Pupils need to be made aware that there are different elements that make up the structure of a story. Most or all of these elements need to be present in the story to give it structure. These are: Setting, Period, Theme, Plot, Point of View, Characters. This presentation explains to pupils what these components are and encourages them to use them.

Setting the scene in a story gives the story a sense of realism – that it is happening in a real or imagined place. It means that the author must create “word pictures” so that the reader can visualise the setting in their mind. It is important to give pupils strategies to encourage them to set the scene in a story and help to make their story more descriptive. This presentation encourages pupils to use the senses to describe the setting of the story.

The conclusion of a story is almost as important as the beginning. Some writers can rush the ending or not put enough thought into how to sensitively bring a story to a conclusion. The story ending can leave the reader with a variety of feelings depending on the type of ending chosen. This presentation gives pupils some different options about how to conclude a story.

The opening of a story is hugely important. Its job is to catch the attention of the reader and make him/her want to read on. If the opening is boring and unimaginative, the reader will switch off. Many younger pupils write “bed-to-bed” stories – where the story begins when they wake up in the morning and ends when they fall asleep at night! Pupils need to be exposed to the many different ways in which a story can begin.