Storytelling: Key Features to Incorporate into Your Writing and Speaking

•Narrative structure

•Showing and not telling

•Direct speech

•Accurate use of past tenses

•Abverbs of frequency

•Adverbs of manner

•The four uses of ‘Should(‘nt) have’

Exam Schedule for Next Week

•Monday 4/4/16: Reading exam (*selected students)

–Two texts following a similar theme (900-1000 words in length in total)

•Wednesday 6/4/16: Writing exam – short story (*all students)

–About 300-400 words.

–You will be presented with a single picture, which should act as inspiration for your story.

•Thursday 7/4/16: Speaking exam (*selected students)

–You will be presented with three images, and asked to create a narrative for the story.

–A conversation with me. You must speak for 4-5 minutes and the whole recording must not last more than 7 minutes.

–Preparation time: 10 minutes.

•Friday 8/4/16: Listening exam (*all students)

–There will be a preparation lesson for this tomorrow.

– 2-3 texts (one must be visual), a total of ten minutes in length, followed by a number of questions.

Storytelling: Adverbs

http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/bl_bgadverbfreq.htm

Adverbs of Manner

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/advman2.htm

Short Stories: Narrative Structure

•Exposition –  

the part of the story that sets the scene and introduces characters

•Complicating action – 

The part of the story where the lives of the characters are complicated in some way

•Climax (after the temporary resolution, the reappearingcomplication)– 

The point where suspense is highest and matters are most threatening

•Resolution – 

A solution for the complication is introduced – it may not be a happy one!

Short Story Writing Practice

‘The Taste of Loneliness’: Using this title as inspiration, write a short story (about 10-15 lines in length)

•You should include AT LEAST TWO of the following tenses:

–Simple past tense

–Past continuous tense

–Past perfect tense

•AT LEAST ONE of each of the four uses of ‘should(n’t) have’

•Some direct speech, accurately punctuated

Storytelling: 'Should have' + past participle

We can use 'should have' to talk about past events that did not happen.

• I should have let her know what was happening but I forgot.
• He should have sent everybody a reminder by email.
• They should have remembered that their guests don't eat pork.

We can also use 'should have' to speculate about events that may or may not have happened.

• She should have got the letter this morning. I expect she'll give us a call about it later.
• He should have arrived at his office by now. Let's try ringing him.
• They should have all read that first email by this stage. It's time to send the next one.

We can use ' should not have'  to speculate negatively about what may or may not have happened.

• She shouldn't have left work yet. I'll call her office.
• He shouldn't have boarded his plane yet. We can probably still get hold of him.
• They shouldn't have sent the report off for printing yet. There is still time to make changes.

We can also use 'should not have'  to regret past actions.

• I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologise.
• We shouldn't have left the office so late. We should have anticipated this bad traffic.
• They shouldn't have sacked him. He was the most creative person on their team.

Exercises:

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/shouldhave/exercise5.html

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/shouldhave/exercise6.html

Storytelling: Past Tenses

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous:

Exercises:

Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Past Simple & Past Continuous 2

Past Simple vs. Past Perfect:



Exercises:

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper/exercises

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper/exercises?ex03

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-pasper/exercises?ex05

Using Direct Speech

Task One

When you use speech marks you need to remember the rule – new speaker, new line. 
Copy out this passage into your book. I’ve put in all the punctuation so make sure you copy that carefully. When you copy out the passage make sure that you put each new speaker on a new line. 

“I want to go swimming,” said Matthew. “I can’t stand staying in doors all day.” “I thought you had homework to do,” said Mum. “Oh Mum,” said Matthew. “I’ve almost finished it. Can’t I just take an hour off.” “Yes you can take an hour off,” said Mum. “But only when you’ve finished your work.” “But it’ll be closed if I don’t go soon!” said Bob. “Then you’d better get a move on, hadn’t you?” said Mum. 

Task Two

This time you also have to add the speech marks in the correct places. It is quite tricky. You’ll probably need to read through the passage several time to work out what each character is saying.

Excuse me, said the man. Can you tell me what the time is? I think it’s about 8 o’clock, replied Graham. I haven’t got my watch on but I remember seeing the time on the town hall clock a few minutes ago. The town hall! said the man. That’s just what I’m looking for. Can you point me in the right direction? Certainly, said Graham. You just go down there past the bank, turn left, go straight on and the town hall will be on your right hand side. Brilliant, said the man, Thanks for your help. That’s okay, said Graham. 

Extension Task 
Consolidate what you’ve learnt. Write a passage that uses direct speech. Show me that you know where to put speech marks and other punctuation. Show me that you can remember to start a new line for each new speaker. 

Some suggestions for what your passage could be about: 
(a) Two friends having a chat about last night’s television. 
(b) A person going to buy a car/computer etc. from a salesperson. 
(c) A telephone conversation between a person who is reporting a lost pet and a policeman.