What is Point of View in Writing, and How Does It Work

By WR!TERS@WORK

Good students will be very aware of the “Point of View” when they write compositions. Many students do not think about their “Point of View” too hard when they write an essay – sometimes, they may even find that they are writing from the wrong Point of View in the middle of the essay, and it is too late to go back and change things. Other students may be inconsistent in their writing by switching from first person to third person and back in the same essay. It is important that students are aware of how Point of View works so they may use it properly. WRITERS AT WORK teachers are here to help shift your point of view on how English composition writing can actually be fun and exciting, all while getting better grades for PSLE and O Level English examinations along the way. Let’s take a closer look:

What is Point of View?

Point of view is simply how the reader accesses the story. Think of it as how the writer decides to tell the story, and to whom. Students need to establish a clear point of view when writing their compositions because it will determine how the examiner interprets the events in your story, as well as the characters involved. There are three kinds of point of view:                                  

1. First-Person Point of View

In the first person point of view, the reader will access the story through one person’s eyes – this person is the main character. To write in a first person point of view, you need to write as if you are writing the main character’s diary. The writer will use pronouns like “I”, “me”, and “my”. When writing in the first person point of view, this limits the scope of what the reader will know about the other characters, as the main character is often not omnipotent.

2. Second-Person Point of View

The second person point of view will use the pronoun “you”. The reader is instead the protagonist or the main character. This is a really difficult point of view to maintain, especially in a longer piece of work. The writer needs to involve the reader, but should they be involved? How involved should they be? It is not recommended that students use this point of view in their writing – it is often uncalled for, and if done badly, could cost the student dearly.

3. Third-Person Point of View

The third person point of view allows the narrator to know everything. Characters are described as how you would describe other people around you, using the pronouns “he/his”, “she/her”, “they/their” and “it/its”. This is the most flexible point of view as the writer can create the most complexity, given that as the narrator is “outside” the story per se, they know everything.

How to Create Point of View

1. Look at What the Question is Asking You for.

The question will tell you what point of view to use. If the question prompts you by asking YOUR opinion or YOUR view, or what happened to YOU – the first person point of view is a must. If the question allows you to use the third person point of view, you will be allowed to use that. It is crucial that the student looks at the question before he or she starts writing, because making an error in the point of view you are supposed to use will be a painful mistake to correct – it will take a lot of time to rewrite everything correctly and the overall quality of the essay will decrease. Students should read the instructions before starting to write.

2. Establish the Point of View Immediately in the Story.

It is important not to leave the reader (who is the examiner marking your essay) hanging about the point of view. The first two paragraphs should situate your reader quickly as to what the point of view is. Remember – you are not writing a creative novel – you are writing under timed conditions within a specific topic. Bear in mind that your writing should answer the demands of the question in a clear and concise manner – establish the point of view quickly.

3. Don’t Force Yourself to Write in an Odd Point of View

Sometimes, you may need to feel whether you are writing from the correct point of view. For example, if the main character is unconscious, or suffers an accident where he does not remember certain things, or if he is in a situation where things are not for him to know, it would be odd to suddenly write that he knows all that has transpired in the story. As such, students need to feel whether a point of view is weird and use their common sense as to what to write.

Examples of Point of View in the PSLE context

Write a composition about doing the right thing. (The pictures given are of a wallet with money in it, someone crying “HELP!” as you are walking home from school, and a door left open.)

First Person Point of View

I was walking home from school – my CCA had just ended, and I was eager to get home. I knew my mother would be upset if I took my time and came home late. Besides, there was a cold, refreshing shower and perhaps a snack to look forward to at home. I rounded the bend near my house when I heard it – a pained cry for help. I turned around and ran as fast as I could to the sound, hoping that nothing serious had happened to the poor person in distress. There was someone sitting just under the tree – he was badly injured from what looked like a bad fall.

Third Person Point of View

Andrea was walking home from school when she heard a cry for help. She turned to look behind her – there was no one in sight. She retraced her steps, trying to source for the sound of the poor person in distress. She was on the verge of panic – what if someone was seriously hurt? She readied her mobile phone to call for help if she had to, dialling the emergency number her mother had told her about shortly before she first started school. The sound appeared to be coming from somewhere around a nearby tree. Andrea approached the tree carefully.

Before students start writing, they need to be very aware of where their writing is going and how they are going to get there. This involves a keen awareness of Point of View and how they are going to use it to further their writing. Knowing how to use Point of View well requires higher order thinking skills like logic – for example, if the main character is unconscious, it would not make much sense to write the composition in first person point of view. WRITERS AT WORK is an education centre offering some of the best English enrichment courses to help students develop these conscious considerations when planning for their composition writing, so join us today to learn more!

Master the English Language with WRITERS AT WORK!

English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.

At WRITERS@WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. W@W reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how W@W makes a difference, feel free to explore our website and watch our YouTube videos!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Is Creative Writing Good for Kids?

Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.

2. What are Good Creative Writing Topics?

A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.

3. How to Begin a Story?

A good story should have just the right amount of exposition to illuminate the setting and the characters for the reader without giving away the entire plot. The story should begin where it is relevant, and the general gist of the situation should be outlined. The writer should know how to move the plot along from where they start easily, and the story should flow logically.

4. What are the Basic Steps in Creative Writing?

A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.