Answer key · not for pupils Writer's craft sequence
Words That Work
Adjectives, adverbs and noun phrases chosen for effect
Lesson 6 of 12 Year 6
Task 1 gives the letter of the right option as printed on the sheet. Task 2 lists the mistakes in the order they appear, with the correction. Task 3 and 4 answers are models, not the only acceptable wording: any answer that uses the rule the lesson taught should be credited.
MildA describing word should show the reader something. Nice and good do not show anything.
1 · Tick the words at work
a Bb Ac Bd AA = left option, B = right option
3 · Now you write
Model answers
It was a sunny day at the beach.
I saw a snarling dog by the gate.
She tiptoed down the stairs.
4 · Help Polpetta
Big, huge and enormous all mean the same thing, so two of them do no job. One good word: The enormous giant.
2 · Find the 3 mistakes
1
a nice pizza
a cheesy tomato pizza
2
a good salad
a crunchy green salad
3
a very nice pudding
a warm chocolate pudding
A crunchy garlic bread already works (the decoy). Any describing word the reader can picture is acceptable.
MediumOne word that shows is better than three that tell. Sticky lemon cake beats very nice cake.
1 · Tick the words at work
a Bb Ac Bd AA = left option, B = right option
3 · Now you write
Model answers
Tick: stormy, grey · The stormy sea crashed on the rocks.
Tick: silently, slowly · The fox crept silently past the hens.
Tick: sticky, chocolate · She cut a slice of sticky chocolate cake.
4 · Help Polpetta
The three adjectives all say the same thing. Better: The giant's head brushed the clouds.
2 · Find the 3 mistakes
1
The pasta was really good.
The pasta was rich and garlicky.
2
The waiter was nice.
The waiter was quick and smiling.
3
The pudding was very, very nice.
The pudding was sticky and sweet.
The steaming bowl of soup and the fresh, warm bread work (the decoys). Any describing word the reader can picture is acceptable.
SpicyEvery describing word must earn its place. If it repeats another word, or the reader cannot picture it, cut it.
1 · Tick the words at work
a Bb Ac Bd BA = left option, B = right option
3 · Now you write
Model answers
The crumbling house hunched behind its broken gate.
She hurried to the bus stop.
Pans hissed on the crowded stove while a red-faced chef barked orders.
4 · Help Polpetta
Piling up adjectives that mean the same thing slows the reader down and shows nothing new. The giant's boots cracked the road, and the church spire only reached his knee.
2 · Find the 4 mistakes
1
The food was nice.
The food sizzled on hot iron plates.
2
A tiny, small, little monkey sat on a crate.
A tiny monkey sat on a crate.
3
The music was very loud and noisy.
Drums thundered from the far end.
4
It was a good evening.
We walked home with sticky fingers and full bellies.
The lanterns, the spices and the cheerful trader work. Tiny, small, little and loud and noisy say the same thing twice; nice and good show nothing.