ur esque village cosy

Descr ipt ive - Per suasive T ext s

Adult Lit er acy. Level E2 upwar ds Reading and W r it ing: T ext Focus ? descr ipt ive / per suasive t ext s. Sent ence Focus ? adj ect ives.

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Wr it ing descr ipt ions: St ep 1 ? f act s

Think about your home...

a) Write a short description of your house / flat / room.

Stick to the facts. You will need to plan your description first. Make a list or a diagram. Think about how you organise your description. For example:

- You might want to begin with a general introduction (number of rooms, detached, terraced, etc.) followed by the location (town centre, near shops, near link road, etc.).

- To conclude you might want to mention any special or unusual features (conservatory, water feature, extension, etc.).

- This is just one idea - you may want to arrange your thoughts differently.

b) Now start your description. Use the ones you have studied in class for ideas.

I mpr ove your descr ipt ion: St ep 2 - add opinions and per suasive language

a) Imagine you are trying to sell your home (or rent it out as a holiday home).

b) Rewrite your description using interesting adjectives and persuasive language.

Use adjectives to extend the information about your house. Think about persuasive language. Your purpose is to persuade people to come and look at

your house. If you're stuck for ideas, look back at your list of "opinions" on page 2. Use proper sentences. A sentence must make complete sense on its own.

Ext ension act ivit ies and wr it ing pr ompt s

a) Type your description on the computer, using Word or Publisher. You could...

use different fonts and/or font sizes put the description in a box or frame add a piece of clipart bring in a photo of your house and scan it into your document have your work uploaded to the class web site (anonymously if you wish)

b) Write a description of your "dream house".

c) Write description of the house you grew up in as a child.

I MPORTANT: Please dat e all your wor k and f ile in your por t f olio. This includes plans, not es, newspaper cut t ings and all r ough wor k.

Adult Lit er acy. Level E2 upwar ds Reading and W r it ing: T ext Focus ? descr ipt ive / per suasive t ext s. Sent ence Focus ? adj ect ives.

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