Tackling Creative Writing, Cloze and Reading Comprehension

1. Tackling Creative Writing, Cloze and Reading Comprehension Mrs Lydia Lye & Mrs Azlina Suhaimi

4. Five Areas of Writing • Content/Plot • Organisation • Vocabulary/Language  • Mechanics • Editing

5. Plot • The story line • The story must appeal to the audience. • There must Beginning, Middle and End to a story

6. The Beginning, Middle and End of a Narrative Beginning • Begin with a "grabber" to hook the reader. • Introduce the characters, setting, and typically, a problem or problems that the hero needs to resolve.

7. The Beginning of a Story These are just some of the suggested ways to start a story… A command to the reader -Example: Never try to cheat in class. There is no short cut to success. A question -Example: What possessed me that day I could never tell for real?

8. The Beginning of a Story An action - Example: I had never run so fast in my life. Unfortunately, it was not fast enough. A quotation - Example: "What on earth is that horrible stench?" my sister complained as she gagged, putting the collar of her shirt over her nose.

9. The Beginning of a Story A sound effect - Example: PSFST! I smelled the skunk's spray almost as soon as I heard it. A thought - Example: As I walked along the row of shops, I imagined how wonderful it would be to have the extra money to spend.

10. Plot – Adding a Twist • Refer to handouts

11. The Beginning, Middle and End of a Narrative • Middle • Here is where the hero discovers that his problem is not so easily solved! • Develop the story with at least one specific incident or happening. • Keep them in the correct order for time. • Include descriptions. • Include dialogue.

12. Plotting the Plot Climax Average Plot that warrants average marks Beginning conclusion

13. Plotting the Plot Climax A Plot that is not preferred due to abrupt ending and certainly warrants less marks for content conclusion Beginning

14. Plotting the Plot Climax The preferred plot that certainly warrants more marks for content Beginning conclusion

15. Plotting the Plot Climax The preferred plot that certainly warrants more marks in the higher bands for content Beginning conclusion

16. Plot – Adding a Twist • Refer to handouts

17. The Beginning, Middle and End of a Narrative • End • The hero finally resolves the problem, or problems. • Bring story to a close, referring to events in the story for continuity. • Wrap it up with a satisfying ending, a zinger, or a humorous comment to leave the reader with a feeling of completion.

18. Organisation • When the writing is organized properly, the reader has no trouble reading and understanding it. It flows like a river! Each sentence is in its proper place. • The writing has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. There are clear transitions from one event to another, from one idea to another and from one paragraph to another. And an excellent closure. 

19. Vocabulary/ Language • Writing is like painting a picture using words.  • Would you do all of your paintings in black and white? Would you always paint the same thing? Of course not! So why use the same words over and over again in your writing. Positively Boring!

20. Substitute commonly used words with more flamboyant ones. e.g. the word ‘said’ can be used in many ways to infer the tone, meaning and even character Alternatives for ‘said’

21. Asked • To say or write something in order to get an answer, a solution, or information: • “What’s your name?” she asked. • That boy is always asking awkward questions.

22. Called • An attempt to speak to someone by phone. • The sound or cry that you make to get someone’s attention.

23. Croaked • To make a deep low sound like one that a frog makes. • To speak in a low voice rough voice as if you have a sore throat.

24. Squeaked • To make a very short high noises that are not loud. - a squeak of alarm • I can hear mice squeaking in the walls. • For fear of being punished, Sam squeaked, “Yes.” He was hoping, his mother would not hear him.

25. Screamed • To make a loud high noise with your voice because you are hurt, frightened, excited etc • The woman lay there screaming in pain. • “Get out!” she screamed. • Lola screamed insults at him as he walked away. • The police car approached with its siren screaming.

26. Growled • A long deep angry sound • To say something in a low angry voice • “Get out of my way!” he growled.

27. Mechanics Just as auto mechanics keep their cars running smoothly, language mechanics must keep their sentences running smoothly!

28. Pupils have been taught to • Use correct punctuation • Use appropriate tenses & correct grammar prepositions, connectors, etc

29. Editing • Editing is an important part of writing. It is where the writer looks at his paper with a critical eye. Editing is an important part in The Writing Process.

30. "Dressing Up" • A pupil should always "dress up" his essay when presenting it to his teacher for a grade. • A "presentable" paper – will grant him a high marks!

31. Tackling Cloze and Comprehension Passages

32. Read the sentences. We geva the aiwstesr uor deorrs. Dda kpet tkainlg about his ewn psot. It was tnhe, wehn I ssened naretu’s acll and mdae my ywa to the rtresomo.

33. The message is… We gave the waitress our orders. Dad kept talking about his new post. It was then, when I sensed nature’s call and made my way to the restroom.

34. Read the sentences and guess what the ‘strange’ words are. “He received his promotion this morning,”she esdfhtf . ( ) I dashed out of my sfrymjum and looked for Dad. ( ) Dad deserved the big ghettio. ( ) saying verb noun noun

35. adjective I looked around the empty restroom and realised that I was kioueter. ( ) It was not so crowded so the waitress showed us to our table lyahate. ( ) I could feel the excitement in his sctytaiuo. ( ) adverb noun

36. Looking for clues “Dad is giving us a treat!” my sister exclaimed as she barged into my room. Surprised, I asked, “ Why?” “He received his promotion this morning,” she 1) _______________.

37. Looking for clues “Dad is giving us a treat!” my sister exclaimed as she barged into my room. Surprised, I asked, “Why?” “He received his promotion this morning,” she 1) ___________. I dashed out of my 2) ____________ and looked for Dad in the living room. I gave him a big hug. Dad deserved the much awaited 3) _________ .

38. Looking for clues Without much delay, we changed into more appropriate clothes and hopped into the car. When we reached the Sweet Restaurant, we made our way to the entrance while dad parked the 4)_____________. It was not so crowded so the waitress showed us to our table 5) ___________________. We were looking through the menu when Dad joined us.

39. Reading Tips • Read through the passage once. • The first sentence will provide a general idea of the passage. • The answer to the question/blank may be in the rest of the passage. • Read forward and backward to pick up clues.

40. Sentence structure and Grammar tips • Concord/ subject-verb agreement and tense consistency. • Pronouns (I, you, she, he, it, we, they) • Phrasal verbs (put on, take off, hand in etc) • Prepositions (in, on, above, under, behind etc) • Articles (a, an, the)

41. Contextual Clue • Definition • The meaning of the word is given in the sentence. • Clue words: that is, in other words, or, which means • E.g.: But some kangaroos are arboreal, which means they climb trees and leap from branch to branch.

42. Contextual Clue 2. Comparison • The unfamiliar word is compared to a familiar word or phrase. • Clue words: too, also, likewise, similarly Eg: Mr Tan thinks that John is a notorious boy. Likewise, all the other teachers agree that he is extremely naughty.

43. Contextual Clue 3. Contrast • The unfamiliar word is contrasted to a familiar word or phrase. • Clue words: but, unlike, however Eg: • Sam is delighted that he is going to Sentosa. However, his sister is sad because she is sick and is not able to go.

44. Answering Comprehension Questions Answer in complete sentences • Look out for Interrogative pronouns in questions (Why, What, Where, Who, When, How) • Do not start answers with ‘ It was because…’ • Check the tenses (did, does, do) • Check punctuation • Full stop • Quotation marks • Do not lift answers from the passage