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 George Morland’s painting The Wreckers (1790). Imagine you are one of the people on the beach or in the water. Describe what you see, think and feel.
Use the accompanying image stimulus for this task.
Time: 25 minutes (as indicated for this published task).
Marks: 15.
Practise this exact question with personalised feedback on your writing.
Understand the task
Write in the voice of a person on the beach or in the water in George Morland’s painting The Wreckers, including observations and feelings.
- accurate expression
- imaginative control
- structure
- audience awareness
Requirements to keep in mind
Choose ONE option in the writing section; option 1; 15 marks; 25 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
The sea dragged at my ankles as I tried to keep my balance on the shingle. Ahead, the broken mast rose and fell between the waves. Men on the beach shouted instructions, but the wind tore their words apart. I could see a hand grasping the wreckage; I tightened my grip on the rope and called for help.
Learn from the example
- Concrete details build an impression of the subject. Notice how those choices work together rather than reading as a list of general adjectives.
- The viewpoint controls what the reader notices. Choose details and an order that sustain the task's requested perspective and atmosphere.