How to write your….

REFLECTION STATEMENT

What is a reflection statement? 0It’s an analysis of your narrative. You need to read

through your own narrative and analyze the main narrative and language forms and features that you have used to show :0The “moral” of the story (the concept / values)0The characters0The plot-line / action 0The changing emotion/ mood or tone of the story0The time-sequence of events / action

HOW did you create ideas, attitudes, characters and action in your narrative?

literary devices = • language forms and

features • narrative conventions • poetic devices• figurative language

techniques

“HOW” ? = “what literary devices” did you use to show values, ideas, attitudes, characters and action in your narrative?

What narrative conventions (& Language Forms

and Features*) did you use in your narrative (story)?

0 Genre0 Narrative voice0 Linear / non-linear narrative structure0 Characterisation0 Setting (time and place)0 Language techniques * 0 Tone (emotive language)0 Symbolism

language techniques include…FACTUAL LANGUAGE:

• Real names of real people and places

• Real historical events

• Statistics

• Exact distances and time periods

• Scientific words

• “Provable” or objective information

Following… is an example of reflection statement

0You need to pay close attention to:0The sentence structure0The punctuation0The use of the technical names for language techniques

and narrative conventions0The accurate and fully-explained effect of the language

techniques and the narrative conventions0The use of “written language” style and not “spoken

language” style of the piece (do not write what you would “say”… the rules are different when you write!)

0The inclusion of quotes from ‘your’ narrative

I chose the title “Impossible Choice” because my narrative explored the concept of the impact of life-changing choices

being forced upon individuals. I wanted to show how – in an instant – a forceful power can forever change an individual’s

life. I chose to write the narrative as a short story and, consequently, I limited characterization to two contrasting

characters: the prisoner, a young single mother of two small children; and a Nazi guard, a tall, uniformed man. Being a

short story, the plot unfolded in one setting in approximately 6 minutes. The plot involved a young mother being

forced to choose which one of two her children would be sent to the gas chamber. I developed the two characters by

using direct speech and “close-up” imagery. I attempted to show the Nazi guard as being taller and more powerful than

the smaller, weaker mother. I emphasized the power of the Nazi guard with close-up images of his Nazi uniform in the

simile “______________________________” and in the metaphor “ _________

_________”. The direct speech also developed the action and the plot. The repetition in the direct speech “I can’t

choose… I can’t choose… don’t make me choose” and “You must choose!... if you don’t choose” illustrates the terrible difficulty

that the mother is experiencing in having this impossible choice forced upon her. To give a deep emotional atmosphere

to the narrative, I attempted to use sound imagery. The opening of the narrative is very quiet and still. I used

alliteration of “whispering… wistful… wretched” to create a silence which would contrast with the deafening screams and

action of the final scene. The onomatopoeia of “NOOEEEAAARGH!….” and “EEEAAEEIIIAARRGHHHHHH!!!...

REEAYYAAAAH!” in the final gut-wrenching blood-curdling screams of the mother and child develops an even more painful

reaction because it follows the previous silent stillness of the narrative. Finally, I structured the narrative into three

short paragraphs. The first paragraph sets up the choice that is being forced in the mother. The second paragraph is

mostly direct speech and develops the shock and torture that is being experienced by the mother. The final paragraph is

intentionally short to more powerfully illustrate the final and horrific consequence of the “Impossible Choice”.

(371 words)

To help you get started… and to help you develop your reflection statement… try using these sentence starters…NOTE: the following sentences are simply a few suggestions… there are, of course, other options which you may need to consider – depending on your narrative.

• I chose the title “____________” because my narrative explored the concept of…

• I chose to write the narrative as a short story and, consequently, I limited characterization to two contrasting

characters….

• I chose to write in 3rd person narrative because it positions the responder to be….

• Being a short story, the plot unfolded in one setting in approximately ___ minutes.

• The plot involved…

• I developed the two characters by using …

• I emphasized the intimidating torment of the _______________________________________ in the simile

“______________________________” and in the personification “ _________________________________”. ..

• The direct speech developed the action in ______________________________________ ….

• The repetition in “________... _______.... _____” illustrates …

• To give a deep emotional atmosphere to the narrative, I attempted to use...

• I used alliteration of a silence which would contrast with the deafening screams and action of the final scene.

• I structured the narrative into ________________________ sections / paragraphs to show….