Course Description
This course will give students the opportunity to discover the joys of creative writing. Children tell stories all the time - to their families, to their friends - so they already know what makes stories work on the most basic level: techniques like humour, exaggeration, rising tension and a big dramatic finish. They just need to translate those skills into written English. In this course, the students will look at great examples of descriptive writing, both modern and classical, and we will discuss what makes them so powerful and timeless. The students will have a go at writing for different purposes: to scare the reader, to make the reader laugh, to make the reader feel a sense of awe and wonder. We will also talk about visual storytelling and original ways to SHOW elements of a setting or a character rather than tell the reader directly. We will discuss what makes a compelling hero and a compelling villain. Finally, the students will learn how to turn their own life experience into exciting narratives.
This course will help with future English exams, but will also help students rediscover the joys of reading and writing. This will be valuable for all humanities subjects.
The October Half Term course is aimed at students in Year 5 and 6.
The Christmas Holiday course is aimed at students in Year 8 and 9.
The February Half Term course is aimed at students in Year 6 and 7.
There will be a 5 minute break in the middle of each session.
Day 1 - How do we create a distinct narrative voice?
We discuss what makes an engaging narrative voice and narrative voices that we have responded to in books because they were particularly funny or relatable or compelling. Everyone is assigned a different character in a school bullying situation (AKA the Bully, the Witness, The Victim) and we write the same story from different points of view, like a trial. At the end, we discuss whose side of the story was the most compelling and why.
Day 2 - How do we tell a story visually?
We discuss the importance of telling a story with images and what we as writers can learn from the storytelling devices in film and television. The students write a full story based on a series of images, trying to make their stories as descriptive as possible. For the students who choose to share their stories, the others will 'guess' what the original images were.
Day 3 - How do we create a fantasy setting?
We discuss how to make unreal settings feel realistic and exciting. We talk about different kinds of fantasy settings: post-apocalyptic, fairy tales, magical realism, and the challenges of writing in these different kinds of genres. The students will choose a fantasy setting for each other. The students write their own fantasy stories and share them with the class if they choose.
Day 4 - How do we write an allegory?
We discuss the importance of storytelling as a way to get a particular moral or message across. We look at different examples of allegorical writing and talk about them. We discuss the 'hidden story' (the underlying message they want to get across). Then we break the hidden story down, thinking about the most important characters or aspects of the hidden story. We discuss how we might update allegories to the modern day: what lessons could children and teenagers be reminded of in a technological world? The students write their own allegories and, if they choose, share them with the class.
Day 5 - How do we create a 'twist' ending? (October Half Term Course only)
We discuss the importance of endings that are surprising but realistic. We discuss the importance of 'foreshadowing' and 'misdirection' to prevent a reader from predicting the ending to the tale. We discuss famous 'twist' endings in books or films and how they work. I'll ask the students to write down the most obvious, predictable plots for different genres, based on particular titles. Then we'll think about how we can make these stories go in unexpected directions to keep the reader hooked. The children write stories with a 'twist' ending.
Detailed feedback: An end of course report is sent on completion detailing the student’s achievements and areas for further work.
Matilda is an experienced tutor with an impressive track record, having taught over 1,900 hours through Keystone. She is enthusiastic and encouraging and her students grow in confidence and self assurance under her guidance, really preparing them for their exams.
- Maximum Class Size: We teach in groups of no more than 10 with the average number in our classes being 5
- Platform: Lessons will take place on Zoom, which is free and straightforward for students to use. A link will be sent out ahead of the course start date. Take a look at this video to see our online teaching in action.
- Age group:
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The October Half Term course is aimed at students in Year 5 and 6.
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The Christmas Holiday course is aimed at students in Year 8 and 9.
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The February Half Term course is aimed at students in Year 6 and 7
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