
Descriptosaurus
Supporting Creative Writing for Ages 8-14
Alison Wilcox(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
Published on 11. November 2008
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-0-415-46835-0 (ISBN)
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Description
Descriptosaurus is the first book for creative writing that is a thematic expansion of a dictionary and a thesaurus. It provides children with a comprehensive resource with which to expand their descriptive vocabulary, experiment with language and sentence structure and build up narratives based around the following areas:
Settings - landscapes, settlements and atmosphers
Characters - appearance, emotions and personality
Creatures - appearance, abilities and habitats.
This model was created as a result of feedback from children as to the resources they required to inspire and assist them with their writing. For reluctant writers or those faced with blank page syndrome, Descriptosaurus provides useful starting points to encourage putting pen to paper. Using Descriptosaurus will not only inspire children, it will build their confidence and dramatically improve the content of their writing.
Settings - landscapes, settlements and atmosphers
Characters - appearance, emotions and personality
Creatures - appearance, abilities and habitats.
This model was created as a result of feedback from children as to the resources they required to inspire and assist them with their writing. For reluctant writers or those faced with blank page syndrome, Descriptosaurus provides useful starting points to encourage putting pen to paper. Using Descriptosaurus will not only inspire children, it will build their confidence and dramatically improve the content of their writing.
Reviews / Votes
'Written with great clarity, creativity and a true understanding of what stimulates and engages the minds of children, Descriptosaurus is an essential resource for pupils, parents and professionals alike. This book is set to influence all who use it and create a generation of new young writers.' - Francine Oddoye, Deputy Head Teacher, Clifton Hall School, Scotland'I think Descriptosaurus is a great book. Using it has really improved my writing. I can remember lots of the phrases and I now enjoy writing because I'm not stuck for ideas or words. I have also learnt how to use more interesting words as I can see how they can be used in phrases and sentences and these have inspired me to think up my own ideas.' - Jamie Stewart (Aged 11)
'I have used Descriptosaurus as a teaching tool to improve descriptive writing. This has been very successful as it has given the children and me another technique to work with. It has particularly opened the children's eyes to another side of descriptive language and allowed them to raise the standard of their writing.' - Katherine Vacher, Barfield School
'This book is a treasure trove of descriptive language. Alison Wilcox provides teachers and parents with an array of words, phrases and sentences to use to help children develop their writing. You could use the images in this book as a starting point for creative writing, as an inspiration for stories and poems, or as a `dip in' resource for when you're short of ideas. Highly recommended for both teachers and parents. I wish I'd had a copy of this book when I was a full time English teacher! Invest in a copy today; you'll be glad you did.' - Sue Cowley
'Help to banish 'blank page syndrome' for ever, with this innovative book - a thematic expansion of a dictionary and a thesaurus. It offers children a way of adding detail, depth and colour to their creative writing - providing descriptive phrases and sentences they can use in their narrative. Created by teacher, Alison Wilcox, this inspirational book will build children's confidence in their writing ability.' - Literacy Times Plus
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 297 mm
Width: 210 mm
Weight
885 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-415-46835-0 (9780415468350)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Book
03/2013
2nd Edition
Routledge
€60.84
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Alison Wilcox has extensive teaching experience throughout all the age groups in primary schools in England and Scotland. Colleagues describe her methods as 'innovative and inspirational to even the most reluctant of writers.'
Content
PART 1 - SETTINGS LANDSCAPES CHAPTER 1 FOREST & WOODS CHAPTER 2 MOUNTAINS & ROCKS CHAPTER 3 CLIFFS & CAVES CHAPTER 4 BEACHES, ISLANDS, VOLCANOES & DESERTS CHAPTER 5 GROUND & PATHS CHAPTER 6 STREAMS, RIVERS, LAKES & WATERFALLS CHAPTER 7 SEA & WAVES SETTLEMENTS CHAPTER 8 CITIES, TOWNS & VILLAGES CHAPTER 9 ROADS CHAPTER 10 GARDENS CHAPTER 11 BUILDINGS CHAPTER 12 DOORS, HALLS, CORRIDORS & STAIRS CHAPTER 13 ROOMS ATMOSPHERE CHAPTER 14 TIME OF DAY CHAPTER 15 SPRING & SUMMER CHAPTER 16 AUTUMN & WINTER CHAPTER 17 RAIN, MIST & FOG CHAPTER 18 WIND, THUNDER & LIGHTNING CHAPTER 19 SMELL & TOUCH CHAPTER 20 SOUND PART 2 - CHARACTERS APPEARANCE CHAPTER 21 AGE, HEIGHT, & SHAPE CHAPTER 22 FACE CHAPTER 23 EYES CHAPTER 24 MOUTH, TEETH, NOSE & EARS CHAPTER 25 HANDS & FINGERS CHAPTER 26 HAIR & FACIAL HAIR CHAPTER 27 CLOTHES CHAPTER 28 VOICE EMOTIONS & PERSONALITY CHAPTER 29 EXCITED, HAPPY CHAPTER 30 CONCENTRATING, DETERMINED CHAPTER 31 SYMPATHETIC, CARING CHAPTER 32 RELIEVED CHAPTER 33 ANGRY, IRRITATED, AGGRESSIVE, IMPATIENT CHAPTER 34 COLD, EVIL, ARROGANT, SLY CHAPTER 35 FRIGHTENED, TIMID CHAPTER 36 NERVOUS, EMBARRASSED, SHY CHAPTER 37 SAD, MISERABLE CHAPTER 38 TIRED CHAPTER 39 PAIN PART 3 - CREATURES CHAPTER 40 PARTS, SIZE , SHAPE, COLOUR & COVERING CHAPTER 41 HEAD CHAPTER 42 EYES CHAPTER 43 ARMS & LEGS CHAPTER 44 WINGS & TAILS CHAPTER 45 SMELL & SOUND CHAPTER 46 MOVEMENT CHAPTER 47 HABITAT CHAPTER 48 ABILITIES & ACTIONS CHAPTER 49 WEAPONS & DESTRUCTION