SHORT STORY WRITING
CSEC English A
Syllabus Objective
Give aesthetic satisfaction to others in
personal, creative and imaginative language
by:
I.Organizing and sequencing ideas to
communicate emotions and imaginative
interpretations of experience.
II.Using language (tone, mood, register,
code and style) appropriate to particular
situations and contexts.
Think About It
A story should entertain your audience – the
readers or listeners.
Think of your story as a product.
Who would want to buy a boring or
common- place story?
CSEC English A Paper
Paper 2
Section C
Questions (4 and 5)
Dimension Expressed: Expression
Marks awarded: 35
Percentage of Overall Examination: 23.33%
General Instructions for
Examination
• Section C: Short story
writing/Descriptive writing
This section is made up of three
questions. They include two short story
essays - one with a picture and one
without - and a descriptive essay.(You
must choose one question to answer).
General Instructions for
Examination
Your answer in this section should be
approximately 400-450 words in length and
you must write in Standard English,
although you may use dialect in
conversations.
Types of Writing Impacting Story
Writing
Narrative
writing
SHORT
Expository
writing
STORY Descriptive
writing
Before you write that Story
• Read the question carefully; if there is a
picture spend the time to examine it
closely.
• Underline or highlight the key words in
your question
• In response to a picture, jot down the
ideas/impressions that come to mind as
you view same.
Question Types
• Title/topic
• Words to include
• Sentence to include
• Situation
• Story ending
• Story beginning
• Picture
Short Story Question
Write a story entitled, "The decision that
saved my life."
http://www.caribexams.org/cxc_stryq
Short Story Question
• Write a story which leads up to the
following ending:
"To this day, people passing through
Coconut Grove still stop to ask for
Waspie.“
http://www.caribexams.org/cxc_stryq
Short Story Question
• Write a short story in which you use the
words,
"The phone rang once and stopped. It
rang again. This was it now.”
http://www.caribexams.org/cxc_sstories
Short Story Question
• "Jamila turned and walked away. I knew
then that I had lost a friend."
Write a story in which this sentence plays
an important part.
http://www.caribexams.org/cxc_stryq
Short Story Question
Write a short story based on the picture
below.
http://www.caribexams.org/cxc_sstories
Picture Questions
• Who is the person or persons in the picture?
• Will I put another person or other persons in my
story?
• What is happening now?
• Where and when is this situation/activity taking
place?
• Why is this happening now?
• Is this the beginning, end or middle?
• How will I fill in other details?
The Life of A Story
Think of a car without an
engine.
The Life of A Story
A story without a conflict or problem is just
like a car without an engine.
IT IS DEAD AND MEANINGLESS !!
Before you write
• Think of a conflict or problem which may
match your story.
• Jot down your conflict
Conflict
• Facing past hurt √
• Unpreparedness for an examination
• Deception of a loved one
• Facing a haunting
• A difficult relationship
• Mistaken identity
• Forbidden love
• Guilt based on wrongdoing
• A broken friendship
Before you Write that Story
Jot down a snapshot of your story:
Story: The Wheel Spins
PLOT
Orphan rejected in the past returns as
successful executive to visit aunt who had
abused him in the past. On his visit he faces
the memories of his past and finds that the
hurts are still there.
Before you Write that Story
• Jot down some important details
Name of Orphan – Marlon
His current status – successful
Setting – twenty years later than the past
Name of Aunt – Aunt Melba
Starting your Story
Avoid ordinary and commonplace beginnings.
• One day I met my aunt who treated me badly in the
past.
• One morning I woke up and felt very tired. I had
gone to my bed 11:30 p.m. instead of my usual 9:00
p.m the night before.
• It was a bright and sunny day.
Starting your Story
• Grab the reader‟s attention from the start
• Make certain your beginning relates to the rest
of your story.
Interesting Beginnings
• A conversation
• A quotation or proverb
• A scream
• Movement
• A description of a setting
• A description of a person
• Details of an emotional conflict
• Suspense
Creativity
A good story requires imagination and keen
insights.
This is much different from the „composition‟
you wrote in grade 3 at primary school.
Starting your Story
THE WHEEL SPINS
The community had changed. Well-trimmed hedges had now become
untamed vegetation set behind weathered fencing or tottering walls.
The well-paved roads had now degenerated into a patchwork of
potholes and cracks. The houses braced bravely against time but its
effect could still be seen in their faded peeling walls and occasional
cracked or missing windows. People congregated on the streets now –
some smoking, talking or just sitting around on the sides of pavements .
Starting a Story
Abby approached her apartment door and found it
slightly ajar. She slowly opened the door and stood in
shock as she saw that someone had invaded her
privacy.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/suspense_writing/98920
Interesting Beginnings
• "You're not going out with him and that's the end
of it!" Jenny's father announced.
http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~tpl/texts/beginningsandendings.html
Interesting Story Beginnings
Spike gasped for air as he forced himself to run
even faster. He knew he couldn‟t keep up that
pace for long. But he had to keep going. He
couldn‟t stop out here in the open − he was too
visible.
http://usborne.com/youngwritersaward/
Building your Story
• Do not rush your story; tell less
Create suspense – short sentences, details
• Include credible descriptions of persons, places,
emotional reactions (devices, adjectives, adverbs)
• Make certain that the title of your story is played out
in some aspect of your story.
Details in a Story
How did she walk?
She dragged herself along as if one leg were
broken and useless.
How do I tell the reader that he was frightened?
A stream of urine trickled from his pants and the
paper fell from his hand.
Details in a Story
How did I know my uncle disliked me?
He hardly met my gaze although he tried to speak of „my
dear old dad‟. When I finally got a glimpse of his eyes,
they were lifelessly cold and he never returned my smile.
Details in a Story
Hesitantly, I emerged from the car, with my eyes fixed on
the stranger. I moved to the gate and opened it with
surprising ease; it was not fastened. In three strides, I was
facing the old woman. It took me about two full minutes
before I realized that I was in fact staring at a version of my
Aunt Melba.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Use of clichés
Spikes‟s legs felt like jelly.
Unbelievable characters
He crushed the gun with his bare hands.
Sketchy details
She walked across the room towards him.
Adding Details
• Adverbs
• Adjectives
• Literary Devices
• Senses
Smells
Sounds
Sights
tastes
Adding Details
• Communicate emotions/feelings
anger
joy
nervousness
rejection
pride
rejection
envy
ENDING YOUR STORY
• Should be interesting
• Should be planned
A twist
Suspense
Happy ending
Sad ending
Unexpected ending
Story Endings
• In a flash I was driving out on Wayline Crescent with the
wind in my hair and Michael Jackson's Thriller blaring on
my CD player. I did not look back.
• I was left staring at the solid door that had just been
slammed in my face.
www.trevorhampel.com/short-story-endings/
Preparing for the Examination
• Read, read and read excellent examples of short stories,
as well as longer stories.
• Find samples of short story questions and practise to
write them( with the correct number of words) in the
allotted time.
• Use a checklist to assess your story and/or get feedback
from your peers, teacher or anyone who can assist you .
Short Story Checklist
QUESTION YES NO
Does my story match the question asked?
Does my story have a conflict ?
Is the beginning interesting enough to grab attention?
Is there a smooth flow to my story?
Have I added enough details by effectively using adjectives,
adverbs, literary devices ?
Have I appealed to the senses?
Are my characters believable/real?
Does my ending match my story?
Is my ending interesting?
Is my story free of errors of tense, agreement and spelling?
Reminders
• Your story is not a book; it is a short story.
There is a word limit (400-450 words).
• Plan your story quickly and effectively.
• Grab your readers‟ attention from the start.
• Hold attention by creatively building your story.
• End your story on an interesting note.
• You must narrate your story in Standard English but you may use
Jamaican Creole (or other language varieties which may be
comprehended by the reader) in a dialogue or direct speech.
Reminders
• Set out the direct speech of different characters in
separate paragraphs/lines
• Appropriately use tense, subject/verb agreement, and
punctuation.
• Properly construct your sentences and paragraphs.
• Pay attention to your spelling and use words you know.
