Techniques to start your story

An interesting beginning is as important as an interesting ending. An interesting beginning will catch the reader's attention and make him/her want to continue reading. A good ending will make him/her feel satisfied.

You can START your story by:

a) using your senses to settle scene and describe the weather, atmosphere, surroundings or people's actions to create mystery or suspense.

e.g. I could hear the wind howling around me. Itwas quite dark that night and it felt strange to be out in the wilderness all alone.

b) using direct speech. e.g.” Always look on the bright side of life, kids”, Mr Frisbain used to tell us.

c) asking a rhetorical question. i.e. a question that does not require an answer.

e.g. Have you ever travelled by train on a warm summer night?

d) addressing the reader directly. e.g. I am sure you all know what a bargain is.

e) referring to your feelings or moods. e.g. I was exhausted because I had been painting wall all day.

Techniques to end your story

You can end your story by:

a) using direct speech. e.g. “Thank you, sir”, the boy said to me.

b) referring to your feelings or moods. e.g. We were shivering but we were happy to have made it.

c) asking a rhetorical question. e.g. 'Why did I have to suffer so much?”

d) describing people's reactions to/feelings about the events developed in the main body. e.g. My brother had become the hero of the day and I was extremely proud.

MODEL

The most memorable day in my life

Whenever I look at that photo it takes me back to those early years when every new experience was so important that it was almost unbearable.

It was towards the end of the school year – my first year at primary school – when it happened. I can still remember the shouts of the spectators as I went out onto the sports field with my classmates. Earlier that week I had qualified for the finals of the 100 metres. I was determined to win.

While I was walking across to the start, I began to feel more and more nervous. I looked at the bustling crowd of spectators, and I saw my proud parents waving enthusiastically. My heart was pounding fast. as soon as I lined up with the other eager competitors. I felt so excited that my whole body was shaking. I braced myself, took some deep breaths and waited for the signal. Then the starting pistol sounded and I set off down the track.

I could hear the crowd shouting excitedly, but the noise seemed very far away. I sprinted as fast as I could, not looking at anything except the finishing line. By the time I crossed the line I was so exhausted I could hardly breathe. When I heard the result announced, I realized, I had won!!

Overjoyed, I collapsed on the soft grass with a broad grin on my face.

“Well done!” said the Headmaster later, as he presented me with the winner’s certificate. I had never felt so happy and proud in my life. It was the first great success in my life!

WRITING ASSIGNMENT:

I. Activate words and collocations from your student’s book:

 

afterwards	invent a story	recognise sb.’s handwriting
average	item	recognise someone
appointment	learn how to do sth.	remember to phone sth
arrangement	long-term memory	remember when sth. happened
associate with	lose a game	remind sb. to do sth.
be accurate	lose your glasses	remind sb. of another person
be clear in mind	gorgeous	remind sb. about an appointment
brain	make an effort	take an interest
bully someone	make sth more	take responsibility
chaos	memorable	unbelievable
concentrate	mental exercise	win a prize
consciously	reduce stress	eating fish, fruit, vegetables
do puzzles / crosswords	make well-organised notes	forget someone’s birthday
forget to do sth	forget about sth.	find sth. easy
effortlessly	focus on	recognise a piece of music
in a logical way	have no idea	form a mental picture