Contrasting the familiar and the unknown in your descriptive writing | English

Starter quiz

What does the word 'contrast' mean?
- an obvious difference between two or more things
- an obvious similarity between two or more things ✓
- an explanation of two or more things
What is the aim of descriptive writing?
- to help your reader visualise the scene ✓
- to give your reader inspiration
- to allow your reader to analyse your writing
What does it mean if something is familiar?
- it it is imagined
- it is unknown to us
- it is known to us ✓
What is the impact of using short, simple sentences in our writing?
- they can be used to show shock or surprise ✓
- they add detail to our writing
- they can be used to increase pace ✓
What is being described here? 'a group of words with a similar meaning.'
- 'semantic field' ✓
What is a compound sentence?
- a sentence with two main clauses joined by a conjunction ✓
- a sentence with one main clause
- a sentence with one main clause and one subordinate clause

Match the key terms to their definitions.
- familiar
  
  ⇔
  
  something well-known from a long or close association ✓
- contrast
  
  ⇔
  
  an obvious difference between two or more things ✓
- unknown
  
  ⇔
  
  something not known or familiar ✓
- evoke
  
  ⇔
  
  to bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind ✓
Which of the following do we often associate with the familiar?
- unpredictability
- danger
- comfort ✓
- indifference
Which words show a comforting tone?
- blanket ✓
- embrace ✓
- reject
- shun
What type of sentence is being described here: 'A __________ is where you join two main clauses together to show the relationship between them.'
- simple sentence
- compound sentence ✓
- complex sentence
Which sentence types are best used in your descriptive writing to describe the familiar?
- simple sentence
- compound sentence ✓
- complex sentence ✓
Which one of the following emotions would you be most likely to feel when confronted with an unknown object?
- surprise ✓
- comfort
- stress

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You can use language such as semantic fields to show the contrast between the familiar and the unknown.
You could use short, simple sentences to show the surprise at the unknown.
You could use compound sentences to show familiarity since you are aware of the relationship between objects.

Creative writing is more effective when it focuses on something extraordinary.

Describing something very well known to you can be more effective as you're able to spend the time focusing on the little details.