Structured Creative Writing for Fifth Graders. Matthew Clavel. June 30, Handouts

Transcription

1 Structured Creative Writing for Fifth Graders Matthew Clavel June 30, 2010 Handouts

2 What Should a Good Story Have? A good title A hook to catch your reader s interest Introduction and development of character(s) A problem or a conflict Enough information and plot A climax the most exciting part of the story A resolution Loose ends are tied up; story is concluded. A final sentence or two to end the story nicely. Optional but Useful Elements Something a main character learns about himself/herself Foreshadowing

3 An Adventure in Space For your first story of the year, you are asked to write a story that commemorates the fortieth anniversary of the Moon landing. (Anyone know the exact date?) It does not have to be about the Moon but it must take place somewhere in the universe that s not our own planet. The rest of the story is up to you! Except, that is In your story, please include: 1. A good title 2. A hook to catch your reader s interest 3. Introduction and development of a character/characters 4. A problem or a conflict 5. Enough information and plot 6. At least one conversation 7. A climax the most exciting part of the story 8. A resolution 9. Loose ends are tied up; story is concluded. 10. A final sentence or two to end the story nicely. Finished with your story? One more thing to do: please underline, with a colored pencil or marker: 1. the hook in yellow 2. the character introduction and development in blue 3. the conversation in red 4. the problem or conflict and its resolution in green 5. the climax in purple 6. the loose ends being tied up/conclusion in orange 7. the final line or two in brown. I m looking forward to seeing what you put together! Enjoy yourself, and before you write try to think of something that you are really going to enjoy writing about. You may want to start with an outline, but it is not necessary. The story should be at least two pages but no more than four pages long. It is due on Monday, September 21.

4 Give the Reader a Hint! One of the more interesting qualities of The Shakespeare Stealer is that it is loaded with examples of foreshadowing hints of what will happen later on in the story. Please write a story that takes place at the time of William Shakespeare and that includes one piece of foreshadowing. As for the rest of the story well, it s up to you! When you write your story, please include the following things. 1. A good title 2. A hook to catch your reader s interest 3. Introduction and development of a character/characters 4. Foreshadowing of something that will come later 5. A problem or a conflict 6. Enough information and plot 7. The part where the foreshadowing makes sense 8. A climax the most exciting part of the story 9. A resolution 10. Loose ends are tied up; story is concluded. 11. A final sentence or two to end the story nicely. Finished with your story? One more thing to do: please underline, with a colored pencil or marker: 1. the hook in yellow 2. foreshadowing (and where it later makes sense) in red 3. the character introduction and development in blue 4. the problem or conflict and its resolution in green 5. the climax in purple 6. the loose ends being tied up/conclusion in orange 7. the final line or two in brown. Have fun with this story! Other than the foreshadowing requirement, you have a lot of flexibility. The story should be at least two pages long but no longer than four. It is due on Monday, November 23.

5 An Adventure from Ancient Times For this story, there aren t many instructions. Your only task is to write an adventure story that takes place at the time of the Romans. The rest is up to you! When you write your story, please include the following usual things. 1. A good title 2. A hook to catch your reader s interest 3. Introduction and development of a character/characters 4. A problem or a conflict 5. Enough information and plot 6. A conversation 7. A climax the most exciting part of the story 8. A resolution 9. Loose ends are tied up; story is concluded. 10. A final sentence or two to end the story nicely. As usual, please underline the following elements with a colored pencil or marker: 1. the hook in yellow 2. the character introduction and development in blue 3. the problem or conflict and its resolution in green 4. the climax in purple 5. The conversation in red 6. the loose ends being tied up/conclusion in orange 7. the final line or two in brown. Enjoy writing your story; it s a good chance to let your imagination run wild. You might want to start with a detailed plan, but you do not have to. The story should be at least two pages long but no longer than four. It is due on Monday, February 8.

6 Name An Adventure from the Roman Empire Please plan to write an adventure story that takes place at the time of the Romans. Fill in this basic framework (DON T WRITE THE WHOLE STORY YET!) in complete sentences; it is due on Monday, February 1. The NEXT week, the actual story will be due. 1. What will your title be? 2. What is your hook going to be? 3. Who will be the main characters? 4. What will be the problem/conflict? 5. When will the climax take place? 6. What will the resolution be? Please see the back.

7 7. How are you going to tie up the loose ends? 8. What is your final sentence going to be about?