Creative Writing Controlled Assessment TASK ‘Of Mice and Men’ takes its title from an old Scottish poem. Use an idea from a poem as the basis of a piece of your own writing. Use the title of the poem as the title of your piece of writing. ‘Out of the Blue’

Creative Writing Controlled Assessment ‘Out of the Blue’ Re-read the poem Make a note of ideas that you could write about. Think about:  What narrative perspective you want to use  What is it that comes ‘out of the blue’  Where the writing is set  What will be the shape of the writing

Extract from Out of the Blue You have picked me out. Through a distant shot of a building burning you have noticed now that a white cotton shirt is twirling, turning. In fact I am waving, waving. Small in the clouds, but waving, waving. Does anyone see a soul worth saving? So when will you come? Do you think you are watching, watching a man shaking crumbs or pegging out washing? I am trying and trying. The heat behind me is bullying, driving, but the white of surrender is not yet flying. I am not at the point of leaving, diving. A bird goes by. The depth is appalling. Appalling that others like me should be wind-milling, wheeling, spiralling, falling. Are your eyes believing, believing that here in the gills I am still breathing. But tiring, tiring. Sirens below are wailing, firing. My arm is numb and my nerves are sagging. Do you see me, my love. I am failing, flagging. SIMON ARMITAGE

Creative Writing Controlled Assessment Look at Twin Towers: How has it used the poem? What is narrative perspective? What genre is it? How has writer ‘shaped’ the piece?

Creative Writing Controlled Assessment Planning What is narrative perspective/who? What comes ‘out of the blue’? What is time frame? What is shape of story? Some tips: Avoid dialogue Keep story simple ‘Show’ don’t ‘Tell’

Homework Prepare to write Creative Writing Controlled Assessment Practise writing Check any spellings/grammar/ punctuation unsure about Complete Practice Planning Sheet for 17/12/14