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Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 10:50 am
by SleepyHead
For titles such as The Visit to Relatives, The School Trip, or My Fun Day at the Seaside, does there need to be a 'problem' or drama where something goes wrong?

These titles seem more like recount titles to me, or would there need to be a Visit to Relatives (and getting lost or injured whilst there). A School Trip (gone wrong?)

It's far clearer for titles such as Lost or Trapped!

Thank you

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 11:20 am
by streathammum
By recount do you mean non-fiction? That examiners might be asking for an actual description of a real event the children have experienced? That doesn't seem likely - the examiners couldn't be sure that all the children sitting had recently visited relatives or had a day at the seaside so can't be asking for actual recounts.

Also, if the exam is clear that this is a creative writing piece then I would imagine that some drama is expected. It's not supposed to be just an accurate description of an actual school trip.

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 11:31 am
by SleepyHead
thanks for your reply streathammum,

This would be a creative writing question, for example:

Write about "Your Visit to Relatives" using either your own experiences or imagination. Would this imply write a story and therefore expect some drama or problem or would it be ok to write a recount about their visit without much of a problem?

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:56 pm
by streathammum
Well I'm not an examiner so slightly wary of giving advice but I would imagine that the marking structure will allocate a proportion of marks to the story, so better to be interesting than boring.

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:36 pm
by SleepyHead
thanks - will work on that basis :)

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:24 pm
by piggys
SleepyHead wrote:Hello,

For titles such as The Visit to Relatives, The School Trip, or My Fun Day at the Seaside, does there need to be a 'problem' or drama where something goes wrong?

These titles seem more like recount titles to me, or would there need to be a Visit to Relatives (and getting lost or injured whilst there). A School Trip (gone wrong?)

It's far clearer for titles such as Lost or Trapped!

Thank you
A piece of descriptive writing does not need to be about 'getting lost or injured' in order to be interesting. I'm not sure why you would arrive at this conclusion. Do school trips have to 'go wrong' in order to be enjoyable? :?

Detail and being able to create the atmosphere of the seaside/castle/ city centre is what's required.

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 6:48 am
by SleepyHead
Thank you Piggys