Year 8 · English · Drama: writing scenes · Lesson 3
Writing a short story
Planning and writing a short story: character, want, problem, climax and change, strong endings, timing and speech punctuation.
19-minute video lesson
Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.
Watch free for a monthWhat your child will learn
- Plan a story in five parts
- Build a climax around a dilemma
- Write an ending that shows change
- Manage time in an exam
- Punctuate speech correctly
The method
- Plan the five parts.
- Hook the reader.
- Build tension to the climax.
- End by showing change.
Key words: plan, character, conflict, climax, dilemma, circular ending, speech punctuation.
Worked examples
The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.
Question 1
What does every main character need?
- Step 1: Something they want
- Step 2: Something in their way
Answer: A want and an obstacle
Question 2
What does Ellie want?
- Step 1: To win back her place on the swim team
Answer: Her place on the swim team
Question 3
What is Ellie's problem?
- Step 1: Afraid of water; the race is in a river
Answer: Her fear of water, and a river race