The ice before the skaters

Text: an original contemporary reportage-style practice extract.

Before the skaters returned, the rink looked as though a giant had scribbled across it with a blunt pencil. Curved scratches intersected near the barrier, and a cloudy patch marked where several people had stopped sharply. The resurfacing machine entered through a low door with none of a performance’s ceremony.

It moved in broad turns. Behind it, the surface acquired a smooth shine that made the earlier marks difficult to imagine. A child beside me followed the clean line with a finger against the glass. At one edge, the operator slowed and checked a patch before continuing. The apparently simple erasure still required someone looking closely at what remained.

When the gate reopened, the first pair of skaters traced fresh lines across the shine. The child lowered her finger and watched them instead. The rink had been prepared for an activity that would immediately alter its preparation. Its restored smoothness was a beginning, and its first new scratch was part of the reason for restoring it.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to interest and engage the reader.

In your answer, consider:

• language features and techniques
• structural techniques
• the effect on the reader.

Support your views with detailed reference to the extract.