Writing Techniques and Elements

Miss Paetz

October 29, 2012

Harry Potter

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Fbwh384WQ&feature=related

Review

• Plot

• Subplot

Overview

• Go over different writing techniques

• Discuss how sounds and images in movies

• Learn the song: It’s a Writing Technique!

• Activity

• Worksheet

Objectives

• Students will be able to:• identify and explain how narrative hooks,

foreshadowing, flashback, suspense and surprise endings contribute to the effectiveness of plot development

• explain how sound and image work together to create effects in media texts

Narrative Hook

• The part of a story that “hooks” or grabs the reader’s attention. Often the hook is the opening sentence.

• This is when you as the reader think to yourself, “is it worth reading on?”

• Call me Ishmael. (Moby Dick, by Hermann Melville)

• It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not. (City of Glass by Paul Auster)

Foreshadowing• Is a technique that is used to give

a hint about what is about to come in the story. The hint is very subtle. If it is too obvious it will give the plot away and will affect the suspense.

• Used mainly in mysteries and suspense stories

• Example from Romeo and Juliet:“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-cross'dlovers take their life.”

This is from the prologue in Romeo and Juliet when it is said that they are two lovers that commit suicide. Later in the story the two lovers actually do take their own lives.

Flashback

• A flashback is an event that took place at an earlier point in the story. Writers use flashbacks to explain something that is presently occurring in the story. Flashbacks can also explain a character’s motivation and help to clear up any unanswered questions in the plot.

• The clip from Harry Potter was an example of a flashback.

Suspense

• Suspense is a feeling of tensions, anxiety, or excitement resulting from uncertainty. An author creates suspense to keep the reader interested.

• “One of Triton’s manipulator claws suddenly leaped forward and clamped down on Delta-Two’s left thigh with crushing force. He tried to pull away, but the claw bore down. He screamed in pain, feeling a bone break. His eyes shot to the sub’s cockpit. Peering through the reflection of the deck, Delta-Two could now see him, ensconced in the shadows of the Triton’s interior.” – Deception Point by Dan Brown

Surprise Endings• A surprise ending is an ending

that you did not expect. An ending with a “twist”!

• The ending in Star Wars is one of the most famous surprise endings of all time. The entire plot of the movie consists of Luke trying to defeat Darth Vader. At the end of the movie he finds out that Darth Vader is actually his father.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1fIH6GMIJg

It’s the Writing Techniques!

(Sing song to the tune of The Best of Both Worlds-Hannah Montana)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt76o5C5Evw

You got the narrative hook firstit will hook, it will grasp, it will capture

Yeah, you got your flashy flashbacks tooIt’s all about remembering from the past

In some stories there will be lots of techniquesbut in others there will only be a few

You’ve got the writing techniquesflashbacks and foreshadowing

hooks, suspense and surprise endingsYou’ve got the writing techniques

Mix it all together and you know that it’s the writing techniquesit’s the writing techniques!

You got your foreshadowinga hint about what’s about to come

the suspense is important toofeelings of tension, excitement and anxiety

Yeah don’t forget about the surprise endingan ending with a crazy twist!

You’ve got the writing techniquesflashbacks and foreshadowing

hooks, suspense and surprise endingsYou’ve got the writing techniques

Mix it all together and you know that it’s the writing techniques

it’s the writing techniques!

How do all of these techniques contribute to the effectiveness of plot development?

• Hooks draw in attention. The hook is the creation of the plot. It gets the reader interested

• Flashbacks help make the plot more believable they give an insight into the past that the reader or viewer might not have been aware of

• Foreshadowing helps to build suspense and make a story more believable

• Suspense helps to intrigue the reader or viewer• Surprise endings pull everything together and

help to illuminate the plot

How do sounds and images work together?

• In media text sound and images are often used to help make a story more effective. This is why your emotions or feelings can change along with the music or the images that are displayed when watching a movie. It helps to make a scene more believable and engaging for the viewer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJA71Hfp7K4&feature=endscreen&NR=1

• Discuss with your shoulder partner the effectiveness of the sound effects, the music and the imagery in the scene

Activity

• Watch the videos/read these excerpts from stories and guess the techniques.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enHu-W-w6mE

• “I was ninety-nine point nine percent sure I was dreaming.” (From New Moon- Stephanie Meyer)

Activity

• “From the front of the jailhouse, the constable yawned noisily and began to whistle. The whistling came nearer. Miles dropped down. They heard the constable’s footsteps coming up to Mae’s cell”- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adesE9eVIV4

Summary

• Narrative Hook

• Foreshadowing

• Flashback

• Suspense

• Surprise Ending

• Sound and Imagery

Reminders

• Complete the worksheet for next day and we will go over it in class

References

• Crossroads 7 – Christine McClymont and Linda Coo Gage• http://pixar.wikia.com/Tri-County_Landfill• http://www.anomalousmaterial.com/movies/2010/09/31-day-

movie-meme-all-in-one-day-edition/• http://darth.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_Vader• http://www.americanliterature.com/Hughes/SS/ThankYouMam.ht

ml• http://www.foreshadowing.org/romeo-and-juliet.html• http://www.whitegadget.com/attachments/pc-

wallpapers/85460d1320464619-harry-potter-harry-potter-pic.jpg• http://whimquarterly.com/wp-

content/uploads/2011/06/romeo_juliet_1996_1200_l.jpeg