I think starting the students off with a basic understanding of how to write a compound sentence that will communicate to the reader not only what they did, but how and why is a great point from which to work with. Especially for the lower end, the questions at GCSE are often baffling and difficult to comprehend. Describe how you used your acting skills? I find that is I tackle this question first that all my students (top set to bottom set) struggle. So I start with sentence structure, and I start it in Key Stage 3 where they simply have to write one or two sentences rather than large 10 mark answers. I build on the idea that if you then added sentence on to sentence onto sentence then you’d soon have a pretty thorough description of your movement and voice as an actor performing a character.

Rule 1: Begin by talking about what you did personally in the performance (e.g. in the still image I played…)

Rule 2: Add a describing word to the character or role you played (e.g. not a king but an angry king).

Rule 3: Use the connective “and” along with one of the following phrases: “to communicate”, “to convey”, “to get across”, “to show” or “to express”

Rule 4: Use at least 2 key terms and as many describing words and phrases as you can (e.g. I puffed up my chest to show I had angry and aggressive body language.)