All About English Creative Writing

[Leanne]

Hello TAS,


Thank you for the pointers.
I will follow your advice.

P/S I love the creative writing book that you have published.

Cheers,
Leanne DS

Regards,
Leanne DS

The Alternative Story:

Leanne:

Hi TAS,

Thanks.

However, my teacher strongly discourages the usage of 'I'. The reason is that by using 'I', you cannot express the feelings of the other characters other than yourself. My teacher told me that it is best to steer clear of 'I' in picture compositions and to use 'I' only in Situational Writing. Please advice. Thank you.

Leanne's DS

Hi Leanne's DS,

Actually, it is alright to use \"I\". I know where you are coming from.
When I first joined teaching, I also heard of some comments like
that from the more experienced teachers. However, when I went
to mark the PSLE compositions, I made it a point to ask them about
this and they said there is no issue here. You can use \"I\"
in any composition. I have re-checked with teachers that are still
teaching in primary schools from time to time as we want to make
sure what we are teaching is still current and they all mentioned
that it is perfectly fine to use 'I'.

Perhaps, you could ask your teacher why it is discouraged and
maybe ask her nicely if she could double check with the
English HOD? (to be done only if your teacher is quite ok with you
asking about such issues) Because even though we tell you here it
is ok, your teacher will still mark your compositions and she
might mark you down when you use 'I'.

However, in the PSLE, it is totally fine to use 'I'. (checked from
numerous sources: current English HODs, teachers, markers of
PSLE compositions scripts) :lol:

Just to add on, we feel that even when you use 'I', you can still
describe the feelings of other characters. However, it is wise
to keep your main characters to just 2, at the most 3. If not
it is quite difficult to fully flesh out the characters' feelings.

TAS

[The Alternative Story]

Leanne:

Hello TAS,


Thank you for the pointers.
I will follow your advice.

P/S I love the creative writing book that you have published.

Cheers,
Leanne DS

Regards,
Leanne DS

Hi Leanne's DS,

No problem, all the best for your exams!
Glad you like the book, hope it can help you.

TAS

[GilTang]

The Alternative Story:

Hi GilTang,

For reading, you can get your daughters to have an exercise
book with them when they read. As they read, when they come
across good phrases that they can use for their compositions, they
can put a coloured tag on that page and continue reading.
When they have finished reading the whole book, they can go back
to where the tags are and copy down the good phrases from the
storybook into their exercise book. They would also need to
categorize these phrases. For example, if there is
a phrase that described a drowning scene, they can write it down
and put in under the heading 'Drowning'. They would need to
leave a few pages for that category (so that when they come
across more drowning phrases in the future, they can then add
them in).

You can then get them to use these phrases in their writing but they
must apply them to their writing and not copy the phrase word for
word as sometimes the phrases might not totally suit what they
are writing.

Example:
(This is taken from Hostage by Chris Ryan)

Category: Reaction to danger
Amber stared back, frozen with fear. Up close, the size of
the creature was overwhelming. With huge effort, Amber controlled
her terror. Her brain started to work again and she realized that
she was staring death in the face. A second later, her body jerked
into action. – pg 13

This phrase can be used to describe a reaction to seeing a panther
on the loose. It can also be used to describe seeing a car coming
close. For the car scene, they woud need to apply this phrase:

Application:

I stared, frozen with fear, at the car careening down the road. Up
close, the vibrations on the road as the car came closer were
overwhelming. With huge effort, I controlled my terror. My brain
started to work again and I realized I was staring death in the face.
A second later, my body jerked to action and I started running.

In order for children to apply what they have read to their writing,
a concerted effort must be made. If your child balks at the
thought of copying down these phrases, then perhaps you could
get the books from us. Our books do come with creative
writing phrases that have been extracted from the books and they
are already in categories and hence, your children can file these
phrases up and look at them when they are writing their compositions.

Example of our creative writing extracts:

Monster Republic by Ben Horton

Chase (adapted)

Rora had summoned an extra burst of speed from somewhere and
was already way ahead of him. There was no catching up with her.
– pg 33

Shouts and splashing footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance.
A searching torch beam probed the gloom. Cameron flinched at
the intrusion of the bright light. – pg 58

Late night walk home (adapted)

The journey took a dark and lonely hour, interrupted only by the
passage of a car or the footsteps of pedestrians. The wind howled
and the leaves rustled as he made his way home. –pg 62

Burglary (adapted)
Cameron took a deep breath and crept along the side of the house.
As he rounded the corner, his heart jumped into his mouth. There
was somebody in the garden! Waiting, silhouetted against the night
sky. The person stood in the shadows. Suddenly, he stood and made
his way stealthily to the Lim’s house and began to pry open the door.
A burglar. Cameron was seeing a burglary take place before him.
– pg 64

TAS

Hi TAS,

I really know how to go about getting my girls to write better now, thanks!! How do I purchase these creative writing extracts from you?

[The Alternative Story]

GilTang:

Hi TAS,

I really know how to go about getting my girls to write better now, thanks!! How do I purchase these creative writing extracts from you?

Hi GilTang,

You get the creative writing extracts free when you buy our books.

Our booklist can be found at the following links:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7586&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7586&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=10

TAS

[lemofish]

John, together with his parents,____at the concert last night.


1) is 2) are 3)was 4)were

Is the answer (3) or (4)?

Thanks.

[ppnqq]

lemofish:

John, together with his parents,____at the concert last night.


1) is 2) are 3)was 4)were

Is the answer (3) or (4)?

Thanks.

It should be singular. A simple quick to remember trick - sentences like this with 2 commas in between, just ignore the sentence between the commas : \"John ____ at the concert last night.\" HTH.

[lemofish]

ppnqq:

lemofish:

John, together with his parents,____at the concert last night.


1) is 2) are 3)was 4)were

Is the answer (3) or (4)?

Thanks.

It should be singular. A simple quick to remember trick - sentences like this with 2 commas in between, just ignore the sentence between the commas : \"John ____ at the concert last night.\" HTH.

Hi ppnqq,
Thanks so much for your help!

[Brenda10]

lemofish:

John, together with his parents,____at the concert last night.


1) is 2) are 3)was 4)were

Is the answer (3) or (4)?

Thanks.

The answer should be 3) was if I'm not wrong

[The Alternative Story]

lemofish:

ppnqq:

[quote=\"lemofish\"]John, together with his parents,____at the concert last night.


1) is 2) are 3)was 4)were

Is the answer (3) or (4)?

Thanks.

It should be singular. A simple quick to remember trick - sentences like this with 2 commas in between, just ignore the sentence between the commas : \"John ____ at the concert last night.\" HTH.

Hi ppnqq,
Thanks so much for your help![/quote]Hi lemofish,

The answer is 'was'. Like what ppnqq mentioned, the information
between the commas is extra information. Hence you just need
to focus on the person mentioned in front - John. And to know
which tense should be used, 'last night' indicates it is in the
past. Hence the answer is 'was'.

For most grammar questions, it is good to get your child to always
look out for 2 clues: 1) clues to tell you if the verb is singular
or plural 2) clues to tell you if the action done is in the past
or present tense

TAS

[starlight1968sg]

The Alternative Story:

The answer is 'was'. Like what ppnqq mentioned, the information
between the commas is extra information. Hence you just need
to focus on the person mentioned in front - John. And to know
which tense should be used, 'last night' indicates it is in the
past. Hence the answer is 'was'.

For most grammar questions, it is good to get your child to always
look out for 2 clues: 1) clues to tell you if the verb is singular
or plural 2) clues to tell you if the action done is in the past
or present tense

TAS

Hi TAS,
Thanks for sharing again. Another case is : as well as.
Eg:
Mary, as well as her parents, likes to travel.
Correct ??? :roll: