DESCRIBING SETTING

In writing narrative, one of the main elements to include is a description of the setting.    It is important to paint the picture using time or the place where your story is set.    

Adapted from www.empoweringwriters.com 

Do remember not to overwrite the setting.  Just write two to four sentences and continue with the main characters or events of the storyline.

Possible Pre-writing activity 

One of the activities I did with the students was to get them to read short texts of various settings and identify the adjectives.  They then classified the adjectives into the 5 senses chart.  This activity helped to expand their vocabulary and write settings that show instead of tell.  It is extremely useful to get students to focus on an item be it location, food / beverages, objects, etc.

Student's work

Adapted from http://www.creativewriting-prompts.com/printable-graphic-organizers.html

Check out this websites for further reading:-
1.  http://prezi.com/qx2r9vs0wttu/setting-and-the-senses/
2.Setting descriptions
3.Setting Description Entry:  Forest
4.  Writing tutorials:  Describing settings

THE FISH POND

Read this story and finish it off the way you want to.  Try to be as descriptive as you can.

The Fish Pond

The oval shaped fish pond stood there quiet and serene as the early rays of sunshine pierced the outer layers of the glasshouse’s exterior. The crisp cool morning air settled deep within my lungs as the shadows and light intermingled on the flat undisturbed water, playing with each other, the Lilly Pads watched on. They always did this, I observed,whenever the morning sun was able to break through the gloomy winter cloud. The many pads large and small spread out over the water’s surface,  green flat circular serving plates awaiting the day’s meal of sunlight. Only a  single delicate white flower broke the sea of green, the bell of the ball looking to be asked to dance but alas no likely suitors awaited,a symbolic wall flower. Most of the activity this morning was below the surface. The small silver fish, amphibians and invertebrates stirred into life, darting here and there as the light penetrated all the way to the bottom of the grey concrete pool. The casual observer would find it difficult to see many of them as they sort out security under the canopy of the Lilly pads. All this was happening as two young women stood on the far side of the pond talking in earnest with each other. 

What were they thinking?  Was there a problem or....... ?