Diary Writing WALT Write diary entries Writing a

Diary Writing WALT – Write diary entries.

Writing a Diary Entry • When you write a diary entry you are writing about a day in the life of a real person or character. The diary entry needs to sound as if the person or character has written it so it needs to be written from their point of view. It also needs to be exciting and interesting to read. To get this right, just follow a few easy steps. . .

When writing a diary entry you must… • Include the date and/or time! • The date or time is usually written at the top of the page like this… • You can also include the date/time in the first few sentences of your diary entry.

A diary entry must… • Be written in the first person. • This means including pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘my’, ‘we’ and ‘our’. • These words are special because they tell us the diary is being written by someone and they are talking about themselves.

Written in the first person example As I looked down from our lofty home, I noticed a group of humans. They seemed to be holding loud, bright monsters with sharp, glistening teeth that were tearing our trees from the ground.

Diary writing must… • Use past tense for the main events! • This is because diaries are usually written about an event that has already occurred so should be written in the past tense. • Which of the following examples is written in the past tense?

• Two days ago, something dreadful happened – ‘Endurance’ became stuck in a large sheet of floating ice (an ice floe) following risky conditions crossing the Weddell Sea. • Today, something dreadful will happen – ‘Endurance’ will stick in a large sheet of floating ice (an ice floe) following risky conditions crossing the Weddell Sea.

Everyone still with me? • Wakey

Right, back to it. Diary writing must include… • An introduction to set the scene • It is important to set the scene when writing a diary to ensure that it is clear what you are writing about. • You might answer the questions who, what, where or when. • Which of the following extracts is an introduction? How do you know?

Diary writing must… • Tell events in a chronological order…this means in the order that they happened. • In a diary we usually write about the events of our day in the order they happened. • We only include the most important or interesting events.

Diary writing must… • Include personal feelings or emotion • A diary is usually a secret place to write the truth about how you feel about what has happened to you in the day. • In a diary you might include feelings, hopes or fears that you wouldn’t want anyone to know about. • Example: Egypt is such a rich, powerful country and although I am nervous about ruling it, I would rather do so alone.

Diary writing must… (spicy & hot) • use time conjunctions and adverbials, e. g. ‘after that, ‘before lunch’, ‘until sunset’. • A diary is usually describing lots of events. To make sense of when these events happened, it is helpful to include time conjunctions and adverbials. • If we just use one word such as ‘then’ to link the events in our diary it can get very boring!

Diary writing must…continued (spicy & hot) • Look at the example below. Can you identify the time conjunctions and adverbials that have been used? Later, we will organise a lavish 60 th birthday party for my father that will last for days, with plenty of music and food. After hearing the news we were planning his party, my father couldn’t resist getting involved.

Task Time: Read the following extract from “The Diary of a Young Soldier in World War 1”. Using the checklist on the next slide, how many features can you find?

Diary Writing Check List • • Include the date and/or time Write in the first person Use past tense for main events An introduction to set the scene Tell events in chronological order Include personal emotions & feelings Use time conjunctions and adverbials e. g. ‘after that’, ‘before lunch’, etc.

14 April 1915 I’m home on leave. It’s good to be back and seeing everyone. I haven’t written anything for a long time because I haven’t had the heart to. We’re hearing bad things from the Front in France. Terrible battles with thousands killed and no land gained. Poison gas used. Jack’s letters to Mam and Dad don’t say much except that he’s keeping as well as can be expected, whatever that means. When I read them, I feel a shiver. It’s mostly fun with my mates in the army now, but will it always be like this?

15 April 1915 Jack turned up on leave today. He’s only here for a few days, because though his leave is nine days long, it took him three days to get here. He brought his rifle and pack with him, but he wouldn’t let me look at the rifle. “Leave it alone, ” he shouted. “I didn’t bring it here for fun. ” I only wanted to see what a really good new one was like. He looks twenty years older.

20 April 1915 He left yesterday. Seeing him go was the worst moment of our lives. He looked so unhappy. I wish I knew what he was feeling. I didn’t sleep all night for thinking about him. I’m going back to Llandudno today. Jack not talking hasn’t made me feel very happy about it.

23 April 1915 Back in Llandudno, to find news waiting. We’re leaving Wales and going back north to Ripon Camp in Yorkshire. “A real army camp at last, ” Sergeant Pickering told us. “And may God help you. ” No more free sweets in the morning, no more seaside piers to guard. Ah well!

Task time • Today’s tasks focuses on you identifying the key features of diary writing. • There may also be questions that follow the diary entry. • As always there is a choice between mild, spicy & hot.