A SAMPLE STORY-LINE

CLIMAX
* Suddenly, friend saw dark figure behind an old tombstone

- DESCRIBE DARK FIGURE

- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* tall, one-eyed monster, bulging red eye
* I quickened steps to reach home faster
D * smelled awful and nauseating R
* friend calling me names accusing - coward
E * roared thunderously E
V - USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE) - SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS S
E * (friend) : Oooh! Stop being ridiculous * (feeling) both us us scared to death O
L * (I) : Im serious. There seem to be strange voices * (reactions) screamed for help, cried , shivered L
calling our names
O U
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
P * we ran helter-skelter for our lives T
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
M * I started imagining weird things heard scary * my boastful friend wet her pants I
E voices O
N * friend laughed - thought I obsessed - movie - USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE) N
* (friend) : Rinie, wait for me
T
* (I) : Come on Zura! Run faster

- SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS - DESCRIBE CHARACTERS

* (feeling) I frightened
* I - took off my sandals - to speed up
* (reactions) sweating , heart beat faster, * friend panting for breath
went weak at the knees
TITLE :
- INTRODUCE & DESCRIBE NEW SETTING
- INTRODUCE & DESCRIBE THE SETTING
* we reached main road
* short cut passed graveyard AN UNFORGETTABLE * bright streetlights cars on the road
* graveyard in moonlight - calm - windy
* branches of trees - waving scarily at us ENCOUNTER
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* we turned around to look behind us
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES * nothing was following us
* decided to take a short cut - home * the ghost disappeared

INTRODUCTION ENDING
* my friend and I watched midnight movie at the cinema * we looked at each other - puzzled
* 2.00a.m movie ended - missed the last bus * What was it? Was there really a ghost?
* we will never know .....
PLANNING A STORY-LINE USING A PLOT GRAPH

QUESTION :

Begin your story with :

It was a sunny afternoon ........

 A SAMPLE STORY-LINE
CLIMAX
* Yeay! I won the lucky draw for SAKAN BONANZA
* Suddenly, friend saw dark figure behind an old tombstone
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES - SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS
* I searched high and low for the homemade * (feeling) I - exuberant
D fresh coffee beans in the wooden cabinet * (reactions) running to the verandah while screming crazily,
E * I almost dropped the coffee beans jar when hugging and kissing both grandfather and father repeatedly
the telephone rang * (feeling) grandfather and father puzzled
V
* I rushed to the phone and picked it up *(reactions) grandfather scratched his head/ father held
E my hands and insisted to know what was going on
L - USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE) R
O * (mother) : Niza, get the dry clothes in before - DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES E
it rains * I explained I just won a Grand Prize for SAKAN BONANZA S
P
* (I) : In a minute mum, Im preparing hot coffee lucky draw
M O
for tok and abah * I shouted out of joy RM 10,000.00 and a Perodua Kembara
E will be mine soon L
N - SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS *I imagined myself cruising in the car and flaunting a trendy U
* (feeling) I calm and serene expensive outfit when I took my SPM result T
T
* (reactions) took a deep breath, closed my
eyes and slowly exhaled in satisfaction
I
- USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE)
O
* (grandmother) : Wow!Congrats! Opah wants to
- DESCRIBE THE SETTING N
be the first person to go on a ride on that
* Kampung Tua beautiful village, lush green paddy fields
automobile with you
*a flock of sparrows flying across the sky of the vast
paddy fields
QUESTION
TITLE : : * (mother) : Whats going on here. Do I miss on
something?
*undulating mountains a magnificent backdrop of the fresh
landscape BeginAN
your story with :
UNFORGETTABLE - DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* father informed mother about my windfall
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES ENCOUNTER
It was a sunny afternoon ........
* my grandfather and father relaxing at the - SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS
verandah rolling cigarette leaves * (feeling)mother shocked and elated
* my mother and I - busy washing dishes * (reactions) jaw dropped, eyes bulged and
* my grandmother feeding chickens carved a big smile from ear to ear while embracing me

INTRODUCTION
ENDING
* It was a sunny afternoon in my village Kampung Tua
* couldnt wait for the big day next day - to receive the prize
*My family and I had just enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared
* lying on bed couldnt sleep eyes blinking till zzzzzzzzzz.........
by my grandmother
 A SAMPLE STORY-LINE
CLIMAX

R
D E
E S
V O
E L
L U
O T
P I
M O
E N
N
T QUESTION :

Begin your story with :

It was a sunny afternoon ........

INTRODUCTION ENDING
* we looked at each other - puzzled
* What was it? Was there really a ghost?
* we will never know .....
 INTRODUCE CHARACTER

DESCRIBE CHARACTER

INTRODUCE SETTING

DESCRIBE SETTING

DESCRIBE ACTIVITIES

USE DIRECT SPEECH

SHARE FEELINGS & REACTIONS OF FEELINGS

INTRODUCE OBJECT (S)

DESCRIBE OBJECT (S)

 SMK RAJA PEREMPUAN KELSOM, KUALA KANGSAR

MY PROCESS WRITING PROJECT 2014

FOCUS : NARRATIVE WRITING PORTFOLIO

NAME :__________________________________

CLASS : __________________________________

ENGLISH TEACHER : PN NUR HATIAH BT ABDUL HAMID

Rearrange the events to form a logical plot of the story. Cut and paste the boxes on the task
template/story-line graph.

INTRODUCTION - DESCRIBE DARK FIGURE

* my friend and I watched midnight movie at the cinema * tall, one-eyed monster, bulging red eye
* 2.00a.m movie ended - missed the last bus * smelled awful and nauseating
* roared thunderously

- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* I started imagining weird things heard scary
voices - USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE)
* friend laughed - thought I obsessed - movie * (friend) : Rinie, wait for me
* (I) : Come on Zura! Run faster

- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES * we ran helter-skelter for our lives
* decided to take a short cut - home * my boastful friend wet her pants

- SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS

CLIMAX
* (feeling) I frightened
* Suddenly, friend saw dark figure behind an old tombstone
* (reactions) sweating , heart beat faster,
went weak at the knees

- SHARE FEELINGS AND REACTIONS OF FEELINGS

* (feeling) both us us scared to death
* (reactions) screamed for help, cried , shivered
- INTRODUCE & DESCRIBE THE SETTING
* short cut passed graveyard
* graveyard in moonlight - calm - windy
- INTRODUCE & DESCRIBE NEW SETTING
* branches of trees - waving scarily at us
* we reached main road
* bright streetlights cars on the road

- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* we turned around to look behind us
ENDING * nothing was following us
* we looked at each other - puzzled * the ghost disappeared
* What was it? Was there really a ghost?
* we will never know .....

- DESCRIBE ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
* I quickened steps to reach home faster
- DESCRIBE CHARACTERS
* friend calling me names accusing - coward
* I - took off my sandals - to speed up
* friend panting for breath

- USE DIRECT SPEECH (DIALOGUE)

* (friend) : Oooh! Stop being ridiculous
* (I) : Im serious. There seem to be strange voices
calling our names
THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH
Answer the questions based on your understanding of the poem.

1- How are the people in the photograph related?

2- What kind of person was the grandmother?

3- What happened to the grandmothers physical appearance as sheaged?

4- What does the phrase the awful place refer to?5.

5- How old was the persona when the photograph was taken?

1- They are family / They are grandmother and grandchild.

2- She was prim and proper / She was well-dressed.

3- She became smaller and hunched.

4- The afterlife / The life after death / The grave.

5- Three

6- Which line in the poem tells us the grandmother has become forgetful?

7- How do you think of the persona feels towards her grandmother? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.

8- A picture speaks a thousand words is a common proverb. How would you relate this to the poem, The Living
Photograph.

9- Sometimes an elderly member of the family is sent to a nursery home. Do you agree with this practice? Provide your
reason.

10- If you were to take care of your grandmother for a day, what would you do to make her experience an unforgettable
one ?

11- Give 2 moral values that are found in the poem.

12-List 2 items grandmother wears in the photo.

a- pleated skirt

b- flat shoes/white broderie anglaise shirt

13- What do you think the writer is referring to in the phrase the awful place grandmothers go?

- The writer is referring to death

14- Which line in the poem tells us the grandmother has become forgetful ?

- her soup forgot to boil

15- Which line tells you that the writer and her grandmother come from different ethnic background ?

- White hand in black hand

16- Why do you think the writer says that her grandmother is tall in the photo but later become small ?

- I think it is probably because the photo was taken when the writers grandmother was younger. Her back was
straight therefore she seemed taller. It could also be because the writer was very young at the time (only 3
years old). As her grandmother grew older her back become round and hunched. So she appeared small. The
writer also have grown bigger and taller too. Therefore her grandmother no longer appears tall to her.

17-Quote evidence from the line 14 to line 16 that the photograph was taken a long time ago ?
 - The persona says that the photo was taken when she was three years old

18- Explained the meaning of the word crinkled

- wrinkled

19-How do these lines make you feel about photographs of people you love?

20- In the first stanza, what does the word there refer to?
THE LIVING PHOTOGRAPH

Stanza 1
Line Meaning
The personas grandmother looks tall in the
1 My small grandmother is tall there,
photograph.
She is standing with good posture, wearing an
2 straight-back, white broderie anglaise shirt ,
embroidered lace blouse.
She wears the blouse with a pleated skirt, non-heeled
3 pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
shoes and her hair in a bun.
4 a kind, old smile round her eyes. She is smiling kindly.
5 Her big hand holds mine, Her big hand is holding the personas hand.
The contrast of their skin colours can clearly be seen
6 white hand in black hand.
in their linked hands.
Her grandmothers blue eyes suggests that her death
7 Her sharp blue eyes look her death in the eye.
is near.
Stanza 2
Line Meaning
8 It was true after all; that look. The personas reference of death came true.
9 My tall grandmother became small. The grandmother became thinner and more fragile.
10 Her back round and hunched. Her back became hunched.
11 Her soup forgot to boil. She became forgetful.
12 She went to the awful place grandmothers go. Soon, she passed away.
Upon her death, she went to a place that no one
13 Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.
knows.
Stanza 3
Line Meaning
However, in the photograph, her grandmother will
14 But there she is still,
always be alive.
The persona was there years old in the photograph
15 in the photo with me at three,
with her grandmother.
16 the crinkled smile is still living, breathing. Her grandmothers smile is still so alive and real.

Moral Value

1 We must treasure our loved ones when they are alive.

We must spend as much time as we can with our loved ones while they are still living
When they pass away, all that will be left are the memories, as is illustrated in the poem.
2 It is difficult to lose a family member.
It is always difficult to deal with the death of a loved one.
The persona loses her grandmother when she was younger but she will always remember her.
3 We must never forget the importance of family relationship.
We should not forget to love and care for our family, especially our grandparents who are the pillars of a
family.
When they are old and sick, we must continue to take care of them.
Summary of Stanza 1

The persona is looking at an old photograph of her grandmother and herself. She describes the photograph
her grandmother is standing tall and straight, dressed in a white embroidered lace blouse with a pleated skirt,
and flat shoes. Her grey hair is pulled neatly into a bun. She is smiling kindly while holding the personas hand
in hers, giving her the security and comfort. As the persona describes their linked hands white hand in black
hand it is clear that they come from a mixed race family. The last line seems to suggest that the persona
knows that her grandmothers death will come soon.

Summary of Stanza 2

While the first describes the photograph, in the second stanza, the persona is remembering her grandmother
later, when she is older and has become ill. The persona recalls how her grandmother soon grows thinner and
more fragile. Her back is hunched and she becomes forgetful as is illustrated in the line, Her soup forgot to
boil. Eventually, she passes away and upon her death, she goes to an unimaginable place.

Summary of Stanza 3
However, in the photograph, the personas grandmother will forever be alive. She is still there, holding the hand
of her three-year-old granddaughter, with her smile looking so alive and real.

Themes
1 The everlasting quality of a photograph
A photograph immortalizes a person or a moment. What is captured in a photograph will remain alive
forever.
In the poem, the personas grandmother has already passed away. However, in the photograph, she
will always be healthy and alive.
A photograph also allows us grandmother passes away to reflect on what happened in the past and relive
our memories.
2 Death
Death is a definite outcome for all of us.
In the poem, the persona recalls how her grandmother was once strong and healthy but soon grows older
and becomes ill.
In the end, the grandmother passes away and the persona is only able to relive her memories with
her grandmother through a photograph.
1. Where is the setting of the poem?
The battlefield
2. Which line in the poem tells us that the soldiers obeyed the order without question?
"theirs not to reason why"
3. Why do you think the line "Rode the six hundred" is repeated many times in the poems?
to emphasise that the 600 soldiers sacrificed their life on that day in the battlefield
4. Give one quality that you admire about the soldiers. Give a reason for your response.
Loyal as they follow orders.
5. What is the command given to the soldiers?
to charge forward and fight the enemies
6. Give an example of a metaphor used in the poem.
the valley of death
7. Which line in the poem tells the reader that the command was a mistakes?
someone had blundered
8. What do you think is the outcome of the battle? Support your response with evidence from the poem.
Many soldiers die. The phrase into the jaw of death shows that many of them will die in the battle.
9. In stanza 1, who is speaking to the soldiers?
the leader/captain
10. In stanza 2, what does the line, "theirs but to do and die" tell us about?
the soldiers are loyal and courageous
11. What happened to the soldiers in stanza 3?
they were attacked by the enemies
12. What emotions does the poem evoke? What do you feel as you read it? Support your response with evidence
from the poem.
Sympathetic. full of sympathy as many soldiers die in the battlefield.
13. In stanza 2, which phrase in the poem means to go forward over a set distance?
"Forward the Light Brigade"
14. What were the soldiers told to do when they rode into the valley of death?
"Charge for the gun"
15. Why do you think the soldiers followed the order even is it would cause their death?
They are loyal
16. Despite being attacked from all sides, the soldiers continued on. What consequences would the soldiers have
to face if they decided to retreat? Provide reason for your answer.
Death.The soldiers should never go against the leader and always follow orders
17. Why do yo think the persona asked whether there was " a man dismayed"?
some of the soldiers are not courageous and have weak heart/ will/spirit
18. There are many jobs today that require people to be brave. Give another example of a job that requires
bravery. Provide reason for your answer.
Policeman. They need to fight for justice.
19. In stanza 2, which word in the poem means 'made a mistake'?
" blundered"
20. What is the theme of the poem?
courage
21. What is the Light Brigade?
a division in the army
22. Give one example of personification used in the poem?
"the jaw of death"
23. How do you feel about war? Provide a reason to support your response.
I dislike war. Many people die in the war.