Writer's Effect Notes
Uploaded by
SheelaaWriter's Effect Notes
Uploaded by
SheelaaPrepared By Ms.
Sheelaa
WRITER’S EFFECT NOTES
Adjectives
These are words that describe nouns e.g. ‘harsh’, ‘excruciating, ‘noble’. Writers use them to create a specific picture
in the readers mind.
Alliteration
Repetition of a sound at the beginning of words, e.g. ‘Cruel Catherine…’ It is used to stress certain words or phrases
or to make a point to the reader.
Colour
Using colour words like ‘red’ , ‘blue’ or ‘yellow’. Colour creates images in the readers mind and can affect
atmosphere through connections the reader makes with that colour e.g. red associates with ‘danger’ ‘anger’ or
‘love.’
Contrasts
Strong differences between two things. A writer might write a paragraph about a beautiful place and follow it with
a paragraph describing a run-down place to show the differences between the ways in which two groups of people
live.
Humour
Making a character or situation appear in a funny way can be used to mock the character or the place, or it could
show that a character is humorous.
Imagery
(including similes, metaphors, colour and use of the 5 senses- sight, sound, touch, taste and smell)
The words allow the reader to create an image in their and involve the reader in the moment being described.
Metaphor
An image created by referring to something as something else, e.g. ‘storm of controversy.’ This shows meaning by
directly comparing something to something else.
Negative diction
Words that are negative, e.g. ‘cruel’, ‘evil’, ‘dark’. This gives a negative tone and can portray negative feelings
towards a character or situation.
Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like what the describe, e.g. ‘The clash of the symbols startled John.’ The reader can almost hear
the sound for themselves.
Personification
Making an object/ animal sound like a person, giving it human characteristics, e.g. ‘the fingers of the tree grabbed
at my hair as I passed.’
Positive diction
Words that are positive, e.g. ‘happy’, ‘joyous’ They give a positive tone or portray positive feelings towards a
character or situation.
Sentence Length.
Short sentences are just a few words long, without detail. ‘I wondered if he knew what he was doing to me. It hurt.
A lot.’ Short sentences affect the speed the piece is read and grabs attention.
Simile
A comparison between two things that includes the words ‘as’ or ‘like’, e.g. ‘Her voice cut through him like a knife.’
This shows meaning by comparing something to something else
Verbs
Action words such as ‘scrambled’, ‘sprinted’, ‘leaped’. The writer uses these to add action to the writing.
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
Useful prompts:
This highlights… This connotes…
This shows… This means…
This makes us feel… This suggests…
This creates… This represents…
This implies… This symbolises…
Prepared By Ms. Sheelaa
You can start with:
- The word “(word)” gives the impression of…
- The phrase “(phrase)” invites the reader to…
- The term “(word)” encourages us to…
You can explain the meaning of a word by:
- Its associations/connotations
- Its exact definition
You can explain the effects of the language to the readers by:
- How does it make the reader feel? Why?
- Has it impacted on the relationship between the reader and the writer? Why?
- What is the writer trying to achieve?
Phrase & Evidence Meaning (denote) Effect (connote)
(Identify a word/ a (What does the (How this affects readers)
quote) word/ expression (What could be the writer’s aim)
denote)
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