imaginativewriting


 * __[[image:book_open-1.jpg align="right"]]Writing To Imagine Explore and Entertain (10%)__**


 * Your story can be about anything! All stories have a type or genre. What genre of story are you going to write? Horror? Gangster/Crime? This affects the types of characters you have and what happens!**

Remember this is going to be a **SHORT** **STORY**, or an **excerpt** from what might, given more time, become something much longer. So **don't** try to cover **too** **much** **action** or **plot** in what will be a very short space. Keep your focus **small** - a short period of time; a simple narrative; nothing too complicated. Don't write **too** much. **Concise** is much better than waffling. There should be no reason to exceed 800 words, and you might be able to get away with writing less.




 * What you need to do to achieve a top mark is:**

- Have **interesting believable characters** (think about **how they look** AND their **personality** (**similes and metaphors** can also be useful here) - how can you **show this** through events in the story? Their reactions to events perhaps? - Your characters must speak in a way that shows their mood and is relevant to the story AND you MUST use **speech marks** and **adverbs** here accurately. - Have a good **event (disruption) that changes things** dramatically THEN gets **sorted out in a satisfying end** (resolution) - Separate parts of your story into **paragraphs** skilfully. Maybe you could use them to create tension or suspense by having cliffhangers? - These paragraphs MUST be linked with **connectives** to add **structure** to your story.
 * -** Have a **good, descriptive opening** that establishes a mood/setting situation (you MUST use LOTS of interesting, appropriate **adjectives and adverbs, while similes and metaphors can also be useful)**


 * You will get a mark out of 20 for this task:**
 * One mark out of 14 - for **narrative, tone, vocabulary** and **structure**; and
 * One mark out of 6 - for **spelling, punctuation** and **grammar**.


 * Below are 10 steps (from planning your story to reviewing your first draft) to improving your imaginative writing coursework which is worth 10% of your overall final grade.**

1) What **genre** of story are you going to write? If you are short of ideas, download and look at this document below. It will help you to think about your setting and the type of story you want to write.

If you want to write a **scary story**, you can download the document below to help you think about what you need to include.

2) Use the **template** below to help you to plan your story. You must have a recognisable **beginning** (where a setting is established), an established **middle** (where a problem/disruption occurs) and an appropriate **ending** (when the problem/disruption finally gets resolved). You must stick to this structure

3) Download and use the **grid** to plan your characters in detail. All characters must have a 'function' - they must do something important in the story! Remember, a good writer shows the reader details about characters rather than tells them. What does this mean?


 * Example**: Let's say your character is 'hot-headed' or 'short-tempered'. It is better to actually show the reader this through what they say and do, rather than just say "he was hot-headed!".


 * Now you can start writing your story! Try to have an original opening line and establish the setting in the first paragraph!**

4) We need to make sure our writing is **varied** and **interesting.** The downloadable document below helps you to recognise and use sentences of different length for effect. Can we use different sentence lengths to make the reader want to read on? Can you do with by adding 'cliffhangers' at the end of your paragraphs too?

5) Have you **separated** the different 'scenes' of your story into paragraphs? It is very important that you use paragraphs to separate parts of your story!

6) Is your writing **descriptive** enough? Have you used **interesting adjectives** to describe every noun and 'paint a picture' for your reader? Have you used **adverbs** to add more detail to your story? Have you used **similes** and **metaphors? Use the document below to remind you how to describe what your characters can see, hear, feel, taste, touch, smell.**

7) Have you used **speech marks** effectively to show when a character is saying something? This is very important! If you are unsure, print and complete the exercise below to remind you.

8) Have you used **better words than 'said'**? It is important to describe how your characters are speaking and use more **interesting, descriptive** words than 'said'! You can also describe HOW people say things by using **adverbs.** "You can use your adverbs to give hints into your characters", he whispered menacingly.

9) Have you made any **mistakes** in your writing? Download and print the following exercise and **correct the errors**, then do the same for your first draft!

10) Download the **checklist** below and assess your own work. This tells you what to do to achieve the highest grade possible. Ask your teacher to fill this in for you and give it back to you after your first draft. It will let you know how you can improve. You should be aiming for the highest grade you can as it is worth 10% of your final grade!


 * __Assessment Criteria:__**


 * To get a C You Need To Have:**

- an appropriate opening that establishes an identifiable mood/setting/situation. - a clear development with some detail that moves towards an end - paragraphs that link your ideas together using straightforward connectives and are varied in length fo effect


 * To get a B You Need To Have:**

- an opening that successfully establishes an identifiable mood/setting/situation - a coherent development that moves the reader to an ending that clearly provides closure (a climax or a cliff-hanger) - paragraphs that are effectively used, using a range of connectives, to link parts of the story together to sustain interest.


 * To get an A You Need To Have:**

- a very effective opening that skilfully establishes an identifiable modd/setting/situation - a coherent and sustained development leading an effective and satisfying ending (resolution or deliberate ambiguity) - paragraphs that are skilfully constructed, using a range of connectives, to link parts of the story together to sustain interest.


 * __A* Example:__**

Click on the word document below to download an already marked example of A* grade Imaginative Writing coursework produced by a former Heartlands pupil. At the bottom of the page are the reasons why it is an A* grade. You should use this information to help you think about how you can achieve this grade!