Short StoriesStart with a ‘big bang’!

What makes a killer sentence opener?

Grab your Attention

AND

make you want to read on

Are the following sentences exciting and boring?

1. Yulia and her best friend Sheryl were walking to school.

2. “Just jump!” roared Adam.

3. It was a bright, hot, summery day.

4. The bomb exploded exactly at half past twelve.

5. Most people think that ghosts do not exist.

6. Suddenly, a scream pierced the night.

7. One day, Zhen Hong was on his way to the shops.

8. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to fall from a plane and not have your parachute open?

Write them down.

What do you think makes them

exciting?

RememberS T A R O C SETTING

ALKING

CTION

EPORT

PINION

HARACTER

USPENSE

Close your

eyesand

imagine

SETTINGThe hottest day of March so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Jurong Street 21.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

A thin crescent moon, high in the sky, shed faint white light over MacRitchie Forest. Stars glowed brightly. Breezes full of fragrance floated over the nearby lake. MacRitchie itself, veiled in darkness, lay utterly still.

Poppy by Avi

TALKING“How long will we be stuck here?” I asked the taxi driver impatiently.

“I am not sure,” he replied. “You’d better ask the police officer there.”

“Good night Alyaa.”

“Good night Adam.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to invite him in. But I hesitated.

“I had a good time Adam.”

“So did I.”

ACTIONThe lift door opened and Istianah stepped forward to get in. As she did so, a man pushed her aside and entered the lift.

Bryan dropped the container marked “Dangerous. Handle with care,” and the world seemed to slow down. Bryan could swear that minutes passed between it leaving his fingers and crashing to the ground with such terrible consequences.

REPORTOn 17 January 2010, there was an article in The Straits Times that reported a man who jumped down. I knew that man. In fact, he was my third uncle whom I had addressed as “Jiu Jiu” (which is Mandarin for uncle).

OPINIONI wish I could say something nice about Sherman but I can’t. He is the rudest person I have ever met!

In my opinion, Mr Goh is, by far, the most awesome, handsome and magnificent teacher I know in Shuqun.

CHARACTER PORTRAITIn truth, I do not know how it was, but everyone was taken with Lisa, at the very first time of seeing her. She had such pretty ways and manners, and such a look of kindness, and a sweet soft light in her brownish eyes, full of trust. I have been out in the world a great deal, and yet have never seen Lisa’s equal for making a weary man comfortable.

SUSPENSE

Petrus glanced at my watch impatiently. Petrus knew that the relay race was due to start soon but…

On the bus to Boon Lay, Alsonwas aware of somebody staring intently at him. The stare annoyed him. He looked up. She continued staring. He looked away nervously, and from the corner of his eyes, watched closely the movements of this bold stranger.

RememberS T A R O C SETTING

ALKING

CTION

EPORT

PINION

HARACTER

USPENSE

Can you think of other ways to start your narrative?

TOPICWrite an original story about a visit to a dentist which went wrong.

Discuss with a partner about the techniques you would use to engage the reader with your opening sentences.

Be ready to share your thoughts in a minute.

TASK1. Read the following introductions in the next few slides

and

2. State which type does each of them belong to in STAROCS.

Spread out on the stainless steel of the cart was a multitude of tools! The sight of probes, picks, and drills were slowly turning my feet cold.

Oh, is it too late to back out now? I thought.

SETTINGSpread out on the stainless steel of the cart was a multitude of tools! The sight of probes, picks, and drills were slowly turning my feet cold.

Oh, is it too late to back out now? I thought.

“Ouch! It hurts so much,” Dinesh grumbled to Mother with one hand, touching his right cheek carefully.

“I told you not to eat too much of the rich chocolates last week,” Mother retorted in a “see-I-told-you-so” manner.

DIALOGUE“Ouch! It hurts so much,” Dinesh grumbled to Mother with one hand, touching his right cheek carefully.

“I told you not to eat too much of the rich chocolates last week,” Mother retorted in a “see-I-told-you-so” manner.

All through the night, I lay awake with a terrible toothache. I felt very miserable and felt like tearing my hair out of my head. I could not pronounce properly when I talked and could not chew properly when I ate.

Worst of all I did not get a wink of sleep the whole night through.

ACTIONAll through the night, I lay awake with a terrible toothache. I felt very miserable and felt like tearing my hair out of my head. I could not pronounce properly when I talked and could not chew properly when I ate.

Worst of all I did not get a wink of sleep the whole night through.

“Dentist!” The word always terrifies me.

I never like going to the dentist.

The dentist, whom I used to see twice a year, looked fierce and unforgiving. She had a big round mole on her left chin and her hair always reminded me of a lion’s mane.

CHARACTER PORTRAIT“Dentist!” The word always terrifies me.

I never like going to the dentist.

The dentist, whom I used to see twice a year, looked fierce and unforgiving. She had a big round mole on her left chin and her hair always reminded me of a lion’s mane.

The burly dentist arrived and Hein Kai was ushered to the dentist's chair. Normally, he would run away from the frightening surgery with all its horrible drills and pliers, but he did not. He had to get the offending tooth out. So he sat down on the reclining chair while the dentist kept saying some reassuring words. Hein Kai relaxed somewhat. The dentist ordered Hein Kai to open his mouth. He did so. The he heard the dreaded verdict, “That the tooth has to come out.” Hein Kai nodded dumbly in reply.

SUSPENSEThe burly dentist arrived and Hein Kai was ushered to the dentist's chair. Normally, he would run away from the frightening surgery with all its horrible drills and pliers, but he did not. He had to get the offending tooth out. So he sat down on the reclining chair while the dentist kept saying some reassuring words. Hein Kai relaxed somewhat. The dentist ordered Hein Kai to open his mouth. He did so. The he heard the dreaded verdict, “That the tooth has to come out.” Hein Kai nodded dumbly in reply.

The EndI would appreciate it much if you can share these slides.