BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE EDEXCEL

“BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE” EDEXCEL IGCSE ANTHOLOGY A 04 DECEMBER 2020 Jonathan Peel JLS 2016

THE TITLE An idiomatic phrase What do you think it implies? At the end, I will want to know why it is suc a good title for this writing Caught between 2 equally difficult hazards, as in Odysseus’ travels: Scylla and Charybdis First used in print in 1921 in the USA Jonathan Peel JLS 2016

TEXT TYPES: REMINDER Inform: Direct communication of detail and fact. Often objective and dispassionate and maybe using technical lexis unfamiliar to the reader/listener (requiring explanation) – “Dr, I feel ill…” Explain: Adds detail and suggests cause and effect of what is being told to the reader/listener – “ Well, I was out walking and I fell over and as I feel I felt my knee twist…” Describe: The emotions begin to show and the language becomes heightened to help the reader/listener to engage their senses to experience the event being explained – “A sharp pain, like a burning fire, shot down my leg…” Jonathan Peel JLS 2016

TASK 1 Read the passage and number the paragraphs THINK… PAIR…. SHARE Which paragraphs reflect which type of writing? Is there a point at which information and explanation gives way to description as the dominant writing? How do you know? 5 mins silent thought and reading , then 2 mins in pairs…. Jonathan Peel JLS 2016

PARAGRAPH 5: POINT OF CHANGE As I dangle, I feel the stone respond to my adjusting grip with a scraping quake as my body’s weight applies enough torque to disturb it from its position. Instantly, I know this is trouble, and instinctively, I let go of the rotating boulder to land on the round rocks below. When I look up, the backlit chockstone falling toward my head consumes the sky. Fear shoots my hands over my head. I can’t move backward or I’ll fall over a small ledge. My only hope is to push off the falling rock and get my head out of its way. What do you notice about the highlighted words or phrases? Which suggest explanation and which suggest a more subjective description? Jonathan Peel JLS 2016

WRITING TECHNIQUES Paragraph quotation explanation IED comment Whole text The use of the present tense makes the passage vivid and alive in the reader’s mind all As though the writer is reliving the actual events “I descend 10 minutes” I then ED Time provides a kind of countdown through the narrative Chockstone, stemming… I Plenty to find 1, 2, 3 1, 3, 4 Reference chain 2 “this technique is known as…” 5, 6, 7, 8 “consumes the sky” Information for reader about climbing technique Use of harsh C/K sound alliteration for effect 6 Jonathan Peel JLS 2016 Focuses thought on the stone I Find more of this D First of many - find more examples D Long sentence of description of events Sense of many events happening very fast – no pause caused by full-stops Short sentences at close of paragraphs Emphasise the final point being made in each paragraph

TASKS How does Ralston present his developing fear in this passage? Compare this passage to the passage by Joe Simpson: “Touching the Void”. What differences and similarities do you find in their descriptions of a climbing accident? Jonathan Peel JLS 2016