Sally Jones - The Space Age Bag. Brush Up on Your Writing Skills

Title Page

Creative Writing Tutor

THE SPACE AGE BAG

by

Sally Jones and Amanda Jones

Publisher Information

Published by GUINEA PIG EDUCATION

2 Cobs Way

New Haw, Addlestone

Surrey, KT15 3AF

www.guineapigeducation.co.uk

Digital edition converted and dstributed in 2012 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

Copyright 2011 Sally A Jones and Amanda C Jones

This pack may not under any circumstances be photocopied, without the prior consent of the publisher.

Choose a topic and start to practise writing. Each booklet has a theme to help you start to write...stories, reports, articles, letters and many more. Start collecting them now.

Guinea Pig Creative Writing booklets also provide extra practice for children who have completed:

- Creative Story Writing

- Persuasive Writing & Argument

- Information Writing

They are for children who are working at Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum, levels 3-5 (in Years 5 and 6 of primary school), children who are working at Key Stage 3, levels 3-5 (Years 7 and 8 of Secondary School). They provide practice for all 9-13 year olds, especially children taking 11+ examinations.

First things first...

Lets learn to write non-fiction.

When you write non-fiction, you may write:

• a newspaper report
• an information leaflet
• instructions
• a diary entry.

You must decide:

• Who will be my target audience?
• Who will read this writing?
• What is the purpose of my writing?

The form might be: an information leaflet

The audience might be: older primary school children (9-11 years)

The purpose might be: to inform them about some facts

Plan your non-fiction writing:

PARAGRAPH 1

• Introduce the reader to your topic.
• Give some facts about your chosen subject.

PARAGRAPH 2, 3, 4...

• Write down the points you want to make in chronological order.
• Back them up with evidence.

Remember:

• Use connectives or conjunctions:
  • and or but (to join compound sentences)
  • or, so, if, when, while, after, before, because, unless, until, whereas, although (to join complex sentences)
  • use pronouns - who, which, whose, what, that
  • to link ideas use - firstly, later, therefore, on the other hand, at that moment, by this time, next, soon...
• Use a range of sentences simple, compound and complex sentences

Conclusion

• Draw all your ideas together in a conclusion.
• Make personal comments

The Bag

You have purchased a multi purpose school holdall. What do you think about it? Write about it for your school magazine.

I highly recommend it:

This amazing bag changes to suit your requirements. You can strap it to your back as you walk to school; you can carry it from class to class; or you can push it along on its wheels. It is essential for school children who have to walk long distances with heavy books. It is so durable, it can be taken into space.

If you have an aching back every single night, the new multi purpose school holdall is for you. It is made of a revolutionary new material which feels as light as a feather. When you fill it up with your schoolbooks, it will not feel heavy at all. You will no longer feel as if you are lugging round a heavy bag. In fact, you will not even feel tired at the end of a long day at school.

What is more, the bag looks very trendy. It is the bag for all aspiring space men. It comes in a choice of bright fashionable colours; in vibrant purple, turquoise and pink. The design is stylish and really up to date. This bag is definitely something that will catch on, which young people will want to have as a fashion accessory. You will look really cool as you walk round school with it.

In addition to this, the bag is very functional. It is more roomy than any other bag, with plenty of room for your bulging pencil case, several large books and that plastic container that contains your lunch. There are hidden pockets concealed in the lining, where you can store your mobile phone or keys and access them quickly. Imagine this! It will enable you to be completely organised from now on.

Some people say that the bag is just a fashion gimmick; it is not made to last. They say it will start to look tatty after a few journeys home in pouring rain. I have had my bag for over a month and I can tell you that it is made of high quality material, being 100% waterproof. Ive never had a bag that protected all my school things, so theres not one soggy page. If it gets dirty, you can just wipe it with a soft, damp cloth and the stains will disappear like magic.

Lastly, this bag offers the best value for money. It is cheap, compared to others in the shops, so that most pupils could afford one. It would also make a good present which is very reasonably priced. This bag is an innovation. It has changed the way I think about school. I definitely believe everyone should get one because theyre worth every penny.

I would not recommend it:

Have you ever seen anything as ridiculous as the new Space Age school holdall. It is just a fashion gimmick that will be here today and gone tomorrow. The children of the future will wonder what we were doing, wheeling these hideous bags around on wheels.

You say that they fold up into a small bag that can be hung up, but as far as I can see, they are taking up lots of room in the cloakroom, parked like cars all over the place.

Besides this, they claim to be made of lightweight material, but they are as heavy as any normal bag when filled with schoolbooks. After carrying one around for two days, I had rubbed up a huge red blister on my shoulder, which was painful and sore.

In addition to this, if it was taken up to space it would disintegrate because the quality is poor and it is badly made. I had to return my first bag to the shop and get a replacement. After using it twice, the stitching on the seam started to come undone and it split open letting rainwater seep in which made my homework diary soggy.

The colours are shocking too. They are so bright; they are hideous and make your eyes sting. They are not even very fashionable because they dont have any of the latest logos. There is little room inside; everything is cramped up in a small space and you have to search frantically to find anything at all.

Finally, the price is horrendous. They cost twice as much as other similar bags, but this product is not as good. What is wrong with having a normal rucksack? You know, a traditional one, coloured black or blue, the kind people have always carried round, that will coordinate with your school uniform so you are a good representative of the school, not looking as if you are preparing for a camping holiday. Do not be tempted to get one because you will be wasting your money.

Now it is your turn to review a bag you have used. Write an article for your school magazine. Read the next two pages.

A new bag called the Space Age Holdall has been invented, which will solve the problem of having to carry around heavy books all day. It has been invented by an engineering student, who spent many years carrying round a heavy bag of books. He designed it to help kids like yourself. Is it worth getting one?

Use the following questions to help you write the rest of the magazine article. Firstly, decide whether you are for or against the bag.

• What is the design like?
• and how does it work?
• What material is it made of?
• Is it heavy?
• What is it like to carry round?