Touching the

Voidis a book,
published in 1988,
byJoe Simpson.
In it, he recounts
his disastrous and
nearly fatal climb in
thePeruvianAndes
with his companion
Simon Yates.

Lesson
1

Touching the
Voidis a book,
published in 1988,
byJoe Simpson.
In it, he recounts
his disastrous and
nearly fatal climb in
thePeruvianAndes
with his companion
Simon Yates.

Catapulted

Fierce

Grotesque

Distortion

Nausea

Exploded

Ruptured

Rational

Dispassiona
tely

Trail

Obstacle

Cautiously

Tautened

Rational

Searing

Desperately

Screamed

Terrible

Explore how Joe Simpson is able to

successfully create tension in the
extract from Touching the Void.

What happens in the extract?

What challenges do Joe Simpson and Simon
Yates face?
What are the key language features?
How do they help to shape meaning and build
tension?

What is
a void?

 What happened to Joe?

What happened to Simon?

50 words for each

Clip
0:25 12:04

What are
the key
language

Ellipsis

Short
sentence

Adjective

Verb

Adverb

Repetition

Metaphor

Exclamation

Question

With a partner, using the key

words on the previous slide, all

I want you to do is feature

spot. Use a highlighter.

Aim to find at least one

example of each feature.

Clip
21:40 27:10

In the first paragraph, Ive

chosen to focus mainly on Joe
Simpsons use of adjectives and
verbs. However, Ive also
identified where he has used a
short sentence in the

How do the
language
features help to
shape meaning
and build

The verb hit connotes violence

and conflict. This indicates to
us that Joe Simpsons collision
with the slope has put him in
danger.

The adjective shattering

suggests that the collision has
had a disastrous impact on Joe
Simpson's knee. This creates
tension because, at this stage,
we dont know if he has lost

The short sentence on the

penultimate line of the paragraph
slows the pace of the narrative.
This helps to reinforce the
serious, dramatic tone that
was established in the opening

With a partner, makes notes

on the A3 paper provided and

prepare to feedback. Use the

analytical verbs.

Aim to put forward at

least four separate

Implies

Amplifies

Clarifies

Highlights

Coveys

Establishes

Suggests

Emphasises

Reveals

Indicates

Informs

Represents

Speak clearly.
Listen

Lesson
2

Explore how Joe Simpson is able to

successfully create tension in the
extract from Touching the Void.

How can we use our notes to construct a written

response?
What are the features of successful analytical
writing?
What are the key words?

Quick
recap

What are the

features of
successful
analytical

What
are the
key

Ellipsis

Short
sentence

Adjective

Verb

Adverb

Repetition

Metaphor

Exclamation

Question

Implies

Amplifies

Clarifies

Highlights

Coveys

Establishes

Suggests

Emphasises

Reveals

Indicates

Informs

Represents

How is Joe Simpson able to

successfully create tension

in the extract from Touching

the Void?

Statement

Quote
Development

Analysis

S
Qu
A
D

Joe Simpson uses two exclamation

marks at the end of the second
paragraph. At this stage, the reader is an
aware of the exact nature of his injury.
Simpson writes, My leg! My leg!
The exclamation marks used by Simpson
amplify
his sense of distress at the pain he is
under. The serious nature of his injury,
and the danger he is in, is clearly
signified.
The ellipsis used by Simpson helps to
add to this effect: his thought process is
fragmented, highlighting that he can

WHAT WENT WELL:

Look closely at language and
content

EVEN BETTER IF:

Is the writing technical accurate?

Is the writing precise?
Are the points relevant and credible?
Are the points expansive enough?
Are the quotations appropriate?
How does the work compare to yours?

Clip
27:10 54:42