Spiderwick Writing Tasks
Task 1
Look at Chapter 1 and make note of words and phrases to describe the main characters. Write a character description based on one of the following characters: Jared, Mallory or Simon.
WORDS THAT WILL HELP YOU DESCRIBE A CHARACTER:
WORDS THAT TELL HOW A CHARACTER LOOKS attractive ugly big small other beautiful unattractive broad cute young fair bald chubby slender old handsome hairy corpulent dainty pretty wrinkled enormous slight huge delicate slim plump frail thin round lean tiny stout petite tall short skinny
WORDS THAT TELL HOW A CHARACTER IS active creative honest peculiar spoiled adventurous critical imaginative pleasant stern agreeable cross impatient polite stingy amusing cruel innocent practical strange anxious curious intelligent private strict artistic dangerous jealous proud stubborn athletic dishonest jolly quiet stupid awkward dull kind reckless suspicious bashful eager lazy responsible sweet bold evil lonely rude talented boring fearless loyal sad thoughtful brave fierce mean scary timid brilliant foolish mischievous selfish tough calm funny miserable sensitive unhappy carefree furious moody serious vain careful gentle nasty shy weak cautious greedy naughty silly wicked charming grumpy noble sincere wise cheerful harmless odd sly worried childish helpful ordinary smart clumsy heroic patient sneaky
Task 2
Look at the annotated illustration of the common house brownie. Using this website, www.mythcreatures.co.uk to research a fantasy creature of your choice. Create an annotated illustration and fact file for your creature.
You could research one of these fantasy creatures:
Banshee Basilisk Bayard Brownie Centaur Chimera Chupacabra Cyclops Doppelganger Dragon Dryad Dwarf Elf Fairy Faun Genie Ghost Giant Gnome Goblin Golem Gorgon Griffin Halfling Harpy Hellhound Hippogriff howler Hydra Ichtocentaur Kraken Leprechaun Manticore Mermaid Minotaur Nymph Ogre Orc Pegasus Phoenix Pixie Roc Salamander Satyr Siren Snotling Sphinx Sprite Sylph Titan Troll Unicorn Vampire Werewolf Witch Wizard Wraith Wyrm Wyvern Zombie Task 3
You are now going to write your own fantasy story. It is important to PLAN your work carefully.
YEAR 6 FANTASY STORY RECIPE FOR SUCCESS POSSIBLE POINTS POINTS POINTS GIVEN GIVEN (SELF) (TEACHER) EFFORT Works independently 5 At least 2 pages COMPOSITION Imaginative interesting and thoughtful text. 10 AND EFFECT Always clear and makes sense. Follows plan Fantasy genre DESCRIPTIVE When, where, who, why, what... 5 WORDS Uses adjectives to describe setting and characters Underlines 3 vocabulary words SENTENCE Complex sentences with various connectives ( and, also, but, 5 STRUCTURE however, although, because, so, therefore, then, after…) PUNCTUATION Capital letters 5 Comma, full stop Speech marks TEXT Organises into clear paragraphs 5 ORGANISATION GRAMMAR Correct tense (past) 3
SPELLING Spelling list words correct 5
PRESENTATION Neatly written (computer or handwriting) 7 Book cover with blurb Some illustrations map TOTAL SCORE 50
GENERAL PLAN FOR FANTASY STORY
OPENING
CHARACTERS AND SETTING
GIVE CHARACTERS A PLAN/ CHANGE/ADVENTURE
EVENTS
GIVE CHARACTERS A PROBLEM
RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM
ENDING
OPENING: How is your story going to begin? How are you going to attract the reader’s attention? This is where you set the scene or introduce the characters. A great introduction might; • Ask an interesting question. • State a surprising fact or opinion. • Start with some interesting dialogue for example a warning • Describe a character’s strange behaviour • Use an interesting name • Reveal the character’s or author’s thoughts and ideas CHARACTERS AND SETTING: • Introduce characters and setting • Make the characters do something • Use details based on senses • Ask yourself “Where? When? Why? Who? What? How?” as you write • Use names to make places and characters come alive( avoid using people you know in class) • Create an atmosphere…what is hidden?...what is dangerous…something out of place…something unusual… GIVE CHARACTERS A PLAN/ CHANGE/ ADVENTURE • Introduce the change/adventure/ plan • Use vivid verbs and nouns with less description to add to dramatic effect • Draw the reader in by asking a question • Vary sentence openings • Use ominous sounds/ weather/ EVENTS: telling the events that then happen • Use more complex sentences • Add detail and description • Use metaphors and similes to help paint the scene or describe the characters • Continue to vary sentence openings GIVE CHARACTERS A PROBLEM: • Use short sentences for dramatic effect • Use suspense words (suddenly…without warning…) RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM: Here are some good techniques for resolving the problem: • Allow help to arrive in an unexpected form • Make the character do something unexpected • Show that the problem was only in the character’s mind • Only resolve part of the problem so that the character learns something ENDING: A conclusion presents the last ideas to the reader. Your goal is to leave your reader feeling satisfied. Here are some tips for great conclusion: • Ask a question that will give the reader something to think about. • A mysterious remark • Show how a character has changed • Provide a moral • Revisit the beginning of the story • Allow the main character to think aloud • Look to the future
If you can access the film (released after the book), see if you can note the similarities and differences using the chart below.
Similar to the book/ how I imagined it Different