Writing task 2: A story (Adv. 2 + C1)

 

Introduction and tips (Writing stories)

- ANSWER THE QUESTION
- PLAN your story.
- REVISE your story to correct mistakes.
- Give your story a title.
- Make sure you have at least 4 paragraphs.
- Paragraph 1 – background information.
- Paragraphs 2 and 3 the main part of the story.
- Paragraph 4 – EITHER the climax or key moment of the story OR what happened after the climax.
- Don't change the words you are given at all.
- Read the words you are given carefully. Sometimes you can choose whether to start or finish with the words. At other times you have no choice.
- Use past continuous for background information. For example – It was raining heavily as we left the house….
- Use past perfect before the main events of the story. but Anne had kindly lent me her umbrella.
- Use simple past for the main events. There wasn't a single person on the street.
- Try to include some direct speech.
- You can use contraction (haven't, couldn't etc). But a story should not be as informal as an email to a friend, for example.

Useful phrases (Writing stories)

Time phrases:
- It all began
- Shortly afterwards
- Meanwhile
- Not long afterwards
- Some time later
- Later that day
- A little later
- Finally
- In the end
- Eventually
Phrases for dramatic effect:
- Suddenly
- All of a sudden
- Without warning
- Out of the blue
- Just at that moment
- Quite unexpectedly
- As if from nowhere

Direct speech:
- “…..”, said Fred
- “…..”, shouted Fred
- “…..”, screamed Fred
- “…..”, whispered Fred
- “…..”, announced Fred.
- ”…..”, thought Fred
- “…..”, cried Fred
- “…..”, promised Fred

Concluding stories:
- When it was all over
- Looking back now
- In retrospect
- In the end
- After all that had happened

Sample questions (Writing stories)

1. Your teacher has asked you to write a story for a student magazine. The story must begin with the following words.

Simon opened the door and knew immediately he had made a mistake.

Write your story in 180-220 words for in an appropriate style.