Hong-Wen Senior High School

STORY WRITING

CLASS _________________

NUMBER _______________

NAME _________________
 Category
A Picture-oriented Story Writing………………………………… 2

Chain of Events………………………………………………….. 3

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words………………………… 4

Write a Sentence for Each Picture…………………………….. 5

Add a Predicate………………………………………………….. 6

Subject and Predicate…………………………………………… 7

Make a Sentence………………………………………………… 8

Incomplete Sentences…………………………………………... 9

Stretch the Sentence…………………………………………….. 10

Sentence Writing………………………………………………… 11

The Narrative Writing Process………………………………….. 12

A Story: Picture-oriented Story…………………………………. 13

Writing Practice (Draft 1) ……………………………………….. 14

Revising and Editing (Draft 2) ………………………………….. 17

Proofreading……………………………………………………… 19

Final Draft………………………………………………………… 20

Evaluation Sheet: A Picture-Oriented Story…………………… 22

Appendix(1) - Strong Vivid Verbs ……………………………… 23

Appendix(2)- Word Bank - Verbs ……………………………… 24

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 A Picture-oriented Story Writing
 Observe three or four pictures. You will be asked to either write a

story based on the pictures given in sequence or you need to

arrange those pictures by yourself and compose a story of yours.

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 Write a Sentence for Each Picture
 Use complete sentences to answer the questions about the picture:
Who might the family be? Where might they be going? What will
they do when they get there? When will they arrive? How will they
get there? Why would they be doing this?

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 Add a Predicate

 Every sentence has a subject and a predicate ( 述 語 ). Use the

subjects listed and add a predicate to make a complete sentence.

naughty boy dentist sweet candies angry mother naïve girl

playful dog shop owner best friend apartment toy dog

Ex. My best friend invited me to her birthday party.

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 The subjects below need some action, complete the sentences by
adding a predicate:
My father My pet dog On Saturday Our apartment
The new toy In the living room My neighbor The backyard
 What:
jumped played bought enjoyed watched begged banned shopped

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 Make a Sentence

 Make a sentence using the following words:

Ex. New teacher.  We have a new teacher in our class today.

black cat

ran fast

barked loudly

silly game

boat ride

new game

dog fight

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 Incomplete Sentence
 Turn the incomplete sentences to complete sentences.

 Make a sentence using the following words:

fell down and

when it was

then he cried

to go outside

a funny face

afterwards we went

to go to

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 Stretch the Sentence

Ex. I like roses. STRETCH I like the big, beautiful red roses in the vase.

 Think about sentences that answer: who, when, where, how, what, why, how.

I have a cat.

I can run.

Joe saw a dog.

Let’s go outside.

He has a nice bike.

I watched the game.

The movie was funny.

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 Sentence Writing
 Use at least three complete sentences to answer the questions
about the picture:
 who, where, what, when, why, how

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 The Narrative Writing Process

Pre-Writing: Brainstorming & outlining: write down

ideas about the topic and organize the ideas.
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Drafting: Turn your ideas int sentences and paragraphs.

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Peer-reading: Exchange your writing with your peers
to read from different angles and get more
3 perspectives.

Revising: Change and improve the content of your

writing.
4

Editing: Correct grammar, capitalization,

punctuation, and spelling errors.
5

Final copy: It should be neat and visible; there

should be no corrections on it.
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 A Story—Picture-oriented Story
 Directions for drafting
1. While drafting, students should create-
(A) a beginning: characters and setting
(B) a middle: proper dialogue and action
(C) a good end: a solution to the problem.
2. The story should be told as if the writer is experiencing it; it should include sensory
details.
3. Proper transitions should be put in appropriate places.
 Useful Transition Words:
Time-related: at first, first, first of all, in the first place, to begin with, afterward, next,
later, later on, then, the next step, subsequently, now, at this time,
at this point, for now, for the time being, at the same time, meanwhile,
in the meantime, soon, before long, in a short time, in no time,
immediately, formerly, previously, earlier, at last, finally, in the end
Cause and effect: therefore, hence, thus
Showing contrary: however, nonetheless, nevertheless
Adding information: furthermore, moreover, in addition, additionally

Tips: Follow the steps, and then you’ll have all the elements needed in a successful composition.
1. Answer all the questions asked in the directions. Even if there’s no questions asked, you
have to learn to use 5W1H(who, what, when, where, why, how) to ask yourself questions
so that they can help you gather some ideas for your story.
2. Make sure what tense you are going to use in your story. Usually past tense is preferred in
picture writing because it’s usually describing something that has already happened.
3. Give each character a name. Define their relationship. Other necessary detailed information
is needed such as jobs, age, personality, habits, hobbies and so on.
4. Try your best to describe the details of each picture. Integrate your imagination and humor
with your storyline. You need to create a logic story.
5. Add transition words provided on this page to make your storyline flow. Give some lines to
your characters but avoid writing all the sentences with direct speech. Giving some lines in
your composition will make your story vivid.
6. Try to use more adjectives to describe characters, feeling of them when the particular
incidents happen in the story. Adjectives are the key to scoring high.
7. Give a reasonable ending to your story. You will have three to four paragraphs in the

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composition for the contest.

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 Writing Practice
 After you have learned many writing skills, it’s time for you to start
writing. Please base on the comic pictures and write a story.

Draft 1 (120 words)

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A self revision checklist for a picture-oriented story
□ I have written a strong beginning by introducing the characters and setting

at the beginning of the story.

□ I have written a good middle by telling the readers what the problem is in

the story.

□ I have put a good end to the story by making the solution to the problem

clear.

□ I have generated details to describe the plot.

□ I have used dialogue to make the story sound real.

□ I have used proper transitions to make the story well-organized.

□ I have put all the events of the story in a logical time order.

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 A peer revision sheet for a picture-oriented story
Writer’s name__________ Date_____________
Reviewer’s name____________
□ Does the writer write a beginning that asks a question or sets a scene?

□ Does the writer use only important events and cross out those irrelevant parts?

□ Does the writer put those events in a chronological order that makes sense?

□ Does the writer use specific details to describe what he/she saw, heard and felt?

□ Does the writer use words and phrases that sound like him/her telling the story?

□ Does the writer write an ending that tells how things work out or shares feelings?

□ Does the writer make good use of dialogue in the story?

□ Does the writer use proper transitions in his/her narration?

□ Does the writer write with a strong voice which clearly tells readers how he/she feels?

 I think the best part of the story is

 To improve this paper, I think the writer could

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 Revising and Editing Draft
 Base on the suggestions your peers gave you and revise your draft.
Try to stretch your sentence with more details. (Draft 2: 150 words)

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 Proofreading
 What is proofreading?
Congratulations! You have already done a lot of reading, writing, and discussing, and then
you planned, wrote, and revised your essay. Now, you have to proofread your essay to
present to your readers a polished, and beautiful version of the ideas you have developed
in your essay. To proofread, you edit your last draft for grammar, sentence structures,
style, and vocabulary. Please make corrections in your proofreading draft.

 What to look for?

1. The use of tenses
The difficult part will be tense shifting when you are not supposed to.
 For example: When I first met Ginger in my first day of high school, I thought she
is very quiet and not easy to get along with. However, after two hours later, she
started to talk to me. I am surprised because she is so talkative.
 Analysis: Here, the writer describes an event and her feeling that happened in the
past. The writer is not supposed to shift tense from past to present.
 Remember: Use the simple past to describe events that happened in the past
(how you and your friend met). Use the present tense to discuss how you and
your friend are now. You should use simple present tense for opinions,
generalizations, general truth, and facts pointed out on the printed articles.

2. Verb form
Make sure that your verbs are in the correct forms (irregular and regular forms).

3. Subject-Verb Agreement(SVA)
The verb and the subject must agree. For example, if the subject is 3rd person
singular, then the verb must show the form of 3rd person singular.
For example: My friend, Ginger, is a strong girl. She never cries.

4. Spelling:
Correct words that are misspelled.

 Proofreading draft (at least 150 words):

Use a different color to circle the subjects, underline the verb, and put a
triangle on the time to see if all the parts agree. Correct all the spelling
errors and verb forms.

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 Use your Revision as a proofreading draft.

Final Draft (at least 150 words)

 Everything in the final draft must be correct before your submission.

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 Evaluation Sheet: A Picture-Oriented Story
Exc Fai Poo
Good
. r r COMMENTS
5 4 3 2 1
CONTENT
1. The writing clearly tells a
5 4 3 2 1
complete story.
2. The writer uses details and
explanations to make the
5 4 3 2 1
story clear and interesting to
the readers.
3. The flow of the story makes it
5 4 3 2 1
easy for the readers to read.
ORGANIZATION
1. The sequence of time is
5 4 3 2 1
clearly stated in the story
2. The story is logically
5 4 3 2 1
organized.
3. The story contains what
happen before and after the 5 4 3 2 1
event.
LANGUAGE
1. The proofreading show a
serious effort to identify and 5 4 3 2 1
correct any grammar errors.
2. The writing is spell-checked
5 4 3 2 1
and punctuating is correct.
PRESENTATION
1. The final draft follows the
5 4 3 2 1
format.

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OVERALL COMMENTS.

OVERALL GRADE: _____________________

Appendix (1)- Strong Vivid Verbs

say/ talk ask like an animal shouted
speak suggest cackle holler
reply request chatter yell
answer question yelp scold
announce inquire howl exclaim
state squeal scream
utter bark declare
whisper chirp discipline
mutter cluck
gab
joke
wisecracked
happily cry gestures expressions
laugh sob shrug smile
guffaw weep twitch grin
giggle wail shiver smirk
rejoice sniffle tremble glow
chuckle wrinkle frown
snigger shudder pout
sing/ croon strain
scratch
pat
feel oops! ways to think other sound
relieve botch read gurgle
dread goof study groan
cheapen hiccup imagine moan
drain ruin worship sneeze

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anticipate jack-knifed write burp
wither compose
wrench record
ooze

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Appendix (2)- Word Bank - Verbs
Weak Verbs Strong Verbs

weep, shed tears, sob, blubber, snivel, boohoo,

cry mourn, lament, whimper, wail, howl, groan, bawl,
plead, moan

speak, converse, chat, reply, gossip, consult,

confer, discuss, reveal, confess, address, negotiate,
talk
lecture, rant, rave, mutter, chatter, utter, prattle,
babble, jaw, rattle on

reflect, consider, ponder, imagine, meditate, picture,

contemplate, deem, recollect, recall, speculate,
think
conceive, envision, fancy, realize, surmise, rationalize,
muse, ruminate, brood upon, digest

race, hurry, speed, hasten, dash, sprint, dart,

zoom, scamper, scoot, scurry, bustle, rush, hustle,
run
trot, scramble, flee, take flight, skedaddle, jog, glide,
bolt

stroll, promenade, wander, saunter, march, trudge,

walk tramp, hike, parade, tread, pace, step, prance,
amble, trek, waddle, cruise

chuckle, giggle, roar, chortle, cackle, guffaw,

laugh
snicker, titter

shout, holler, scream, bellow, roar, howl, shriek,

yell
bawl, whoop, yowl

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Weak Verbs Strong Verbs

gobble, devour, munch, snack, consume, swallow,

eat dine, chew, feast, nibble, gulp, wolf down, lunch,
sup, ingest

look, stare, gaze, peep, ogle, observe, notice,

watch attend, regard, survey, scrutinize, pore over, eye,
note, examine, view, tend, oversee, patrol, guard

daydream, fantasize, wish, hope, envision, imagine,

dream
fancy, muse, desire

behold, discern, distinguish, spy, mark, mind, note,

see
notice, observe, view, detect, glimpse, spot, witness

nap, doze, drowse, rest, nod off, snooze,

sleep
get shut-eye

reply, converse, disclose, explain, inform, express,

say state, report, announce, mention, acknowledge,
answer, declare, suggest

Strong verbs for………………….All the Ways to MOVE!

went walked like an animal musically
visited hiked flipped rocked
drove backpacked lumbered jammed
flew pitter-pattered wormed hip-hopped
traveled tiptoed slimed boogied
chauffeured meandered slithered danced
took a trip sauntered crawled pranced

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NOTES

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