Sample QA- Writer’s Effects

Extracts

Paragraph 4:
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.
Paragraph 8:

Was it minutes or hours later? A sharp crack, loud as a gunshot, snapped him to attention. Ears straining,
Bo quivered, listening for ravenous forest monsters ready to devour him in one gulp; or maybe a rogue
bear or wild boar, hungry for hiker meat? Bo lifted the tent flap and peered into the gaping throat of the
darkness, ready to be swallowed.

Q. What is the writer’s effect with respect to the following.

(a) the forest in paragraph 4, beginning ‘Soon he was surrounded by ancient forest ... ’

(b) Bo’s reaction to the sudden noise in paragraph 8, beginning ‘Was it minutes or hours later?’

(Select four 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.)

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer.

Sample Answer

The author describes the forest in a way which displays its ancient, yet mystical, aura. The phrase
"centuries of discarded leaves" is used to denote the way in which the leaves have accumulated over a
period of time, in the absence of human intervention. An alliteration is used in the phrase "stern
sentinels" to signify that the trees act as soldiers, on the lookout for trespassers. This effect is further
enhanced with the use of personification in the same phrase. "Silence was spellbinding" is another
phrase used by the writer to showcase the tranquility and stillness of Bo's surroundings. To explain that
the forest has existed long before humanity, "primeval greenery" is used to indicate the forests age and
continuity. Hence, the author clearly explains the forest in which Bo is hiking.

Later on in the passage, the author describes Bo's reaction to the sudden noise in an exaggerated and
overdramatic manner. For instance, in the phrase "loud as a gunshot", a simile is used to showcase Bo's
fear and the startling intensity of the noise. "Ravenous forest monsters" is used to denote the imaginary
creatures which Bo fears. To further enhance Bo's fear and dramatic acts, "devour him in one gulp" is
used to indicate that the creatures can wolf him down easily. This is done with the help of visual imagery.
The author uses a humorous tone in the phrase "ready to be swallowed" to indicate that Bo is accepting
his fate of being consumed. Thus, the author vividly displays Bo's behaviour following the noise.

Tips
Identify how and why these techniques have been used in the Writer’s Effect question and use these
techniques in your own narrative writing. Use at least 6-7 of these (including tone) in your answer

Adjectives

These are words that describe nouns e.g. ‘harsh’, ‘excruciating, ‘noble’. Writers use them to create a
specific picture in the readers mind.

Why has the writer used these adjectives? What picture does it create?

Adverbs

These are words that describe verbs. e.g. ‘carefully’, ‘quietly’, ‘quickly’. These can be used to add more
detail to an action so that the reader can picture what is going on and how.

Why has the writer added detail to this action? What picture does it create?

Alliteration

Repetition of a sound at the beginning of words, e.g. ‘Cruel Catherine…’ It is used to stress certain words
or phrases or to make a point to the reader.

Why has the writer stressed these words? What point are they trying to make?

Colour

Using colour words like ‘red’ , ‘blue’ or ‘yellow’. Colour creates images in the readers mind and can affect
atmosphere through connections the reader makes with that colour e.g. red associates with ‘danger’
‘anger’ or ‘love.’

What image has been created with the use of colour? How has it affected the atmosphere?

Contrasts

Strong differences between two things. A writer might write a paragraph about a beautiful place and
follow it with a paragraph describing a run-down place to show the differences between the ways in
which two groups of people live.

Why has the writer chosen to show these two things? What difference is being highlighted and why?

Exclamations

Show anger, shock, horror, surprise and joy, e.g. ‘I won!’. They are used to portray emotion and show
how a character reacts or is feeling.

Why has the writer chosen to put the exclamation there? What emotion or reaction are they portraying?
Why?

Humour

Making a character or situation appear in a funny way can be used to mock the character or the place, or
it could show that a character is humorous.

Why has the writer made this situation or character humorous? How does it affect the mood?
Imagery

(including similes, metaphors, colour and use of the 5 senses- sight, sound, touch, taste and smell)

The words allow the reader to create an image in their and involve the reader in the moment being
described.

What image has been created? What is the effect of involving the reader in the moment?

Juxtaposition

The positioning of two words, phrases or ideas next to, or near, each other. This highlights a contrast
between two words, phrases or ideas, e.g. ‘The two friends were known as clever Carole and stupid
Steven.’

Why has the writer chosen to position these two things together? What contrast is being highlighted and
why?

Metaphor

A image created by referring to something as something else, e.g. ‘storm of controversy.’ This shows
meaning by directly comparing something to something else.

Why is the word being compared to something else? What element of the thing that it is being
compared to is being highlighted in the word.

Negative diction

Words that are negative, e.g. ‘cruel’, ‘evil’, ‘dark’. This gives a negative tone and can portray negative
feelings towards a character or situation.

Why has the writer created negative tone? What effect do these negative feelings have on the
representation of the character or the atmosphere?

Onomatopoeia

Words that sound like what the describe, e.g. ‘The clash of the symbols startled John.’ The reader can
almost hear the sound for themselves.

Why does the writer want the reader to hear the sound? What is the effect on the atmosphere?

Personification

Making an object/ animal sound like a person, giving it human characteristics, e.g. ‘the fingers of the tree
grabbed at my hair as I passed.’

Why has the object/ animal been given human characteristics? How does it affect the mood?

Positive diction

Words that are positive, e.g. ‘happy’, ‘joyous’ They give a positive tone or portray positive feelings
towards a character or situation.
Why has the writer created a positive tone? What effect do these positive feelings have on the
representation of the character or the atmosphere?

Sentence Length

Short sentences are just a few words long, without detail. ‘I wondered if he knew what he was doing to
me. It hurt. A lot.’ Short sentences affect the speed the piece is read and grabs attention.

Why has the writer used a short sentence? How does it affect the speed and tension?

Simile

A comparison between two things that includes the words ‘as’ or ‘like’, e.g. ‘Her voice cut through him
like a knife.’ This shows meaning by comparing something to something else

Why has the word been compared to something else? What element of the thing that it is being
compared to has been highlighted in the word.

Verbs

Action words such as ‘scrambled’, ‘sprinted’, ‘leaped’. The writer uses these to add action to the writing.

Why has the writer used these verbs? What mood has been created?