Creative writing query - recount or story?

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SleepyHead
Posts: 484
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:41 am

Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post 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
Last edited by SleepyHead on Mon Nov 26, 2018 6:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
streathammum
Posts: 1252
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:02 pm

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post 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.
SleepyHead
Posts: 484
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:41 am

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post 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?
streathammum
Posts: 1252
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:02 pm

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post 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.
SleepyHead
Posts: 484
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:41 am

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post by SleepyHead »

thanks - will work on that basis :)
piggys
Posts: 1636
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 9:29 am

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post 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.
SleepyHead
Posts: 484
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:41 am

Re: Creative writing query - recount or story?

Post by SleepyHead »

Thank you Piggys
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