Picture stimulus
Open the original picture in the source paper before planning your response. It opens in a separate tab so you can keep this task alongside it.
View the original picture (PDF page 4)Writing task
Look at Emanuel Leutze’s painting of Washington crossing the river (1851). Write from the artist’s point of view about your feelings and thoughts while painting the scene.
Use the accompanying image stimulus for this task.
Time: 30 minutes (as indicated for this published task).
Marks: 15.
Practise this exact question with personalised feedback on your writing.
Understand the task
Imagine you are the artist painting Washington Crossing the Delaware; write about your thoughts and feelings while painting it.
- accurate expression
- imaginative control
- structure
- audience awareness
Requirements to keep in mind
Choose ONE option in the writing section; option 2; 15 marks; 30 minutes advised.
Plan your response
- Follow the exact instruction, form and viewpoint in the source PDF.
- Plan a clear beginning and a focused development.
- Use distinctive details rather than general adjectives.
- Allow a few minutes to check accuracy before finishing.
Check your response against the task requirements. Leave time to review sentence clarity, punctuation and spelling.
Original atoply example opening
Written by atoply, not an official school answer or mark scheme. This is an opening only; develop the rest of the response to meet the task requirements.
Reveal example and teaching notes
I placed a streak of pale light behind the general's head and stepped back. The crossing was dangerous, wet and uncertain, yet I wanted the picture to show courage above all else. My brush paused over the boat. How could I paint the fear on the men's faces without letting it overwhelm their determination?
Learn from the example
- The voice connects experience with thoughts or feelings, making the response personal rather than a detached report.
- Develop the link between a particular detail and the narrator's reflection. Keep the requested diary, recount or monologue form in your own answer.