TYPES OF COMPOSITION

-STORY WRITING
-PICTURE COMPOSITION
 STORY WRITING
• Story writing is a creative art which requires
creative thinking, planning and mastery of
narrative skills and good language.

• Could be fictive or imaginary.

• Must have an attractive proper introduction,

middle part and good ending.
KEY ELEMENTS OF A STORY
SETTING
CHARACTER (Location and time)

CONFLICT PLOT
(A problem arising in the story- (how, when, why
tension between 2 characters everything within the
or an internal conflict) story happens)

THEME
(underlying
meaning/message the writer
is trying to convey)
 POINTS TO CONSIDER
1. A story need not be full of violent action and
dramatic events to be effective.
The best stories are about ordinary everyday events that affect and change our lives.

2. A story must have a good/engaging plot.

Make the opening of the story interesting or exciting for the readers. Must have a
proper beginning, a middle and an end. Sixty percent of the time allotted should be
spent on the central plot, the rest of the time on subsidiary episodes, introductory
material and conclusion.

3. Characters and descriptions:

Don’t have too many characters. Each new character will bring a new dimension to the
story and too many directions will dilute the main theme of the story. The characters
and setting of the story must be convincing.

4. Keep your story simple:

Choose one simple incident which can be developed properly with plenty of details.
5. Your story must have a point.
What is the underlying message of the story? Get this right and your story will have
more resonance in the minds of the readers.
After reading the story the reader must be left with such comments as:
“How strange are the ways of human nature.......”
“That’s just how I felt.....” “How sad………”

6. Make it interesting:
Build up the tension- try to keep the reader guessing until the last moment, give
details and make your characters speak.

7. The tone of your narration must suit the nature of

your story.
The tone of the story is the attitude the writer adopts towards a subject, character or
the reader, and it can vary from humorous to ironic, to serious or to angry, among
Other. The tone depends on the purpose of the story.
Decide which tone is good for each part of your story. Which character do you want
the readers to sympathize with? etc.
 PAST PAPERS
• ICSE PAPER 2011
Write an original short story entitled “Lost and found”.

• ICSE PAPER 2018

Write an original short story entitled “The Gift”

• ICSE PAPER 2017

Write an original story that begins with the words: “It was raining
hard that night. In my hurry to get into the house, I didn’t notice
the black car parked outside

• ICSE PAPER 2015

Write an original story that begins with the words “He was the
funniest boy I had ever met. He would make everyone laugh.....”
 PICTURE COMPOSITION
• In a Picture composition ,you are asked to study the picture, which is supposed to
spark off an idea, which could be the basic of your essay, story, feelings or
thoughts.
• The picture is likely to be a dramatic one depicting people in action, an event or a
place.
• You may write one of the following based on the picture: (1)story (2)description
(3)an account of what the picture suggests to you.

1. A story based on a picture:

• Since a story must have a basic plot, characters and an
atmosphere, invent them on the basis of theme of the
picture.
• In order to appeal to the reader’s imagination show that you are one of
the characters in the picture.
• Show your interaction with other characters.
• Remember that a story must have an atmosphere, a climax and a
resolution.
2. Description based on the picture:
• Mere description of the picture is not accepted.
• Pay attention to the details such as facial expressions and gestures ,clothes
and the position of the characters as shown in the picture. They will also
help you to have a better understanding of the theme suggested by the
picture.
• Begin your description by concentrating on the details given in the picture
and then widen the focus to take a broader view.
• Establish interesting connections between the details chosen by you, and
the picture as a whole.

3. An account of thoughts and feelings suggested by the picture:

Here the picture becomes the starting point, giving the writer freedom
to use his imagination.
Introduction: Brief description of the picture and its immediate effect
on the writer.
Body : Thoughts and feelings triggered off by the picture.
Conclusion: Rounding off the thoughts, feelings and insights.