Week 2

1) Reference list of precise verbs for narrative

2) Short story Death Speaks by Somerset Maugham. From the Brian de Palma Film Redacted

3) Error correction exercise related to above: common narrative errors eg. tense use (past perfect), relative clauses, participle clauses etc. If you were not able to detect the errors then you should use a grammar book for reference and look up the relevant section.

4) Showing vs Telling - Comparing 2 texts about a mean little girl called Lucinda.

5) Finally I gave you a worksheet in order to analyse ll 1-61 of the 1st extract from Fahrenheit 451 , in particular, the use of metaphor, originality, the characteristics of Sci Fi writing, creating an unfamiliar world.......compared to defamiliarization in other genres of writing (making the familiar seem strange and new), the use of cultural details, the creation of character...showing rather than telling. I suggested you look at the famous opening to the novel 1984 for comparison..."...the clocks were striking thirteen..."

I am sending you all a copy of the first written assessment task - a piece of creative writing inspired by or based on the Sci Fi extracts in the reading Portfolio - which should be delivered to me by 29th October.

The first oral assessement task will be a "persuasive talk" related to unit 6.4 of the coursebook. There are a number of talks, speeches, debates you could listen to and watch for inspiration and content. Try Stephen Fry giving his opening speech AGAINST the motion "The Catholic Church is generally a force for good in the world" He's controversial, very persuasive and doesn't spare any punches. The speech is on Youtube and there is a review of the debate on the Daily Telegraph website. You can find both by googling Intelligence Squared...the name of the debating series.