Please use the PDF below to help structure your Task 2 creative response:
Things we need to look for:
- The COMPONENTS of a short story is an important bit. This tells us the basic structure we’ll need to use and this is what we’ll need to focus on.
- When we describe the SETTING at the start, we’ll need to make sure we describe it in an INTERESTING way to make our reader want to read on. We’ll call this the NARRATIVE HOOK.
- When we’re thinking about the CHARACTERS, we need to limit the number to no more than three. Any more than that and it gets confusing.
- You’ll need to introduce a CONFLICT or DILEMMA (a PROBLEM) as early as possible. This is a very good way of getting the attention of your reader. Something DRAMATIC has to happen. This could be an issue that the PERSONA of your story has to deal with in the place where your story is set. This obviously depends on the persona and the setting.
- The PROBLEM has to be responded to in some way. This is where your story starts building up to the CLIMAX of the narrative.
- The CLIMAX is where the tension is at its highest. The reader is desperate to find out how the CONFLICT has been sorted out/resolved.
- The RESOLUTION is the ending of the story. This could be a ‘happy ever after’, it could be a twist in the tale/something unexpected or it could be left as a cliffhanger. You’ll need to decide what’s best for you and your story.
These are my main teaching and learning points for today’s lesson and you’ll need to look at your planning and make sure your planning includes this structure.
In tomorrow’s lesson, I’ll show you how to write an effective opening to a narrative, which I’ll post to the class blog.