STORIES

When writing a story, you normally include:

• Narration: a sequence of events.
• Description: people, places and objects involved in the events (give interesting details).
A story has basically 3 different parts. For each of them (especially the complication) you may have
more than 1 paragraph:
1. Orientation or introduction: the beginning of the story. You set the scene (who, when,
where, etc.).
2. Complication, development or plot: the developing of the story; what happens. Include a
few events (not many), time sequence words (firstly, afterwards, later...).
3. Resolution or conclusion: the ending of the story.

REMEMBER TO…
9 Arrange your story in logical paragraphs. A paragraph should have a minimum of 4 lines.
9 Use correct verb tenses:
• Past simple: to describe the main events of the story
ƒ They found an all-night café. They went in and ordered a coffee.
ƒ ‘Don’t be crazy, man,’ said Joey.
• Past continuous: to set the scene of the story
ƒ The sun was just beginning to appear.
ƒ Al and Joey were making their way home.
• Past perfect simple: to describe events happening before the main events of the story
ƒ They had broken into the car, only to find that neither of them knew how to drive.
ƒ A friend he had met earlier that day.
• Past perfect simple: to clarify that one event in the story happened before another
ƒ No sooner had they turned into the main street than they found themselves face
to face with Brad.
• Past perfect continuous: to describe actions continuing up to a point in the past
ƒ They had been walking for over an hour when they found an open shop.

WRITING TASK:
Write a story (250 words) for ONE of the following prompts:
¾ An apple a day keeps the doctor away
¾ A pet is a man’s best friend
¾ A blind date
¾ I happened to meet my favourite actor/actress or singer
¾ I couldn´t do without new technologies
¾ I had thought it was going be a perfect day. How wrong I was!
¾ An unforgettable journey