Essential vocabulary
optimism perspectives representations narrative structure theme/central idea imagery atmosphere symbolism metaphor motif |
Material Resources (E.g. library, Internet, magazines, video clips, films etc.) |
Human resources (E.g. teacher, peers, family, tutor, librarian etc.) |
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Section: | Comment: |
1. Introduction/Orientation | |
• Does the opening grab the reader’s attention? | |
• Is the setting (time, place, season, social context) clear? | |
• Have you included enough/too much information to indicate where your story is going and to make your readers want to read on? | |
2. Complication | |
• What problem arises that needs to be solved (complication)? | |
• Is it believable? Is if consistent with the story so far? | |
• Have you provided enough detail for your readers? | |
3. Sequence of Events | |
• What happens between the orientation and the climax? | |
4. Climax | |
• Where is the point after which the problem is resolved? | |
• Where is the ‘high point’ in the narrative? | |
5. Resolution | |
• How is the problem or complication resolved? (The resolution may not always be uplifting.) | |
• Is the resolution believable? | |
• If there is a temporary resolution, what is the further complication and evaluation? | |
• Does your final resolution leave something for your readers to think about? | |
• Is your ending open or closed? (An open ending is when the story comes to a close but may raise further questions.) | |
6. Coda | |
• Is there a section which concludes the narrative? | |
• Is there something which rounds out the story and has its own interest? | |
• Is there a section which reinforces the theme? | |
Balance | |
• Is there a balance between description, narrative and dialogue? | |
• Does the action of the story unfold logically? | |
• Could your story be improved if you used ‘flashback’ or characters’ thoughts to explain some of the background information? | |
• Does your story involve the reader in making some of the connections between events? | |
• How does the main character feel about the problem that has arisen? | |
• Is the evaluation (thoughts and feelings) consistent with your main character’s personality? |
(Reflecting and Self-Editing) | Yes/No/Comment? |
A. Read your story aloud to yourself to see if it sounds just right. | |
B. Ask: | |
• Does it make sense for me? Does it make sense for my audience? | |
• Does it say what I want it to say? Do I like it? | |
• Is the title effective and appropriate? | |
• Is the opening effective – does it encourage the reader to continue? | |
• Have I followed correct narrative structure (or varied it in an interesting and original way)? | |
• Does the ending fit or does it feel tacked on? | |
• Is there enough attention to detail? Have I written enough or too much? | |
• Have I shown the reader how characters think, feel and act? Have I used too much dialogue? | |
• Have I confined myself to 3-4 well-described scenes/events? | |
• Have I created suspense? | |
C. Spelling | |
• Circle any word you are not sure about. | |
• Have another go. Sound the word out. Spell the word in different ways until you think it looks right. | |
• If still unsure, refer to your dictionary or spell check. | |
D. Punctuation | |
• Read story aloud. Does your punctuation match the pauses? | |
• Have you used apostrophes for ownership correctly? | |
• Check a novel to see how to punctuate dialogue. | |
• Do all sentences start with capital letters and end with full stops? | |
• Do all proper nouns have capital letters? | |
• Have you used punctuation like the exclamation mark and question mark to shape meaning? | |
E. Paragraphs | |
• Is there a new paragraph for each new setting, event or idea? | |
• Is there a new paragraph for each new speaker? | |
• Are all paragraphs clearly shown? | |
F. Grammar and Vocabulary | |
• Read aloud. Does the grammar sound correct? | |
• Are all sentences actually sentences? Do they make sense? | |
• Are sentences varied and interesting? | |
• Is vocabulary appropriate, imaginative, precise, powerful and descriptive? | |
• Has tense been maintained consistently throughout? |
As you read or listen to your partner’s writing think about: | Yes/No/Comment? |
A. The beginning: | |
• Is it interesting? Does it grab your attention? | |
B. The middle: | |
• Does it leave out anything important? | |
• Does the story make sense? | |
• Is there enough detailed description? | |
• Are characters well developed? | |
C. The ending: | |
• Is it satisfying? Is there a coda? | |
D. Comment on spelling, punctuation and grammar. |
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Criteria |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
The narrative has the following characteristics: | The narrative has the following characteristics: | The narrative has the following characteristics: | The narrative has the following characteristics: | The narrative has the following characteristics: | |
Understanding and responding to contexts |
· exploitation of narrative genre patterns to achieve specific purpose · discerning selection, organisation and synthesis of relevant and substantive subject matter to support perspectives · manipulation and control of roles of the writer and relationships with audiences. |
· effective control of a range of narrative genre patterns and conventions to achieve specific purposes · effective selection, organisation and synthesis of relevant subject matter to support perspectives · establishment and control of roles of the writer and relationships with audiences. |
· use of narrative genre patterns and conventions to achieve purposes · selection, sequencing and organisation of relevant subject matter to support perspectives · establishment and maintenance of roles of the writer and relationships with audiences |
· Use of aspects of narrative patterns and conventions to achieve some purposes · selection and organisation of subject matter to support perspectives · establishment of some roles of the writer and relationships with audiences. |
· use of aspects of narrative genre patterns and conventions · selection of some subject matter · use of roles of the writer. |
Understanding and Controlling Textual Features |
· discerning combination of a range of grammatically accurate language structures for specific effects, including clauses and sentences · discerning use of mode- appropriate cohesive devices to develop and emphasise ideas and connect parts of texts, including paragraphing · discerning use of a wide range of apt vocabulary for specific purposes · discerning use of mode-appropriate features to achieve specific effects: Ø written features (conventional spelling and punctuation) |
· control of a range of grammatically accurate language structures to achieve effects, including clauses and sentences · effective use of mode- appropriate cohesive devices to develop and maintain ideas and connect parts of texts, including paragraphing · effective use of a range of apt vocabulary for specific purposes · effective use of mode-appropriate features to achieve effects: Ø written features (conventional spelling and punctuation) |
· use of a range of mostly grammatically accurate language structures to achieve purposes, including clauses and sentences · use of mode-appropriate cohesive devices to link ideas and connect parts of texts, including paragraphing · use of suitable vocabulary for purposes · suitable use of mode-appropriate features to achieve purposes: Ø written features (conventional spelling and punctuation) |
· inconsistency in the use of grammar and language structures to meet a purpose · use of some mode- appropriate cohesive devices to connect parts of texts, including paragraphing · use of vocabulary that varies in suitability for a purpose · use of mode-appropriate features that vary in suitability: Ø written features (conventional spelling and punctuation) |
· grammar and language structures that impede meaning · Some connections between parts of texts · Use of vocabulary that distracts from purpose · Features that distract from meaning: Ø written features (conventional spelling and punctuation) |
Creating and Evaluating Meaning: Creating |
· discerning manipulation of the ways ideas, attitudes and values underpin texts and influence audiences · subtle and complex creation of perspectives and representations of concepts, identities, times and places · discerning use of aesthetic features to achieve specific purposes in texts |
· effective manipulation of the ways ideas, attitudes and values underpin texts and influence audiences · effective creation of perspectives and representations of concepts, identities, times and places · effective use of aesthetic features to achieve specific purposes in texts |
· appropriate use of the ways ideas, attitudes and values underpin texts and influence audiences · creation of perspectives and representations of concepts, identities, times and places · use of aesthetic features to achieve purposes in texts |
· use of ideas, attitudes and values that underpin texts · creation of some perspectives and representations of concepts, identities, times and places · use of aesthetic features to achieve some purposes in texts |
· Use of some ideas in texts · Creation of some concepts, identities, times and places in texts · Use of some aesthetic features in texts |