KS3 - English Language Recount writing

Term 2 Modal verbs

Modal verbs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk9nQwoCFig

https://dashboard.blooket.com/set/63e4a6cf56cb747d3199af70

H.W.
Done
https://agendaweb.org/verbs/modals-exercises.html

https://bbresources.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/3/Grammar2-Modals_2634.pdf

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs

Recount Writing

1. Understanding Recount Writing

Recount writing tells the reader about past events or experiences. It is usually
written in chronological order and includes personal reflections. Recounts can be:

1. Personal Recount: Telling a story about your own experiences.

2. Factual Recount: Reporting on real-life events or historical happenings.

3. Imaginative Recount: Creating a fictional story written in the past tense,

as though it really happened.

4. Diary entry: reflecting on a personal experience and written in a form of

a letter.

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs

2. Layout of a Recount

a) Personal Recount Layout:

• Introduction: Set the scene (who, where, when, what).

• Body Paragraphs: Describe the events in chronological order.

• Conclusion: Reflect on the experience (feelings, lessons learned).

b) Factual Recount Layout:

• Introduction: State the topic and provide context.

• Body Paragraphs: Present events or facts in sequence.

• Conclusion: Summarize key points or explain the significance of the event.

c) Imaginative Recount Layout:

• Introduction: Hook the reader and set up the narrative (include who,
where, when).

• Body Paragraphs: Describe the events vividly, with suspense or

excitement.

• Conclusion: Tie up the story and reflect on its impact.

c) Diary entry Layout:

• Introduction: Set the scene (who, where, when, what).

• Body Paragraphs: Describe the events vividly, with suspense or

excitement. Include thoughts and feelings since the main purpose is to
reflect on your personal experience.

• Conclusion: Summarize key points or explain the significance of the event.

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs

3. Sentence Starters and Powerful Phrases

a) Sentence Starters:

• Introduction:

o "I will never forget the day when..."

o "Last summer, my family and I..."

o "It all started when..."

• Body Paragraphs:

o "First, we decided to..."

o "Suddenly, out of nowhere..."

o "As the day went on..."

o "To my surprise, I discovered that..."

• Conclusion:

o "Looking back, I realize that..."

o "This experience taught me that..."

o "It was a moment I would treasure forever."

b) Powerful Phrases:

• Descriptive Language:

o "The sun blazed brilliantly overhead."

o "The air was thick with excitement."

o "My heart raced as I..."

• Emotive Language:

o "I felt a wave of joy wash over me."

o "A sense of dread began to creep in."

o "It was a bittersweet moment."

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs
4. Sample Recounts

a) Personal Recount

Question:

Write a personal account of a time when you faced a significant challenge.

Describe the situation, your thoughts and feelings, how you dealt with the
challenge, and what you learned from the experience.

A Moment That Changed Me

Looking back, I never thought I would find myself in such a challenging situation.
It was last year, during our school’s annual hiking trip to the mountains. The
journey was meant to be fun and adventurous, but it turned into an experience
that tested me in ways I never imagined.

The first part of the hike was beautiful—tall trees swayed gently in the breeze,
birds chirped above, and the sun peeked through the leaves, creating golden
patterns on the trail. I was walking with my friends, laughing and chatting,
feeling confident that the day would go smoothly. But that confidence shattered
as we approached the steepest part of the climb. It was a rocky slope, much
harder than I had anticipated.

About halfway up, my foot slipped on a loose rock, and I fell to my knees. My
heart raced as I looked down at the long drop below. My friends tried to
encourage me, but I froze, paralyzed by fear. Suddenly, the climb didn’t feel like
a fun adventure anymore—it felt like a nightmare.

For a moment, I thought about giving up. I could already hear my inner voice
whispering, “You can’t do this. Just sit here and wait.” But then I looked around.
Everyone else seemed to be struggling too, yet they kept going. I didn’t want to

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs
be the only one left behind. Taking a deep breath, I stood up, gripping the rocks
as tightly as I could, and pushed myself forward, one small step at a time.

It wasn’t easy. My hands were scratched, my legs ached, and I felt like my
heart was going to beat out of my chest. But as I climbed higher, something
amazing happened—I started to believe in myself. With every step, I proved to
myself that I was stronger than I thought. By the time I reached the top, the
fear and doubt had vanished, replaced by a rush of pride and relief.

Standing there, overlooking the breathtaking view of the valley below, I realized
something important: challenges aren’t meant to break you. They’re there to
show you what you’re capable of. That climb was more than just a physical
journey—it was a test of my resilience and determination.

Since that day, I’ve faced other challenges, but none have scared me as much as
that rocky slope. And every time I feel doubt creeping in, I remind myself of
that moment and the lesson I learned: sometimes, the only way forward is to
take it one step at a time.

b) Diary entry

Question:

Write a diary entry about a day when you experienced a mix of emotions.
Describe the events that happened, your thoughts and feelings during the day,
and how it ended. Ensure your response is personal, reflective, and engaging.

Diary Entry

Date: 6th January 2025

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs
Today was a whirlwind of emotions—one of those days I’ll never forget. It
started with a rush of excitement and ended with a sense of quiet reflection.

This morning, I woke up early, ready for the school play auditions. I had been
rehearsing my lines for weeks, reciting them to anyone who would listen—my
parents, my dog, even the mirror! When I finally stood on stage, the bright lights
blinding me, I could feel my heart pounding like a drum. But as I started to
deliver my lines, something magical happened. The nerves melted away, and I
found myself lost in the character. For those few minutes, I wasn’t myself—I was
the role I’d worked so hard to become. Walking off the stage, I felt a rush of
relief and pride.

But the joy didn’t last long. At lunch, my best friend, Mia, and I had a
misunderstanding over something so trivial I can’t even remember what started
it. Words were exchanged, and before I knew it, we were sitting on opposite
sides of the cafeteria, glaring at each other. It hurt more than I expected. How
could something so small create such a big rift?

Later in the day, the results of the auditions were posted. My name was there—
next to the lead role! I couldn’t believe it. But even as I celebrated with my
classmates, I couldn’t fully enjoy the moment knowing Mia and I were still upset
with each other.

When I got home, I decided to swallow my pride and text her. I wrote something
simple: “I’m sorry. Can we talk?” To my relief, she replied almost immediately,
and we ended up laughing about how silly the whole argument was. By the time
we finished, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Looking back, today was a rollercoaster—nerves, joy, anger, and relief all rolled
into one. But it reminded me of something important: even on the most chaotic
days, things have a way of working out in the end.

Goodnight, Diary. Here’s to more days filled with lessons and memories.

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem

KS3 - English Language Recount writing
Term 2 Modal verbs

5. Task

H.W. (choose one of the following tasks to write)

Write your own recount based on one of the following prompts:

1. A memorable school trip.

2. The first time you tried something new.

3. A fictional adventure involving a treasure map.

Use the layout provided above and incorporate at least three sentence starters
and three powerful phrases from the list. Aim for at least three paragraphs.

Good luck lovelies

Prepared and compiled by: Dr. Nada Salem