Late for School Again!

Late for School Again! Next week, we are going to write a story about a boy or girl who has been late for school a few times. We will refer to the fact that he/she has been late in the past but focus on the reason he was late this last occasion. We will write the story using a technique called a flashback.

Late for School Again! Before we begin I would like you to think, for a moment, about the word flashback. Then, I will ask three of you to share your thoughts about the word. I remember the day when we buried the treasure.

Late for School Again! Flashback Recall A writer uses a flashback to recall a previous event that explains a current situation in the story. Explains

Late for School Again! We will work on a story together but at the end of the session you may opt to develop an idea of your own. We will work on a story line together but at the end of the session you may decide to develop an idea of your own.

Late for School Again! Who? Beginning Who? Give your character a name and think about a few interesting pieces of information you could use to develop his personality and help your readers to form a picture of him in their minds. Avoid ‘parachuting’ in chunks of information, rather ‘drip’ in details in a subtle way.

Late for School Again! Beginning Where? The story opens with the character waiting outside the Head Teacher’s office. You will need to think of a suitable name for the Head Teacher. You should add a brief description (one or two sentences) of the setting to create an atmosphere. You will also need to think of the thoughts and feelings your character would be experiencing as he waits to speak to the Head Teacher.

Late for School Again! Beginning Why? Your character arrived late for school and the teacher ( give him/her a name) sent him straight to the office to explain the reason for being late. The teacher’s attitude to the boy should reveal something about that teacher.

Late for School Again! Beginning When? Select a day, time and season.

Late for School Again! The Beginning You have thought of: Where? When? Now you need to come up with a brilliant opening sentence to hook your reader! The Beginning You have thought of: Where? When? Who? Why? What?

Late for School Again! Select one of the following options to write your opening sentence: An action e.g. standing Speech to introduce a character e.g. talking Describe the setting e.g. outside the Head Teacher’s office

Late for School Again! The Middle This is the part in your story where you will need to step up the action by using the flashback technique. This is where you will also need to explain how your character came to be late for school.

Late for School Again! The following is a suggested outline for the flashback section of your story (but it is a very simple idea – I’m sure that you can do much better!): character left home - early morning - no one else around saw a gentleman slip on something e.g. a banana skin or wet autumn leaves rushed to help person person injured – broken bone character went to a nearby house for help an ambulance was called character remained with the injured person until the ambulance arrived character was then late for school!

Late for School Again! Resolution/Ending You will need to plan how the problem (having to meet with the Head Teacher) will be resolved. REMEMBER: Make it believable. Keep it logical - explain what happens step by step. Keep up the suspense for as long as you can e.g. Will the character be able to get himself out of trouble? You may end on a cliff hanger but often your reader will feel cheated if you do. After all, everyone really wants to know what happens in the end. Let the character reflect ( think about) on the incident.

Late for School Again! The following is a suggested outline for the resolution (you may have a better one): Flashback ends as the character comes back to the present and finds himself waiting for the Head Teacher’s door to open. Door opens – Head Teacher invites pupil in -the atmosphere changes – there is a call from the injured man’s wife to inform the Head Teacher of the pupil’s kindness.

Late for School Again! Useful Vocabulary: late secretary absent attend register assembly commenced classmates concerned lockers timetable deserted corridors absentee note excuse reason secretary punishment concerned telephone delighted impressed overjoyed recommend award outstanding example attend embarrassing support unsympathetic frequently expectation disappointed punctual attitude annoyed office instructed

You are now ready to begin your tale. Late for School Again! You are now ready to begin your tale. Remember: You must keep the title but you do not have to follow plot used in this activity. If you feel confident that you have a good story idea, please use it, to write your tale. However, I would still like you to use the flashback technique.

Late for School Again! Eliminate BORING Vocabulary! Your mission - should you decide to accept it, is to search and eliminate borring, repeditive vocabulary. Become a Proof Reading Detective!