Transcript What makes a story good?

What makes a story good?
Think about the last story/book you enjoyed.
What made it good?
Three Basic Requirements
1. Plot
2. Character
3. Strong Verbs
Plot
• What is the story about?
• Does it have a beginning, middle, and end?
Character
Know your character
- What do they look like?
- What do they like to do?
- How do they react to things
Example: Susie forgot to study for her test. Does Susie
cry about this? Is this normal for Susie? Does she get
angry? Does she not care? How Susie reacts to this
situation shows more about her character.
Strong Verbs
Strong verbs are basically synonyms for weak, everyday verbs.
• Run – Sprint, Dash, Scurry
• Walk – Saunter, Stroll, Amble, March, Hike
• Laugh – Chuckle, Giggle, Snicker
• Cry – Weep, Sob, Whimper
• Smile – Grin, Beam, Smirk
Other ways to use strong verbs: Show vs. Tell
Original Sentence: She was cold.
Sentence using a strong verb: She shivered.
Revised sentence: She shivered like the windblown tree.
Original Sentence: He smiled.
Sentence using a strong verb: He smirked.
Revised sentence: He smirked, stretching his chapped lips and narrowing his eyes.
Writing Task
Pretend you are stranded on an island. The island
can be anywhere. The weather can be rainy, hot, snowy,
anything you want! Be sure to write your story using the
three basic requirements of a good story!
You must:
- Make up how you got there
- Tell whom you are with
- Show what the island looks like, smells like, sounds like, etc.
- Decide whether the island is inhabited or not
- Get yourself off the island
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