Plotting tension in ...

Page 34: “Suddenly, right behind me, there

was that sound again. I turned quickly. A

broken lamp was swinging back and forth,

banging against the wall, as if someone

had just pushed it.”

Language devices: Sentence length & structure

19 word sentence, multiple clauses

Long sentences move content along and provide detail. Short sentences halt pace and movement, make the reader pause and add impact or emphasis.

3 word sentence

Language devices: Verb choice

Page 28: “The wind from the sea

roared through the broken windows. I

could hear the tide rushing in.”

Roared suggests an angry and powerful predator, adding intensity to the sound of the coastal wind.

Choosing words with specific meanings can add to the reader’s imaginary picture of the scene in a multi-sensory way.

Rushing suggests speed and urgency, adding tension to the tide’s movements.

Language devices: Repetition

Pages 2–3 “I always try to make my mother proud! I’m not

bad, just unlucky. When something happens, I’m there, and I

get the blame .

Somebody kicked the football through the school window. We

were all playing football; I just happened to be the one who

kicked the ball. See what I mean? Unlucky.

And when the PE teacher told me to throw away my chewing

gum, how was I to know it would land in Chelsea’s hair?

Unlucky, I tell you.”Repetition emphasises key ideas and can express increased emotion or tension. Questions can have the same effect.

Repetition of the word unlucky relays the speaker’s frustration.

Imagery: In language and visuals

Using a comparison can help the reader to imagine something in a multi-sensory way.

Page 28: “It was as cold as the grave.”

Illustrations work wonders to add mood and context to the text.