Activity 2 - Writing with Style
Writing to Imagine, Explore, Entertain

 
 
  Objectives

During this activity you will think about how you can plan a short story so that you can catch and keep the attention of your reader. You will also think about how you can describe your setting and characters in interesting ways, and then you will put all your ideas together and write your story.
 
 
  Outcomes

By working through this activity you will have:
 
 
a completed storyboard plan of a short story
 
 
a storyboard of descriptions of people and places
 
 
a short story.
 
 
  Resources

To complete the activity you will need:
 
 
Sheet 2.1 Success Checklist
 
 


  Activities
 
 
  Introduction
 
 
  1. Open and watch the Opening Lines storyboard, which shows lots of different ways of beginning the same story. Think about the different ideas shown in the storyboard. Which way do you think works best for this story? Why?
 
 

to open the Opening Lines storyboard
 
 


  Development
 
 
  2. Imagine that you have been asked to submit the outline of a short story to a publisher. It needs an arresting opening and a well-structured plot. The Plot storyboard has been set up for you to work out and record a brief plan of a story. (Your teacher may ask you to work in pairs for this part of the activity.)
 
 

to open the Plot storyboard
 
 
  3. Now that you have planned your story, you need to think about how you can make your writing as vivid as possible so that you keep your readers interested. Working through the Mind Your Language storyboard will give you some ideas to help you enhance your writing.
 
 

to open the Mind Your Language storyboard
 
 
  4. Now that you have thought about some ways to make your writing more interesting, re-open your saved version of the Plot storyboard and, in each caption window, write a paragraph of your story. You may wish to record your words in the text/audio screen.
 
 


  Plenary
 
 
  5. You will have the chance to watch some of the storyboards that other members of your class have made, and think about what they have done well and what they could improve. Your teacher may give you Sheet 2.1 Success Checklist to help you structure your comments about their work.
 
 


  Extension/Homework
 
 
  6. You may be able to use Kar2ouche (in an after-school or lunchtime club) to extend your plan into a complete short story. Experiment with some of the printing options in Kar2ouche, and find the best way to present your finished work.
 
 
  7. Alternatively, write up your plan into a complete short story. If you are writing a story for children, you may be able to use some of the frames from your plan as illustrations.
 
 
  8. If you have time, you could use Kar2ouche to produce an animation of your story!
 
 




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