Cambridge Preliminary English Test

Writing Part 3

Letter Writing & Story Writing

Story Writing

A story is simply a tale of events that are linked by cause and effect. It can be true or it can be a work of fiction. We expect stories to have a

beginning, middle, and end

They involve at least two characters, and some events take place.

Short Stories

A short story is a piece of fiction.

Short stories need:

A small cast of characters, with one main character. A compact time frame, with the story taking place over the course of a few days or weeks. A single plot.

How to Write a Great Short Story

Like any story, your short story needs to have a beginning, middle and end:

The beginning is where we’re introduced to the characters, especially the main character and his/her

problem

The middle is where the action and plot develops. The main character will face difficulties such as

opposition from other people or a challenging environment.

The end is where the main character triumphs over his/her biggest challenge (or fails, in the case of

a tragedy). The resolution should be satisfying and conclusive for the reader.

Even in literary and experimental short stories, it’s important that something should happen.

By the end of your short story, your main character should have experienced an internal change. This means that they’ve grown and developed as a person – perhaps overcoming a fear, or recognizing an unacknowledged truth about himself or herself.

General Story Writing Tips

Whatever type of story or stories you’re writing, and however experienced you are, there’s always room for improvement…

1. Have a clear theme. What is the story about? That doesn't mean what is the plot line.

2. Plan your Short Story Start with a situation - a problem to be resolved for your protagonist. Then

present the problems that can occur. The final step is to show how you can solve the problem.

3. An effective short story covers a very short time span.

4. Don't have too many characters.

5. Design your paragraphs Start your paragraphs with a topic sentence. Support with the following sentences what you stated in the topic one. Finally conclude each paragraph with a good concluding sentence. Every paragraph should be linked someway with the following.

Important Elements of a Short Story

• Character• Setting• Plot• Conflict• Theme

Punctuation

Punctuation is one of the most important aspects of written English, and yet it is one that is taken the most lightly.

It is, in fact, this feature of writing that gives meaning to the written words… much like pauses and changes in tones of the voice when speaking.

An error in punctuation can convey a completely different meaning to the one that is intended.

For example:Your book, John.Your book, John?

Although the words are same here, the two sentences mean completely different things because of the period

(or full stop) and the question mark.

The same goes here:Don’t stop.Don’t, stop.

The comma after the don’t has made all the difference in the meaning of the words.Another example of how punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence:He was bitten by a dog which hurt him.He was bitten by a dog, which hurt him.

The first sentence means the dog hurt him. The second sentence means the bite hurts him. It’s the comma after the dog that has completely changed the meaning of the sentence.

Punctuation Marks

The Comma

The comma is a punctuation mark (,) which is used to indicate the separation of elements within the grammatical structure of a sentence.

The Semicolon

The Semicolon is a punctuation mark (;) which is used to connect independent clauses indicating a closer relationship between the clauses than a period, or full stop, does

The Colon

The colon is a punctuation mark (:) which is used to direct attention to matter (such as a list, an explanation, aquotation, or amplification) that follows.

The Period or Full Stop

The period, or full stop, is a punctuation mark (.) which is used to mark the end of a sentence.

The Interrogation or Question Mark

The interrogation or question mark is a punctuation mark (?) which is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question.

The Exclamation Mark

The exclamation mark is a punctuation mark (!) which is used especially after an interjection or exclamation to indicate forceful utterance or strong feeling.

The Dash

The dash is a punctuation mark (-) which is used especially to indicate a break in the thought or structure of a sentence.

Imagery

Imagery is language that appeals to the five senses: touch, taste, hearing, sight and smell.

Occasionally the term imagery is also used to refer to figurative language, in particular metaphors and similes.

A sponge carpet of pine needles covered the road.

Rhonda stopped and whispered, “Something’s coming. There. To the right. A bear?”

She climbed blindly. And so quickly. Like a ladder. That was scary. If she could scale this pine so easily, couldn’t the bear climb it, too?

Similes and Metaphors

A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.

We often use the words as...as and like with similes.

Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:

something [is] AS adjective AS somethingHis skin was as cold as ice.It felt as hard as rock.She looked as gentle as a lamb.

something [is] LIKE somethingMy love is like a red, red rose.These cookies taste like garbage.He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.

something [does] LIKE somethingHe eats like a pig.He smokes like a chimney.They fought like cats and dogs.

Here are some more examples of well known similes:

[is] AS adjective AS something meaning

as blind as a bat completely blind

as cold as ice very cold

as flat as a pancake completely flat

as gentle as a lamb very gentle

as light as a feather very light

as old as the hills very old

as sharp as a knife very sharp

as strong as a bull very strong

as white as snow pure white

as wise as an owl very wise

Enter this link for more examples Longer list of AS...AS similes

[is] LIKE somethingpossible meaning (depending on context)

like a rose beautiful

like a volcano explosive

like garbage disgusting

like an animal inhuman

like spaghetti entangled

like dewdrops sweet and pure

like golddust precious

like a tip very untidy (tip = garbage dump)

like a dream wonderful, incredible

like stars bright and beautiful

[does] LIKE something meaning

to drink like a fish to drink a lot

to eat like a bird to eat very little

to eat like a horse to eat a lot

to eat like a pig to eat impolitely

to fight like cats and dogs to fight fiercely

to sing like an angel to sing beautifully

to sleep like a log to sleep well and soundly

to smoke like a chimney to smoke heavily, all the time

to soar like an eagle to fly high and free

to work like a dog to work very hard

Letter writing

Paragraphs

In Part 3 of the Writing Paper you have the choice of writing an informal letter of around 100 words. Informal letters need to be well organised and one way to show your organisation is through the use of paragraphs.

A letter of of 100 words can easily be organised around 3 paragraphs.

Paragraph 1 - the introduction. When we are replying to a letter we usually say something about what was in the original letter.

Paragraph 2 - the main content.

Paragraph 3 - the conclusion which usually ends with something like 'Write back soon'.

Starting your letter (Paragraph 1)

Thanks for your letter. Lovely to hear from you. How are you? How are things? Hope you're well.Many thanks for your letter …It was lovely to hear from you.I was glad to hear that you had a good holiday.I hope you and the family are well.

Commenting on something (Paragraph 1)

I'm sorry to hear/learn ... I'm so pleased to hear ... It's great to hear ... What wonderful news about …

Giving advice

You asked me for advice on ….Have you thought about ….It might be a good idea to ….One thing I would suggest is ….

Moving the topic on (Paragraph 2)

Anyway, the reason I'm writing ... I thought I'd write to tell/ask you Anyway, I was wondering ...

Ending your letter (Paragraph 3)

It is usual to end letters which expect a reply with a sentence on a separate line. For example:

Looking forward to hearing from you / seeing you.Hope to hear from you soon / see you soon.

Write and tell me how you are getting on.Write soon /See you soon.Well, that's all for now Write back soon All the best Best wishes See you soon Take care Yours Love Lots of love

Some more useful expressions:

Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear from you. Your last letter was a real surprise. It was so nice of you to remember about... Thanks a lot for the information you've sent me in your last letter. I've just received your letter. I'm so happy to hear that... I'm sorry I haven't answered earlier but I was really busy with my school. I'm sorry I haven't written for so long but...

Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Well, that's all for now. Will talk to you soon. Give my regards to your Mummy. I hope we will be able to arrange a get-together. Do write back as I'm waiting for the news from you.

Here's the letter written with paragraphs.

Dear Mikel

It was nice to hear from you. Of course I will help you with your school project!

You wanted to know about a typical morning. Well, on days when I go to college I usually get up about 7.00 o'clock. My mum always asks me to sit down and have breakfast before I leave. Unfortunately, I don't have much time and I eat breakfast at college. I go to college by bus. It takes about 30 minutes but sometimes it's longer if there's a lot of traffic. As soon as I arrive I meet my friends and get the latest news.

Anyway, give my love to your family. Write back soon.

Best wishes

Steve