Useful vocab for composition writing

Useful vocab for composition writing - ------ GCE Study Buddy ------ The Best O Level revision resource

Writing Tips

1. It is a good idea to have a few really good stories that you tell well. Adapt these to the task you have been given.
2. Plan
   a SHORT beginning and a SHORT ending – most of the story should be the
   middle where things happen and characters think and feel. 
3. Plan
   a resolution in your ending (e.g. solving a problem) and refer to it in
   the beginning – a good short story has the reader wondering how a
   problem is going to be resolved - and then it is. 
4. Plan you last sentence – ending with a punch leaves your reader smiling. This is the time to be original. 
5. Keep
   your reader informed of what is happening, and what characters are
   thinking and feeling – we cannot read your mind. If it isn’t written in
   the story it doesn’t happen
6. DON’T start lots of sentences with the same word –read it over to check and cross out or substitute words to avoid this.
7. Include
   some direct speech in your story ( with correct punctuation) AND AT
   LEAST ONE piece of indirect speech –avoid using “said” (something like
   “the doctor replied that he had seen spots like this before but only on a
   ladybird.” Or “Katy thought to herself that she had never seen such a
   strange sight in all her life.”) 
8. Leave
   at least five minutes to check your story for all of your target points
   – a finished and corrected story is 100 times better than an unfinished
   and hurried one – whatever the style and standard. 
9. Whenever
   you are stuck, or taking a break, read the story over to yourself under
   your breath but mouthing the words – if it sounds right when you read
   it out it is probably OK. If you pause when you are reading then check
   there is a pause marker (like a comma or fullstop). 
10. Avoid telling the reader what to feel, e.g. it was scary. Make them feel it through your descriptions. 
11. Avoid
    telling the reader what a character feels, e.g. she was sad. Show how
    they feel through what they say or do, e.g. her lip trembled. 
12. Keep thinking ‘what would this person do/say?’ 
13. Develop the setting. 
14. To
    create suspense, lull the reader into a false sense of security – get
    characters doing something pleasant and introduce an unexpected
    dilemma. 
15. Know your ending so you don’t include irrelevant details. 
16. Limit dialogue to four exchanges per paragraph. 
17. Develop setting and characters through descriptive sentences. 
18. Keep a brisk pace. Short and interesting is great! 
19. Plan
    your story on paper. Think who is it about? What is going to happen in
    the end? What exciting and interesting things will happen along the
    way? 
20. A ‘punchy’ start that ‘grabs’ the readers attention, such as speech, onomatopoeia or a piece of great description. 
21. Three well described characters (looks, experiences and personality) 
22. A conversation to show direct speech and new speech, new line. 
23. A well structured story, having a beginning, middle and an appropriate end. 
24. When you have finished. Read your story VERY carefully, asking yourself, ‘Does this make sense?’ If it doesn't, change it!'