Weekly Writing Tasks (Aim to do 1 per day)

1)

Think of a fairytale character e.g. The Gingerbread Man, The Big Bad Wolf, Puss in Boots, and imagine that you have been banished to the swamp by Lord Farquaad and want to return to Fairyland.

Write a persuasive speech explaining why you should be freed.

Sentence starter: Firstly, you should release me because I am extremely brave and fearless and there is not enough bravery in the world today. Whenever people see me, they are assured that they will be safe and I will slay any wolves that may come near. I don’t think the same thing happens when people meet the Gingerbread Man!

(The Woodcutter)

Remember to include:

- Emotive (strong) language or phrases- Clear reasons why you should be returned to Fairyland - Use of supporters (people who are on your side)- A rhetorical question- Alliteration- Assertion of your ideas – use of the pronoun ‘I’- Words and phrases to give cohesion (‘word glue’)

Inspiration – ‘I’m Cinderella – Get Me out of this Swamp!’ (page 3)

2)

Imagine that you are the expert Steve Backshall, and that you have recently discovered a new species of ogre e.g. The Scottish Rain Loving Ogre or The Underwater Fish-Eating Ogre.

Create a non-chronological report about your new discovery.

Remember to:

- Include an introduction and conclusion- Organise paragraphs around themes e.g. Appearance, Diet, Habitat, Behaviour and habits- Write in third person (remember you’re the expert!)- Use facts

Sentence starter: Although ogres have lived in many habitats in the United Kingdom, they seem to prefer to live in swamps. There are a number of reasons why but the main reason is because ogres have started to shy away from all human contact. However, once ogres were extremely sociable creatures, so what has caused them to become so reclusive? There are a number of different theories.

Inspiration – ‘Goblins’ (page 4)

3)

Hold some police interviews! Invite a member of your family to hot-seat a well-known ‘baddie’ (Voldemort, the Big Bad Wolf) where you play the role of the police officer who has taken the baddie in for questioning. Interview the baddie and make notes ready to play the role of reporter, either writing a transcript for a TV news report (you could even film them) or writing a newspaper report of the interview using both direct quotes and reported speech.

4)

Write a diary entry as though you are a member of the crew onboard the Titanic after it struck the iceberg.

Remember to:

- plan your writing- make your writing unique – can you include a twist or standout viewpoint?- Use a wide range of vocabulary, punctuation and sentences- Make your handwriting legible- Check your spelling!

5)

Create your own poem, using Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Be Very Afraid’ as inspiration (page 5).

She takes ordinary things and turns them into monsters; this process invents a monster and puts it in an ordinary place. Use these steps to create a nonsense creature.

1. Choose an adjective or descriptive phrase, for example: two-headed, slippery, slimy, three-toed, red, green, slinky, smelly, stinky.

2. Choose a creature, for example: worm, beetle, spider, fly, slug, snail, moth, creepy-crawly, dragon, monster, crab, shark, flea, bat, toad.

3. Choose a verb, for example: clings, hangs, wobbles, stinks, crawls, flies, hovers, flaps, stalks, screeches, squeaks.

Create your own poems, for example:

Be afraid of

The three-toed, stinky wombat

That creeps over your bedroom carpet.

Be afraid of

The tiny, slimy slug

Crawling down your curtain.