GCSE English Language Paper 1, Question 5: Student presented with a picture of a lake. Question: Describe a journey inspired by this picture

If working on a question like this I would encourage and push a student in a number of specific directions. What the question wants is a detailed, engaging description of a particular place, with a person - usually the first person - placed in that scenario. I would encourage them to:Think about all 5 senses. Sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste. So much powerful description comes from engaging all 5 senses, rather than just sight. Big to small: encourage the student to vary their writing in its focus on the large scale - in this case, the lake, and the small - can we find a moment to go really close and describe a single plant, or detail of the scene?inner/outer: vary writing with description of what is there (5 senses) but also the internal impact that the place has on the person there. Does it frighten/excite/concern them?Style: vary sentence structure - long sentences vs. short. So many students think short sentences are bad; actually, they can be a sign of very good writing. analogy; use metaphor and simile appropriately to add to the description; personification. Encourage the student in these directions but ensure the answer is very much coming from them, and their own imagination. Encourage a thorough plan for such a question, instead of diving right in.