English teachers often debate the best way to teach creative writing for GCSE: should we instil a set structure? Should students write about something they already know?
Creative writing accounts for a large proportion of marks in all English Language GCSEs and it can sometimes feel as though we have to put technical accuracy before student enjoyment.
But, by encouraging our learners to respond personally and authentically to different writing styles, we help them to write convincingly and accurately. More importantly, though, we empower them through helping them to become great storytellers.
Why teach this?
This lesson will give students autonomy over their creative writing. Young people are more likely to write beautifully if they are emulating an author, and if they are writing in a style they enjoy reading.
Key curriculum links
Pupils should be taught to:
- Engage on a personal level with literature, to read and understand but also respond to texts.
- Identify, analyse and use stylistic features of genre
- Write at length, fluently and beautifully, for pleasure and with purpose.
