Task 28: FINAL task of 2007/8

This is the FINAL wordvoodoo task of the 2007/8 Academic Year, and for some of you (students and moderators) it will be your last task - so let's make sure you go out with a BANG. And even for those of you (current Y8, Y9 or Y10) who will be carrying on in September, this is still your chance to show off EVERYTHING you have learnt over the course of this year on wordvoodoo.

So think back to all the techniques you have been taught, and make this the most original, memorable, creative (and accurate) piece of writing you have ever produced!

It is another music task - but it is a little different, in that:

• there is not a CHOICE of tracks - you must all use the SAME one;
• it is an ENTIRE track, rather than a 1 minute excerpt - so I will expect your writing to echo the SHAPE of the whole piece of music too.

So listen to the track LOTS of times, and try to understand the structure - maybe as a graph or chart, or perhaps just with words and bulletpoints. How does the mood or emotional climate change/differ? What does the pace or tone of the music suggest at different points in the track? What is interesting about the opening and conclusion of the track? Does it launch straight in or allow some establishment of context? Does it achieve any sort of climax or denouement, or is there 'unfinished business'?

Once you have produced an analysis of the structure of the music, you should close your eyes and listen to it again. This time, you should allow your imagination to concoct the scenario for your piece of writing - even if you have to listen to it several times in order to achieve this.

Then, as last time, begin to draft your piece. When you have finished, please check the following things:

• Does it fit the piece of music when you listen to it again?
• Have you corrected any careless mistakes (spelling/punctuation/grammar) or typos?
  

Could it benefit from any further redrafting, in order to refine or improve the range of stylistic techniques, for example:

• imagery (similes, metaphors and personification);
• sound (rhyme, rhythm and alliterations);
• varied syntax (short, simple and striking sentences and fragments; longer, more complex/compound sentences - and the range of punctuation that goes with it);
• varied vocabulary (sometimes simple and short; sometimes more florid and polysyllabic; everything for a reason...)
• subtlety (i.e. hinting at things rather than shouting them out to your reader);
• tension (mood/atmosphere; sufficient/sustained engagement to retain the reader's interest)
• and anything else you have learned on wordvoodoo this year.

You can listen to the track HERE. I will also email it to all of you shortly.

You should provide a TITLE for your submission; and your submission itself should be between 250-400 words.

You MUST complete this task by midnight on Saturday 19th July. No excuses. No delays. No allowances.

Good luck!

P.S. I will try my very best to post an exemplar over the next couple of days - but don't be afraid to remind me or to ask for help if necessary! :)