Let us take a look at one of my P6 compo questions. From my previous blog, I wrote about writing my ‘Story Plot Flow’, and from there, I am able to tell if a student is able to write aptly. I do not sugar coat my words, and from the beginning, I explained my expecatations and if their plots are boring and predictable, I would reject and make them think again.

From the suggested title – A Memorable Experience, and the three pictures given, what is your story plot?

I like to challenge students to think out of the box, and I recalled watching a baking reality show, using the iron to bake/cooking! Very interesting, right? My students were baffled and did not think it was possible, hence, I showed them the ‘evidence’. After all, ‘a picture paints a thousand words’.

From the images, you can see that the challenge for that day was to use household appliances to cook a dish within a time limit.

Pause now, and think how can one adapt the reality show into writing? Using two pictures, above, here is a suggested story plot flow (adpated from a few of my students. They are getting better in plotting!)

1: Mum instructed me to keep and iron the clothes. (1st pic)

2: I recalled baking show about using iron to cook.

3: I was curious to try (parents not at home).

4: Took out bacon/ham/hotdogs/luncheon meat.

5: Took out the ironing board and iron (2nd pic).

6: Followed the steps to cook.

7: Could not control the heating mode in the iron.

8: Burnt/overcooked the meat

9: Realised it was not easy to do.

10: Smoke escaped the iron after a while

11: Panicked, cried, accidentally scarred my hand.

12: Parents came back in the nick of time

13: After reprimanding, they taught me how to do it properly

14: Dinner was prepared using the iron and served on the ironing board

15: A memorable experience indeed! 

There you go! A little plot twist at the end. The usual ending would be the character getting scolded, and something learned. Why not think more and end off with something better? 

Writing is a process, and it takes time to build. Slowly start reading to build up your confidence, and practice writing for the exposure.

For more practice, grab a copy of my Writing AL1 PSLE Compositions at this link: https://sowingseedz.com/resources/