Extended / Core - Directed Writing Question 2 - Narrative Exam Question

We're going to look at the next option of writing you could be given: Narrative

Unlike Descriptive writing you can write a story here but you need to keep it simple.

The simplest stories we're told are Nursery Rhymes and we can use these to give ourselves a 4 part structure.

Character in Danger (Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. You are an egg! Please show some common sense...)

Danger Strikes (Humpty Dumpty had a great fall... who saw that coming?)

Attempt to get out of Danger (All the King's horses and all the King's men... bit of an over-reaction to an egg)

Attempt fails or succeeds (Couldn't put Humpty together again. The egg shouldn't have been on a wall in the first place. No sympathy)

N.b. for true story of Humpty Dumpty see siege of Colchester Castle.

The key here is to keep things simple. You're not writing the next Harry Potter so don't plan an epic. Make a quick four point plan and then pad it out with your description.

Description is like the sound in horror films. Without it your story falls flat.

So know where you are going - know how you are going to get there and then describe.

Last thing: Don't devalue the examiner's efforts in reading your story by saying 'it was all a dream'. If you can't think about how to end it  - don't. A cliffhanger will do.

You need to ensure that you follow the five points of writing though. It is always good to make a plan and tick of the areas as you meet them in your writing.

Aim to develop 6 sections working through your four point plan:

Character in danger - One Section.
Danger Strikes and Attempt to rescue - Two sections each.
Resolution - One section.

Keep an eye on your time! Each section should take you ten minutes to write

You always get 2 options of questions (don't do both) and it is worth 25 writing marks in total addressing the following objectives:

Articulate what is thought, felt and imagined.

Order and present facts, ideas and opinions.

Understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary

Use language and register appropriate to audience and context.

Make accurate and effective use of paragraphs, grammatical structures, sentences, punctuation and spelling.

You should spend an hour on this.

Here are some potential questions:

a) Write a story about a mysterious character

or 

b) Write a story that ends 'and all he was left to do was stare off into the distance'.

Good Luck

Mr Milne