Unit 12 Writing: A dramatic Story

Unit 12: The Body Beautiful Writing:





A dramatic Story








Form 3

SMK Wira Penrissen

Samarahan

Pages 156 - 157



Learning Focus




Making stories more interesting


There are several ways to make your stories interesting.



• Interesting stories starts with dramatic opening sentence, which will make the

reader want to read on.


• Descriptive adjectives and adverbs help the reader to imagine the characters and
the action.



• You can also use some idiomatic expressions to make your writing more colourful.


• Direct speech and short dramatic sentences in places add variety and drama.


• Introducing a twist in the story in which something unexpected happens can add

suspense.


• Finally, an interesting ending to the story is also important.

A. Match the ways of making your story more interesting 1-8



with the examples a-h.



1. descriptive adjectives a. Unfortunately, the two cousins have never seen eye to eye.


2. dramatic opening sentences b. ‘Please don’t leave me! I promise I won’t hurt you again,’

she said.


3. descriptive adverbs c. Today was the day when Hannah was going to meet her

sister for the first time.


4. direct speech d. He jumped quickly out of bed, rushed downstairs and

opened the door nervously.


5. idiomatic expressions e. Like most teenagers, Hannah was independent and not

very communicative.


6. short, dramatic sentence f. He left the building with tears in his eyes. That part of his

life was over.


7. a twist in the story g. They had always been a loving family, but one day

something happened to change that forever.


8. an interesting ending h. He stopped and stared.

B. Read the writing task below and then answer



the questions about it in your notebook.






Your teacher has asked you to write a story. Your story must begin with


this sentence.



Sally was extremely nervous.




(100 words)





1. How will your story start?






2. How does Sally feel?






3. Do you have to explain why she feels this way in the story?

C. Read the example story and underline techniques from A


that make the story more interesting.







Sally was extremely nervous. It was their turn to dance. Sally breathed

deeply while Maddy was completely relaxed. “Come on!” said Maddy.


“We’ve got to win!”



Maddy and Sally met at dance class a year ago. They quickly discovered


they had a lot in common. When their teacher enters them in a


competition, they were very excited.



This was their big chance. However, when the music started Sally froze.


Maddy was angry but carried on. When the music stopped, Maddy

headed for the door. Sally knew she had let Maddy down. Worst of all,


she had lost a friend.

D. Read the example story again and answer the questions.








1. Why does Sally feel nervous?








2. Where did Maddy and Sally meet?








3. How did the girls react when their teacher told them about the competition?








4. Which girl does something disappointing?









5. How does the other girl react?

E. Match to complete the plan for the example story.







a. Give background details about the character’s relationship.








b. Set the scene and introduce the main characters.








c. Introduce a twist in the story and bring the story to an end.








Paragraph 1



Paragraph 2



Paragraph 3

F. Look at the Useful Expressions and choose the correct answers.





1. She was relieved to see that everyone looked very ……….


a. suspicious b. embarrassing c. friendly





2. Can I give you …….. with your suitcases?


a. a hand b. An eye c. an arm






3. I don’t find it easy to ………. on with new people.


a. see eye to eye b. respect c. get





4. We don’t have a lot in ……………..


a. trust b. friendship c. common





5. The two brothers grew …………… when they left home.


a. apart b. out c. up for

G. Read the Exam Close-up. Then read the Exam



Task below and make a paragraph plan.







Leaving enough time.



• In the exam, remember to leave yourself enough time to write the


story.


• Try to decide quickly which question to do and then make a plan


thinking of ideas and useful expressions for each paragraph.



• Leave a few minutes to check your writing at the end.

H. Complete the Exam Task. Remember to include techniques to

make your story more interesting and to leave time at the end to


check your writing.




Exam Task



Your teacher has asked you to write a dramatic story. Your story


must begin with this sentence.






Alex was the best friend anyone could have.



(100 words)