BUILDING A STORY WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Choose a story starter below to begin a creative story. Your story must include dialogue (people
talking). You may change names and/or you may write the story in first person (the “I” point of
view). Make sure you show the story as it happens; don’t tell it. Keep the action that the first
sentence begins.
Dialogue
a) Start a new paragraph each time someone starts speaking and finishes speaking.
b) Use speech tags at the beginning, middle, and end of sentences.
(Speech tags are phrases like He said and She replied.)
c) Use correct punctuation. Spoken words go in quotation marks.
Example
One day, two boys decided they wanted to go on a hike up a mysterious mountain. Out of nowhere, they heard a loud scream.
While grabbing Ryan’s arm, Cody said, “I’m scared. Let’s get out of here!”
“Don’t be a chicken,” Ryan replied. “It was probably just some animal. Besides, we made a deal. You said you would climb this mountain with me if I helped you with your homework.”
“I guess I did pass the test,” Cody said honestly.
“And now you’re going to pass another one.”
Story Starters
1. Mr. Schwab watched the lights of the boat being choked off in the fog and knew he had no
more than ten minutes before he would drown.
2. The first time Austin broke the time barrier and went back to 1863, he had no trouble returning to the present; this time he was trapped.
3. With eyes glazed, they came out of the shadows in single file, each carrying a flaming torch.
4. Zach whirled, pointed an accusing finger at Mrs. Neidt, and screamed, “You’re trying to kill all of us.”
5. Ashley opened her locker that Monday morning and saw the neat stacks of hundred dollar bills for the first time.
6. I knew it was going to be a bad day when I accidentally dropped the glass of orange juice on Mr. Briard’s back.
WRITING RULES TO FOLLOW
1. Your name, the date (example – November 13, 2010), and your class period go
in the upper right corner (three separate lines)
2. Must have a title centered on the top line.
3. Do not write “The End” at the end of the story.
4. The paper must not have any wrinkles.
5. Must be at least one page long.
Handwritten
1. Do not skip lines between paragraphs. Indent instead.
2. Use the red margins on your paper. Do not start a new word after the red
margin on the right side of the paper.
3. The very bottom space of the paper is not a line.
4. Do not have spiral edges still attached.
5. Do not scribble. Draw one line through a mistake.
6. Do not write on back sides.
7. Must be written in blue or black ink.
Typed
1. Set your computer to double space. Change line spacing to 0 pt/0 pt.
2. Use 12 point Times New Roman.
3. Double space at the end of sentences.
4. Do not use bold print anywhere except the title.
5. Use the tab button to indent new paragraphs. Don’t indent by hitting the space bar multiple times.
“BUILDING A STORY”
CREATIVE WRITING ASSESSMENT
15 POINTS
NAME ______
Aesthetics 5 4 3 2 1 0
Name/Date/Class Hour
Title
Don’t write The End
Neat/No wrinkles
Indent/Don’t skip lines between paragraphs
Margins
Don’t write on the bottom space of paper
No spiral edges
Do not scribble out mistakes
Do not write on back sides
Typed or used blue or black ink
Double spaced the story
Double spaced at the end of sentences
Used 12 point Times New Roman/Bold print for title only
Used tab to indent
Length
Mechanics 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Punctuation
Capitalization
Spelling
Paragraphing
Other
Started with a sentence from the handouts 2 1 0
Other
Total Points______
Name
November 10, 2010
English 7, Period 1
The Unlucky Boat
I watched the lights of the boat being choked off in the fog and knew I had no more than ten minutes before I would drown.
“Help! If anyone can hear me, I need help!”
Faintly I could hear a man’s voice respond, “Is someone there?”
“Yes! Over here! Dear, God, over here!”
He paddled over, and I too grabbed hold of the flotsam. I told him my name was Bert and that my boat was destroyed in the storm hours ago.
“I’m from G..G..Galveston,” I stuttered, now nearly completely frozen. “I’ve n..never seen anything like th..th..th..this.”
I was losing consciousness. The man continued talking to me, knowing I would soon die from hypothermia if I didn’t get help soon.
“Stay with me buddy,” he encouraged. “The storm has passed and help will arrive soon.”
I couldn’t respond. My brain wouldn’t allow me to speak. Was this how it was going to end? What about my wife and three girls?
I’m not sure, but I think I remembering the man saying, “Thank the Lord! You’ll be okay, pal. Help is here.”
Later I learned that a rescue helicopter was able to bring me to safety thanks to the man’s help. I’ve been lying in this hospital bed ever since. I think I’m okay, but the doctors won’t let me look at my lower body, and every time my family visit, the tears in their eyes tell me that something isn’t right. I decide I need to be strong, if not for me, for my girls.