Sally Jones - The Present. Brush Up on Your Writing Skills

Title Page

Creative Writing Tutor

THE PRESENT

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:

• an article
• a leaflet
• a diary
• a description.

- A description may describe the way people look, dress, their character, attitudes and abilities.

- A description may describe the way a place looks.

- A description may describe the way something feels, tastes and smells.

You must decide:

• Who will be my target audience?
• Who will read this writing?
• What is the purpose of my writing?
• Am I aiming to give somebody a picture of something I have experienced?
• Am I using my senses to impact the reader-seeing, hearing, feeling, touching, tasting?

Use imagery or figurative language:

• Metaphors - princely paper.
• Similes - feeling like a princess.
• Personification - the rustling paper whispers softly.
• Admirable adjectives and nouns - mysterious parcel.
• Powerful verbs and adverbs - rummage eagerly.

When you write to describe:

PARAGRAPH 1

• Write an introduction to set the scene.
• Have a colourful opening to get the attention of the reader.

PARAGRAPH 2, 3, 4...

• Write about each part of this experience in separate paragraphs - in the best order.

Conclusion

• Draw all your ideas together in a conclusion.

Remember:

• Use powerful words - verbs, adverbs, nouns and adjectives.
• Use similes and metaphors.
• 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
• Make personal comments

The Present

The mysterious parcel is shaped like a box. It is covered in luxurious, multi-coloured wrapping paper and waits for me on the table. It looks majestic. The shiny paper glitters, sending particles of silver light dancing playfully across the carpet. A large, impressive bow perches magnificently on the top. Layers of folded ribbon cascade down the side like a waterfall. The wrapped gift looks amazing. It fills me with curiosity. My eyes are drawn towards it as it seems to shout, Look at me! Arent I splendid? Then, I start to anticipate what lies beneath the ostentatious (rich) exterior. I tentatively feel the box for clues but the tension is mounting. I hear excited cries, Open it! Open it!

My excited fingers caress the shimmering outer wrap and fumble to untie the ribbon. I rip away the princely paper. I peel back the layers of gift-wrap which I discard in shreds on the floor. Everyone in the room looks on with excitement as the box is revealed. I attempt to prise off the lid but it resists me. I tug and tug until it budges. I peer expectantly at the contents. My hands rummage eagerly through the fragile layers of pink tissue, scented with rose perfume and dotted with confetti. The rustling paper whispers softly to me as I delve deep into the layers. It crumples in my hand as I reach into the bottom of the box to discover its secret.

Ending One

My hand brushes against soft fur. I stroke what seem to be a head and two ears. I pull the ear gently towards me. A face appears from out of the box; it has a brown button nose, two black felt eyes and the cutest grin. What a surprise! Triumphantly, I hold him out for all to see. I say, Hes gorgeous. Hes the cutest thing Ive ever seen. Thank you so much I hug and hug andhug my new found friend.

Ending Two

My hand grasps a sparkling jewel. It has three precious gems dangling in a cluster from a delicate chain. The crystals gleam brilliantly. I hold it to my neck proudly, imagining myself wearing it. I can hardly believe something so precious is mine.

Your turn to write.

Think about a present you have received.

• What did it look like on the table?
• How did you feel as you opened it?
• What was inside?

Use the questions on the next page to help you write a description of the day you opened it.

Structure your writing in three paragraphs. Each paragraph will be about a different part of opening the present.

• Receiving the present, seeing it on the table
• Opening the present
• The contents

Before you write, READ THESE TIPS:

• use a new paragraph if you change the subject, time or place.
• Use a topic line in the first line of each paragraph. It tells you what the paragraph will be about. Make the rest of the paragraph explain it.
• Have you used the five senses to describe the event -seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting.
• Have you used interesting adjectives, verbs and adverbs? you can also use imagery - similes, metaphors, personification and onomatopoeia. They will make the event come alive for the reader.
• Build up suspense with a series of short sentences.
• Use good vocabulary, but try to pick the right words.
• Write in 1 st person, from your own viewpoint.
• The purpose of your writing is to show your feelings about the experience of opening a present.

Use these sentences to help you write the story.

(Paragraph 1)

• What do you see on the table?
• What does the wrapping paper look like?
• Describe the bow.
• How does it make you feel and why?
• What does your friend (member of the family) say?

(Paragraph 2)

• How do you tear off the paper and what happens to it?
• How do you tug off the lid?
• When you peep inside, what do you see?
• When you reach down deep into the box, what do you hear?
• What do your hands feel in there?