Learning Objectives Structuring drafts Starting stories Lesson Six Planning and Structure

Which of these create tension? Which Fall flat? Write the sentences in the correct box Boring…..NextARGHHH!!!! More tension The house looked scary. A Monster appeared. I killed it. I grew dreadfully afraid. The howling wolf revealed its fangs. The window shutters creaked and moaned and the trees crashed outside. He was not breathing so I knew he was dead! There was no doubt that he was dead. His throat had been torn open, in a stringy red mess of tendons and cartilage, and the cushion beneath his head was soaked black with blood. The woman seized Katie's curls, lifted her up, and bit into her neck, with a load crunch. It was a scary night I can tell you!

Each think of the films that you like. Jot a line graph showing how you think tension progresses in the stories Lots of Tension Little Tension End of Film

Start Small! A creaky floorboard? Horror stories often start with something small and this grows until something is let loose! Tension tends to rise in Stories

Choose a detail that creates interest. Try using the list we created to develop a great story opening. e.g Noises/the fear of a stranger/ fear of the night The windows stopped creaking and in the gloom I heard the rusty hinges of the front door whine slowly open.

Suggested Story Structure Often a good structure for a story follows these five points. 1)A Good Opening 2) Develop the plot/Scenario 3) Introduce a complication 4) Ensure the complication becomes a crisis 5) Resolve the crisis Should give more detail and begin to give the reader some answers to keep them reading. Should make the reader ask questions. Should leave the reader holding their breath. Should make the reader see the problem in and want to know if worse will happen Should be an answer or explanation for the crisis.

Now plot the on the graph the way that you would like tension to progress in your story Lots of Tension Little Tension End of Film

Story Structure Plan 1)A Good opening e.g. You are on a family holiday and visiting a museum 2)Develop the plot/scenario e.g. You go outside with Paul and play on the swings. 3)Introduce a complication e.g. Paul hits the ground and is unable to move. 4)Ensure the complication becomes a crisis e.g. He is wailing, get a taxi in to the hospital, it takes a long time, there is little news of how he is. 5)Resolve the crisis e.g. Doctor’s reveal that Paul has not broken his back and will be ok Now plan your story using this structure

Recap Timed mind map. Pupils must one at a time suggest what they could include in their stories. This includes both the language features and features of horror/mystery writing. Pupil must use this as a checklist prior to handing in their final drafts Timed mind map: Aim is to see in how many minutes and seconds you can remember what has been learnt about good story writing. Rules: Only talk when prompted by the teacher One person talks at a time Teacher is not allowed to talk Try to avoid repetition