Unit 10.

1: From Simple Ideas to Writing

Topic 4: I Can Also Write a Story

Lesson 4.1: Writing a Story

Writing is an art. What makes writing special are the personal and vivid details

you may include as a writer. Like a fingerprint, no one can ever write like you. Your

words in writing are too important to let them just slip by unnoticed. Only you can

express your own thoughts and feelings exactly the way you wish for them to be read.

So when it comes to writing a story, take your time to think and organize your

thoughts and ideas as best as you can. Don’t be afraid! Remember, writing is a

process. Every good writer takes time to get to perfection.

The key to become a good writer lies in planning. Writers follow what is known

as the writing process. These are simply a few steps to follow to keep you on the right

track. You will notice that in the process, your writing will become your own Mona

Lisa.

1. Brainstorm
2. Prewrite
Celebrate!
3. Write the first draft

4. Revise 6. Publish

5. Edit and Proofread

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THE WRITING PROCESS

The writing process begins with a good storm of ideas.

Jot down any possible topics you would like to write about.

The prewriting step tightly follows brainstorming. Once

you’ve written down all of your possible topics, choose ONE
and begin collecting details. Give serious time and thought
to prewriting. It is the ink in your painting.

This step refers to your actual writing. Here you will

transfer all of your ideas into a paper. Don’t worry about
spelling or mechanics, just get the ideas flowing. Writers
usually write more than one draft to get to their
masterpiece.

Once your draft is done, you may want to add, change, or

dismiss a few ideas before editing.

During this step, the writer takes time to check for spelling
or mechanical errors. You should also look out for too many
short sentences and the absence of transitional words or
phrases. Check for the appropriate use of verbs and
adjectives. Remember, these give your writing life!

As you’ve come to the end of your work, it is very

important to share it with others, so that they can enjoy
your masterpiece!

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 Writing a Story

Note to the teacher.

This activity can be done orally where the entire class is included.
Walk the students during the entire process.

Suggestions: Create a very short story with the entire class. Then, have
the students fill in the story elements needed in the activity
sheet before working on a story of their own.

It is time for you to take the knowledge of the writing

process and the elements of the story, and bring them

together. Let’s think of topics we would like to write our story
about.

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 Who is/are the main character(s) in the story?
What is/are his/her emotional and physical characteristics?
Describe the characters so that the reader can create a mental
picture.

CHARACTER CHARACTERISTICS

Where does the story take place?

(Choose your settings carefully. Remember to write vivid
details and/or sensory images so that the reader can
visualize the scene).

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When will the story take place?

*_________________________________

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Where does the story take place?

(Choose your settings carefully. Remember to write vivid

details and/or sensory images so that the reader can
visualize the scene).

* ___________________________________________

When will the story take place?

*____________________________________________

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What do you want the reader to specifically picture

in his / her mind?

*____________________________________________

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 Here’s a little help with the sensory details.
Help the reader paint the picture in his/her mind to better grasp your story.
You may not need all of them, but the chart will help you get started.

Target questions Answers

What do you want the reader to see

vividly in the setting?

What do you want the reader to feel?

(any specific feeling)

What do you want the reader to smell?

What do you want the reader to taste?

What do you want the reader to hear?

Write your entire setting.

Example: It was a warm summer afternoon in the streets of Old San Juan.
Tourists enjoyed the warm breeze as the children played hide and
seek.
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 Important events of the story
Keep in mind that details are the key to support and enhance a story.

1. How will the story begin?

(Remember that in a story, it is important to establish
the time, date, character, and his/her characteristics at the
beginning. In other words, establishing the who, when, and
where).

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 continued…

2. What problem or conflict do/does the character(s) face?

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3. How will the conflict arise?

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4. How will the main character struggle to resolve the conflict?

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5. State an incident which will happen next.

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 continued…

6. What incident occurs which brings the protagonist to understand what

must be done in order to solve the problem? (climax)
An event where the tables are turned but the problem not yet solved.

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7. What happens right before the problem is solved?

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8. How the problem is finally solved?

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9. What happens right after the problem is solved?

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 continued…

10. How would you end the story?

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11. What lesson did the main character learn?

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12. Did anyone else learn a lesson? Who? What did he/she learn?
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 You may have an idea of what your title will be. If you
already know, write it down.

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(Title) page 1

You may begin writing your first draft. Don’t worry about spelling
errors or punctuation marks.

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 Page 2

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 Now that you’ve written your first draft, take the time
to look over it and decide whether there are some
changes that should be made. During this process, it is
perfectly acceptable to eliminate any idea or sentence.

 Was I precise in my choice of words?

 Are my sentences clear and understandable?
 Do I need to add a sentence to clarify anything?
 Do I need to add any details?
 Do I have too many unimportant details?
 Did I repeat anything too many times?
 Can the reader clearly imagine the setting?
 Are my character’s characteristics clear?
 Is the problem in the story clearly stated?
 Is the resolution of the problem clearly stated?
 Does my story have organization? Does it follow the story design?
 Did I bring all of my ideas together towards the end of the story?
 Is my ending appropriate?

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 Read over your draft once again. This time,
concentrate on punctuation marks, capitalization,
transitional words and phrases, independent and
dependent clause, and the use of modifiers (adjectives,
adverbs).

 Did I begin my sentences with capital letters?

 Are the correct words capitalized?
 Do my words have the correct spelling?
 Are my sentences complete sentences?
 Did I end my sentences with the correct punctuation mark?
 Did I include sentences with different lengths?
 Do my sentences begin in different ways?
 Are the transitional words used appropriately?
 Are my commas used correctly?
 Are the colons and semi-colons used properly?
 Did I make good use of the modifiers to get specific ideas across?

*You can also have a classmate proofread your work for additional editing. He / she
can identify your mistakes using an editing marks chart.

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Symbols Meaning Example Corrected Example
My favorite month of the My favorite month of the year is
Capitalize a letter year is december. December.

Alice wants to go on a Alice wants to go on a picnic

/ Make a capital lower case Picnic tomorrow. tomorrow.

Insert a period Rene has a bike . He Rene has a bike . He wants to have
. wants to have it… It…

My dog is very
Sp. Correct spelling error inteligent. sp My dog is very intelligent.

Classes were because Classes were suspended because of

٨ Insert here of the storm.٨ the stom.
suspended
Transpose (switch)
words or letters The car red is mine. The red car is mine.
∽

Insert comma, colon, or I wanted a blue pen,but I wanted a blue pen , but they only
, ; : Semi-colon they only had black. ٧ had black.
٧ ٧ ٧
Watch out ! Watch out !
? ! Insert question or ٨
٨ ٨ exclamation mark

Mark put on a lifejacket Mark put on a life jacket to go into

# Leave space # the pool.
to go into the pool.

Therefore, I believe Mr. Therefore, I believe Mr. Torres

Insert paragraph was right.
¶ Torres was right. ¶ On
On the other hand, Mrs. Perez…
the other hand, Mrs.
Perez…

Bob told me to take Bob told me to use the pencil.

Delete or replace use the pencil.

I have to go to the I have to go to the airport.

Close up the space air port

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 Complete idea for a story

 Title

 Main Character

 Secondary character(s)

 Antagonist

 Characteristics

 Conflict

 Setting

 Rising Action

 Climax / Turning Point

 Resolution / End

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Now it is time to place all of your ideas and colors together to create your
masterpiece.

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If you want to learn more about this topic you can click on the following links:

http://busyteacher.org/6451-7-strategies-for-elaboration.html

http://busyteacher.org/16910-writing-strategies-for-the-esl-classroom.html

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/proofreading.html

References:
Casa Grande. (2014). Unit 10, Writing Process. Retrieved from

http://secundaria.operacionexito.com/

Kemper, D., Nathan, R., & Sebranek, P. (1995). Writer’s express: A handbook for

young writers, thinkers, and learners. D.C. Heath Company, a division of

Houghton Mifflin Company.

(1997). Integrated Language Arts Assessment Guide. Prentice Hall.

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