by Bruce Cabell
Teacher/Writer/Author/Educator
Writing Tip #9- Fiction: Strong Ending
Writing tip #2, #3, and #5 focused on a narrative's beginning and middle. Now, the following will explain how to write a strong ending to a narrative story.
After having plenty of practice with the story's beginning and middle, model how to write the story’s end. The ending is short and the problem's solution is stated. Just like the beginning, end your story with an action, question, dialogue, thought, simile, or sound word. You want to write a powerful ending that makes your reader(s) wonder and ask questions! Compose a few strong endings before your children try to write their own. Continue to use the Event-Details Strategy/Organizer in pdf from Writing Tip #5. Again, record your ideas in this order: 1) Events in first column. 2) Details in second column.
Here are a few ending statements I will not accept from children.
In the end, I lived happily ever after.
Finally, I went home and went to bed.
In the end, I woke up and it was only a dream.
Below is an example of a strong ending. I've labeled each part to show you how it's done. Then, there's an example of a complete narrative story with its title. Again, I've labeled the beginning, middle, and end. See if your children can find and label the story parts. It would be great practice.
Labels:
TW = Transition Word
TP = Transition Phrase
E = Events
D = Details
Strong Ending Labeled:
(TP) Just then,
(E) I had an idea.
(D) The tattered looking ladder was dangling off his foot. I slid down his leg and grasped the ladder. The weight of my body pulled the dragon to the ground.
(TW) Finally,
(E) I was near my house.
(D) My 20 foot trampoline was in the backyard. On the count of three I jumped off the ladder and landed right into the middle of it. The dragon was nowhere in sight. I walked into my house and locked the door. I was elated that this beast was gone until I heard a loud ROAR in the distance. "OH NO!" I screamed.
Strong Ending:
Just then, I had an idea. The tattered looking ladder was dangling off his foot. I slid down his leg and grasped the ladder. The weight of my body pulled the dragon to the ground. Finally, I was near my house. My 20 foot trampoline was in the backyard. On the count of three I jumped off the ladder and landed right into the middle of it. The dragon was nowhere in sight. I walked into my house and locked the door. I was elated that this beast was gone until I heard a loud ROAR in the distance. "OH NO!" I screamed.
Labels:
B = Beginning
M = Middle
E = Ending
(B) "Is this horrible day ever going to end?" I asked while a ferocious fire breathing dragon knocked on my bedroom door. The flames were as hot as the sun. I was so terrified that I couldn't move a muscle.
(M) Immediately, I crawled under my bed. I placed my trembling hands over my head. I could hear the dragon's loud footsteps approach the side of my bed. I felt its fiery breath so I had to think quickly.
(M) Then, I dashed over to my window. It was oval shaped so I could barely fit through it. I tossed the 20 foot ladder down to the ground. It dangled 10 feet above the thorny bushes so I was hesitant to jump.
(M) All of a sudden, the dragon followed me. I could see its bright orange eyes glaring at me. The dragon's scrawny legs and long sharp claws clutched the rope and pulled me up. I was so shocked that I felt chills travel up and down my spine.
(M) Seconds later, I jumped on its back. I held on to the dragon's leathery skin. It soared high above the maple trees and white fluffy clouds. I started to panic so I closed my weary eyes.
(E) Just then, I had an idea. The tattered looking ladder was dangling off his left foot. I slid down his leg and grasped the ladder. The weight of my body pulled the dragon to the ground.
(E) Finally, I was near my house. My 20 foot trampoline was in the backyard. On the count of three I jumped off the ladder and landed right into the middle of it. The dragon was nowhere in sight. I walked into my house and locked the door. I was elated that this beast was gone until I heard a loud ROAR in the distance. "OH NO!" I screamed.
When your children have completed a story, sit down and read it together. Then, ask the following questions:
Does your story have a beginning, middle, and end?
Did you include every story element?
Did you include action verbs, adverbs, adjectives, sensory words, similes, and humor/suspense to make your story exciting? (With very young children, you decide which parts of speech to teach).
Is your story clear and in order?
When you read your story, does it flow and make sense?
Are your words spelled accurately?
Did you begin each sentence with a capital letter?
Did you end each sentence with correct punctuation?
AND... DID YOU HAVE FUN? :)
Watch for my Writing Tip of the Month for May. The main focus will be revising and editing a piece of writing.
Bruce Cabell is a teacher, author, and creator. He was a classroom teacher for over 27 years. He taught kindergarten, first, and third grade in Connecticut. Bruce has mentored numerous young teachers as well as modeled many writing strategies and skills for classroom teachers. His passion for writing has resulted in his first published creation, Writing Organizer Fold-Outs for grades 2-5. Visit Creative Teaching Press at www.creativeteaching.com to view these wonderful all-in-one resource writing tools.
In addition, to learn more about Bruce, visit him on LinkedIn.
Teacher/Writer/Author/Educator
Writing Tip #9- Fiction: Strong Ending
Writing tip #2, #3, and #5 focused on a narrative's beginning and middle. Now, the following will explain how to write a strong ending to a narrative story.
After having plenty of practice with the story's beginning and middle, model how to write the story’s end. The ending is short and the problem's solution is stated. Just like the beginning, end your story with an action, question, dialogue, thought, simile, or sound word. You want to write a powerful ending that makes your reader(s) wonder and ask questions! Compose a few strong endings before your children try to write their own. Continue to use the Event-Details Strategy/Organizer in pdf from Writing Tip #5. Again, record your ideas in this order: 1) Events in first column. 2) Details in second column.
Here are a few ending statements I will not accept from children.
In the end, I lived happily ever after.
Finally, I went home and went to bed.
In the end, I woke up and it was only a dream.
Below is an example of a strong ending. I've labeled each part to show you how it's done. Then, there's an example of a complete narrative story with its title. Again, I've labeled the beginning, middle, and end. See if your children can find and label the story parts. It would be great practice.
Labels:
TW = Transition Word
TP = Transition Phrase
E = Events
D = Details
Strong Ending Labeled:
(TP) Just then,
(E) I had an idea.
(D) The tattered looking ladder was dangling off his foot. I slid down his leg and grasped the ladder. The weight of my body pulled the dragon to the ground.
(TW) Finally,
(E) I was near my house.
(D) My 20 foot trampoline was in the backyard. On the count of three I jumped off the ladder and landed right into the middle of it. The dragon was nowhere in sight. I walked into my house and locked the door. I was elated that this beast was gone until I heard a loud ROAR in the distance. "OH NO!" I screamed.
Strong Ending:
Just then, I had an idea. The tattered looking ladder was dangling off his foot. I slid down his leg and grasped the ladder. The weight of my body pulled the dragon to the ground. Finally, I was near my house. My 20 foot trampoline was in the backyard. On the count of three I jumped off the ladder and landed right into the middle of it. The dragon was nowhere in sight. I walked into my house and locked the door. I was elated that this beast was gone until I heard a loud ROAR in the distance. "OH NO!" I screamed.
Complete Story
The Day of the Dragon
The Day of the Dragon
Labels:
B = Beginning
M = Middle
E = Ending
(B) "Is this horrible day ever going to end?" I asked while a ferocious fire breathing dragon knocked on my bedroom door. The flames were as hot as the sun. I was so terrified that I couldn't move a muscle.
(M) Immediately, I crawled under my bed. I placed my trembling hands over my head. I could hear the dragon's loud footsteps approach the side of my bed. I felt its fiery breath so I had to think quickly.
(M) Then, I dashed over to my window. It was oval shaped so I could barely fit through it. I tossed the 20 foot ladder down to the ground. It dangled 10 feet above the thorny bushes so I was hesitant to jump.
(M) All of a sudden, the dragon followed me. I could see its bright orange eyes glaring at me. The dragon's scrawny legs and long sharp claws clutched the rope and pulled me up. I was so shocked that I felt chills travel up and down my spine.
(M) Seconds later, I jumped on its back. I held on to the dragon's leathery skin. It soared high above the maple trees and white fluffy clouds. I started to panic so I closed my weary eyes.
(E) Just then, I had an idea. The tattered looking ladder was dangling off his left foot. I slid down his leg and grasped the ladder. The weight of my body pulled the dragon to the ground.
(E) Finally, I was near my house. My 20 foot trampoline was in the backyard. On the count of three I jumped off the ladder and landed right into the middle of it. The dragon was nowhere in sight. I walked into my house and locked the door. I was elated that this beast was gone until I heard a loud ROAR in the distance. "OH NO!" I screamed.
When your children have completed a story, sit down and read it together. Then, ask the following questions:
Does your story have a beginning, middle, and end?
Did you include every story element?
Did you include action verbs, adverbs, adjectives, sensory words, similes, and humor/suspense to make your story exciting? (With very young children, you decide which parts of speech to teach).
Is your story clear and in order?
When you read your story, does it flow and make sense?
Are your words spelled accurately?
Did you begin each sentence with a capital letter?
Did you end each sentence with correct punctuation?
AND... DID YOU HAVE FUN? :)
Watch for my Writing Tip of the Month for May. The main focus will be revising and editing a piece of writing.
Bruce Cabell is a teacher, author, and creator. He was a classroom teacher for over 27 years. He taught kindergarten, first, and third grade in Connecticut. Bruce has mentored numerous young teachers as well as modeled many writing strategies and skills for classroom teachers. His passion for writing has resulted in his first published creation, Writing Organizer Fold-Outs for grades 2-5. Visit Creative Teaching Press at www.creativeteaching.com to view these wonderful all-in-one resource writing tools.
In addition, to learn more about Bruce, visit him on LinkedIn.
