Your teacher will read out an extract from The Diary of Samuel Pepys (see textbook page 60) about the great fire of London. As you listen complete this summary of the happenings.

Summary

This entry in the diary has been made on …. (i)…. By …..(ii) The person who told Pepys about the fire was called….(iii)….She called at….(iv)….in the morning. Pepys went back to sleep because…..(v)…..Pepys rose again at….(vi)…..in the morning. By then about….(vii)…..houses had been burned down. The fire had spread to…..(viii)…..by London Bridge. Pepys then walked to the….(ix)…..along with sir J. Robinson’s….(x)……

Here is an extract adapted from a one-act play. In this extract, angry neighbors who think Joe the Inventor’s new spinning machine will make them lose their jobs come to destroy Joe’s model of the machine.

You’ve just seen how contracted forms can make a written text sound like actual speech. Try to make this extract sound more like a real conversation by changing some of the verbs back into the contracted forms. Then speak out the lines.

[The door is flung open, and several men tramp in. They carry sticks, and one of them, HOB, has a hammer.]

Now you know what a diary is and how to keep one. Can you keep a diary for a week recording the events that occur? You may share your diary with your class if you wish to. Use the following hints to write your diary.

Though your diary is very private, write as if you are writing for someone else.

Present your thoughts in a convincing manner.

Use words that convey your feelings, and words that ‘paint pictures’ for the reader. Be brief.

‘Diary language’ has some typical features such as subjectless sentences (Got up late in the morning), sentence fragments without subjects or verbs (…… too bad, boring, not good), contracted forms (they’re, I’ve, can’t, didn’t, etc.) and everyday expressions which people use in speech. Remember not to use such language in more formal kinds of writing.

How old do you think Amanda is? How do you know this?

Who do you think is speaking to her?