myClass Teachers’ Notes

Intermediate
W02
Entertainment

A short story
Lesson description
In the lesson you will plan and write a story. You will read a short story, answer some questions and
consider how it is organised. You will look at the use of the past perfect in narrative and the use of
adverbs to make your writing more interesting.

Aim
Writing a story.

Language
•  Past perfect.
•  Adverbs used for dramatic effect.

Task
The task in this lesson is for learners to write a short story about something going wrong on a trip.

Materials
Handout.
Images on IWB or flashcards of things that can go wrong on trips (e.g. a puncture, a stolen passport, a
twisted ankle, a broken arm, a traffic jam, a missed flight).

Suggested running order

Lead-in Students look at the pictures and discuss the questions.
Input Students predict the story from some words, read and compare. They then answer
comprehension questions and analyse the structure of the story.
Language focus Students notice and practise the past perfect. They then find and practise adverbs
used for dramatic effect.
Task Students plan and write a story about something going wrong on a trip.

Lead-in

1 Put pictures of things that can go wrong on a trip onto the IWB or on flashcards. Students
identify what they are. Feed in lexis as necessary.
2 Students brainstorm other problems encountered while travelling.
3 Students discuss which ones either they or someone they know have experienced.

Input

1 Students look at the key words from the model and predict in pairs what happens in the story.
Have whole-class feedback.
2 Students read the story and say how similar it was to what they predicted.

1  myClass  Intermediate W02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2015

 myClass Teachers’ Notes

Intermediate
W02
Entertainment

3 Students read the text again and answer the questions in pairs.
Answers
1 They had all recently finished university … and were excited about getting about from the city after
all the hard studying they had done.
2 They immediately set off on a long hike.
3 The writer suddenly slipped and twisted his/her ankle quite badly.
4 There was no signal at all on the mountain and none of their phones worked.
5 A farmer helped them.
6 The writer still feels guilty about the trip.
4 Students match the headings to the paragraphs.
Answers
Problem: 3 Final outcome: 5 Build-up: 2
Background: 1 Solution: 4

Language focus

1 Students read and answer the questions in pairs.

Answers
1 a (finishing university happened first)
2 had finished is past perfect, were is past simple
3 had + past participle
4 … we had just done …, After we had reached the summit of the mountain …, the weather had
gradually deteriorated …, … we had only been in Scotland for two nights …
2 Students write the sentences in the correct order.
Answers
1 When we arrived it had just started raining. OR It had just started raining when we arrived.
2 I had recently finished school when I met him. OR When I met him I had recently finished school.
3 The train had already left before we got to the station. OR Before we got to the station the train had
already left.
4 It was dark and the sun had already set. OR The sun had already set and it was dark.
5 Suddenly, I realised that I had left my wallet on the bus. OR I suddenly realised I had left my wallet
on the bus.
3 Students read and underline the adverbs.
Answers
immediately suddenly badly
4 Students find more adverbs in the text. Check meaning with them. If appropriate, mention they
are different types of adverbs: manner, attitude markers, degree, relative time.
Answers
gradually (manner) finally (relative time) barely (degree)
fortunately (attitude) kindly (manner) eventually (relative time)
recently (relative time) unfortunately (attitude) immediately (relative time)

2  myClass  Intermediate W02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2015

 myClass Teachers’ Notes

Intermediate
W02
Entertainment

5 Complete the sentences with a suitable adverb.

Possible answers
a After walking around the city for hours, I eventually found my hotel.
b After we had checked in to the room, I fell asleep immediately.
c Unfortunately it didn’t stop raining the whole time we were there.
d At first the pain wasn’t too bad but it gradually got worse.
e Fortunately I have never had any serious accidents when cycling.

Task

1 Students think of a trip they have been on when something went wrong. Or they can invent
a story if they prefer. Remind them of the types of problems they identified in the Lead-in.
Students plan their story in pairs using the headings and notes. Monitor and help.
2 Students compare notes with a different partner. Encourage them to give each other feedback
and make suggestions.
3 Students refer to the writing checklist and use their notes to write a first draft.
4 Students complete their stories for homework. Feedback on their writing and review the
learning objectives.

3  myClass  Intermediate W02 PHOTOCOPIABLE © British Council 2015