Objective of This Book There are many educational resources that supplement the learning of writing. Some give instructions on sentence construction and grammar, some provide descriptive words and phrases, while others focus on specifi c writing skills. These wonderful books help students in their writing in the Modelling Phase or guide them through the Experimenting Phase. This book assumes students are able to construct grammatically correct sentences. It aims to inspire students, steer them towards the styling phase and help them develop their unique writing style. The models in this book, compositions written by Upper Primary Students, offer an insight to writing styles common to this group of children. It is my hope that this book will help students aspire to write better and in the process, unleash their creative juices and discover their own personal writing style. Special thanks to the seven contributing student writers, who generously allow me to reproduce their compositions. Li Weishi
Contents THE PHASES OF WRITING... i HOW TO USE THIS BOOK... iii A GUIDE TO STORY ELEMENTS...iv HOW TO STRUCTURE STORY ELEMENTS...vi MODEL 1 A Good Deed...1 Lesson: Idioms...2 MODEL 2 Helping Hands...7 Lesson: Proverbs...8 MODEL 3 Courage and I...11 Lesson: Conventional Similes...13 MODEL 4 In a Cavern...17 Lesson: Creative Similes...19 MODEL 5 Overeating...22 Lesson: The Five Senses...24 MODEL 6 An Embarrassing Incident...26 Lesson: Metaphors...28 MODEL 7 A Track in His Heart...31 Lesson: The Beginning and the End: Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs...33 MODEL 8 Those Difficult Years...38 Lesson: The Body: Cause and Effect...40 MODEL 9 Over a Pet...42 Lesson: Direct Speech...44 MODEL 10 An Unlucky Day...47 Lesson: Character Description: Appearance...49 MODEL 11 The Deck of Cards...51 Lesson: Character Description: Thoughts...53 MODEL 12 Spring-cleaning...55 Lesson: Character Description: Actions...57 MODEL 13 Lost at a Carnival...59 Lesson: Character Description: Emotions...61 MODEL 14 The Present...63 Lesson: Characterization: Personality...65
MODEL 15 Pair of Hamsters...67 Lesson: Compare and Contrast: Characters...69 MODEL 16 Friends...72 Lesson: Dialogue with Description...74 MODEL 17 A Scare...77 Lesson: Plot...79 MODEL 18 Piper...83 Lesson: Internal Conflict: Action Contradicts Conscience...85 MODEL 19 A School Bully...88 Lesson: External Conflict: Character versus Character...90 MODEL 20 A Corpse...92 Lesson: Setting Reflects Mood...94 MODEL 21 The Fight...97 Lesson: Scene...99 MODEL 22 On a Fishing Trip... 102 Lesson: Link... 105 MODEL 23 Ah Meng a Tribute... 108 Lesson: Flashback on Timeline... 111 MODEL 24 Sisters... 114 Lesson: Character Development... 117 MODEL 25 The Interview... 120 Lesson: Contradiction: Action Contradicts Emotion/Thought... 123 MODEL 26 In Memory Of... 126 Lesson: The Basics of Creative Writing... 130 MODEL 27 A Life Saved... 132 Lesson: Notes on Story Elements... 134 MODEL 28 A Close Shave... 136 Lesson: Notes on Story Elements... 139 MODEL 29 Inspired... 141 Revision : Structure Story Elements... 144 MODEL 30 The Path of a Criminal... 145 Part I : The Series of Murderous Events... 145 Part II : Vengeance and Hatred... 146 Part III : Deal or No Deal... 147 Part IV : Once a Robber... 148 Revision : Structure Story Elements... 150 SUGGESTIONS... 151
Model 1 A Good Deed by Low Trini It was a hot and humid day. Joseph could not wait to go home and enjoy his nice warm bath. However, on that fateful day, he had to wait for donkey s years before his mother arrived. His mobile phone rang. It was his mother. She had a lot of customers at her shop and her sales assistant could not possibly manage all customers on her own so Joseph had to wait. He decided to walk to a nearby park and relax. Just as he was sitting down on a bench, he heard wails and cries. He looked around and noticed two boys crying. Don t worry! Getting that kite down from the tree for you two is child s play to me! said Joseph to the boys and he started climbing the tree. The tree is so tall. It is impossible to retrieve the kite, whispered one of the boys. Hey! Big brother! Be very careful! shouted the boys. Joseph assured them that he would definitely put his best foot forward to help them. As Joseph climbed higher and higher, he started getting a little scared. He told himself that he could not disappoint the boys and if he fell, that would be the end of him. OK! Just a few more steps to go! he thought. Ah! Ah! Phew! Joseph was like a cat on a hot tin roof when he almost fell off from the tree. Just then, he heard some cheering. It was the boys! He decided that he must not lose heart and continue to climb up. Yes! Joseph shouted out loud happily as if he had won the 1.6-kilometre run. He grabbed the kite and climbed down carefully. The boys thanked him profusely. Joseph could not help but feel like a dog with two tails. Character A description of the characters actions Plot The problem and the solution are revealed through a character s speech. Plot The various characters speeches, thoughts, actions and emotions build up the suspense. Character The story ends with a speech (the exclamation) which illustrates the character s, Joseph s emotion. 1
Learning Highlights Idioms An idiom is a group of words in a fixed order connoting a particular meaning. Study Trini s use of idioms especially in describing emotions and actions. he had to wait for donkey s years Getting that kite down from the tree for you two is child s play to me Joseph assured them that he would defi nitely put his best foot forward to help them Joseph was like a cat on a hot tin roof when he almost fell off from the tree He decided that he must not lose heart and continue to climb up Joseph could not help but feel like a dog with two tails. Some Useful Idioms Meanings a bolt from/out of the blue in the twinkling of an eye in the blink of an eye once in a blue moon in the nick of time at the eleventh hour donkey s years in the same boat be on the rocks no laughing matter fall on deaf ears by hook or by crook completely unexpected something happens very quickly extremely quickly very rarely at the last possible moment nearly too late or at the last moment a very long time in the same unpleasant situation as others in a critical situation a serious issue no one listens to a suggestion or a warning any method possible, by fair or foul means 2
Idioms That Indicate Emotions Meanings smack one s lips lick one s lips on cloud nine over the moon have a whale of a time down in the mouth have the blues see red hit the ceiling/roof make one s hair stand on end one s heart in one s mouth get cold feet like a cat on a hot tin roof not turn a hair keep a cool head lose heart like a fish out of water smell a rat show a strong desire to eat something feel pleasure at the thought of something extremely happy and excited very pleased have an enjoyable time sad sad become very angry become extremely angry make someone feel very frightened frightened or nervous become tensed up or frightened nervous and anxious not showing any emotion when something bad happens remain calm be discouraged feel uncomfortable or awkward be suspicious 3
Idioms That Indicate Actions or Behaviour put one s best foot forward put one s foot down lend a helping hand hold one s tongue button one s mouth make a clean breast of take to one s heels ruffle someone s feathers bury the hatchet face the music take the bull by the horns give the cold shoulder greet/welcome someone with open arms at each other s throats see eye to eye sit on the fence go to the root of the matter see the light Meanings do one s very best put a stop to something help refrain from saying something unpleasant keep quiet confess run away quickly annoy or upset someone forget past quarrels and be friends again accept punishment without complaint do something difficult in a brave way be unfriendly, pay no attention to someone welcome cordially arguing angrily agree with each other not taking any side of an argument find out the source of something understand something suddenly 4
On Your Own 1. Construct a sentence with an idiom to describe each of the following emotions accordingly. Imagine scenarios. (a) Happiness (b) Sadness (c) Anger (d) Anxiety (e) Fright 5
2. Write a paragraph with a few idioms, especially those that indicate emotions and actions, according to each of the following scenarios. (a) Trapped in a lift (b) At an amusement park (c) A quarrel with a sibling (d) Getting an examination result 6