Introducing the 200 Word Writing Challenge with a newspaper article writing task

1. Can YOU do a
200 word writing
challenge?
By jingos, this isn’t that hard
at all …

2. 200 Word Challenge
1. Write 200 words about a specific topic, in a specific format, including specific
elements.
For example, “Write the opening to a Gothic Horror story, include time and
place, character and a broken down car”
20-25 minutes

3. 200 Word Challenge
“Write the opening to a Gothic Horror story, include time and place, character and a broken down car”
Bang! Jesse jumped and swerved off the road. She didn’t know much about cars, but she
knew this wasn’t good. (10%) Jesse slumped her head on the centre of the steering wheel and gripped 10 to
2 until her knuckles were white. ‘Why(20%) me, why now ...?’, she thought. She raised her head and looked
around, ‘and why HERE?’ Jesse glowered to her right (30%) at the old manor house that had scared her
since childhood. She was older now, but it still made her (40%) skin shudder and she would prefer to drive
the longer way so she could avoid it. Not now, not tonight. (50%) It was dusk, the sun had fallen behind the
low lying trees just before the engine thumped to(60%) a halt. Jesse grappled for her phone, praying it
miraculously recharged itself. Angered, she tossed it into her bag. Contemplating (70%) her options, Jesse
peered towards the driveway leading to the old house. It was covered by a layer of dead, (80%) thick leaves
that never move, even in the most violent winds. At the end of the labyrinth track stood the(90%) desolate
manor house. Vines grew around the mouldy gargoyles that perched on the walls warning off stranded
drivers, like Jesse. (100% - 200 words)

4. 200 Word Challenge
After you’ve written for 20-25 minutes, and reached 200 word limit:
2. Trade written piece with a friend, enemy or peer
3. Read - check - correct someone else's work.
- Check their work has included the necessary things;
“time and place, character and a broken down car”
Make sure it is the correct format
“the opening to a Gothic Horror story”
- Correct any mistakes you can see, suggest ways to improve their writing
10-15
minutes

5. 200 Word Challenge
“Write the opening to a Gothic Horror story, include time and place, character and a broken down car”
Bang! Jesse jumped and swerved off the road. She didn’t know much about cars, but she
knew this wasn’t good. (10%) Jesse slumped her head on the centre of the steering wheel and gripped 10 to
2 until her knuckles were white. ‘Why(20%) me, why now ...?’, she thought. She raised her head and looked
around, ‘and why HERE?’ Jesse glowered to her right (30%) at the old manor house that had scared her
since childhood. She was older now, but it still made her (40%) skin shudder and she would prefer to drive
the longer way so she could avoid it. Not now, not tonight. (50%) It was dusk, the sun had fallen behind the
low lying trees just before the engine thumped to(60%) a halt. Jesse grappled for her phone, praying it
miraculously recharged itself. Angered, she tossed it into her bag. Contemplating (70%) her options, Jesse
peered towards the driveway leading to the old house. It was covered by a layer of dead, (80%) thick leaves
that never move, even in the most violent winds. At the end of the labyrinth track stood the(90%) desolate
manor house. Vines grew around the mouldy gargoyles that perched on the walls warning off stranded
drivers, like Jesse. (100% - 200 words)

6. 200 Word Challenge
When you have your own writing back
4. Edit your work.
Make sure everything is included, you have written in the right format, and you
have done your best. Change some sentences, add greater description, etc
5. Publish and Submit on Google Classroom,
- can be private for teacher only, OR if you’re slightly more daring make it public …
BUT you must submit it
15-20
minutes
Maybe add an
image or picture

7. 200 Word Challenge
“Write the opening to a Gothic Horror story, include time and place, character and a broken down car”
Bang! Jesse jumped and swerved off the road. She didn’t know much about cars, but she
knew this wasn’t good. (10%) Jesse slumped her head on the centre of the steering wheel and gripped 10 to
2 until her knuckles were white. ‘Why(20%) me, why now ...?’, she thought. She raised her head and looked
around, ‘and why HERE?’ Jesse glowered to her right (30%) at the old manor house that had scared her
since childhood. She was older now, but it still made her (40%) skin shudder and she would prefer to drive
the longer way so she could avoid it. Not now, not tonight. (50%) It was dusk, the sun had fallen behind the
low lying trees just before the engine thumped to(60%) a halt. Jesse grappled for her phone, praying it
miraculously recharged itself. Angered, she tossed it into her bag. Contemplating (70%) her options, Jesse
peered towards the driveway leading to the old house. It was covered by a layer of dead, (80%) thick leaves
that never move, even in the most violent winds. At the end of the labyrinth track stood the(90%) desolate
manor house. Vines grew around the mouldy gargoyles that perched on the walls warning off stranded
drivers, like Jesse. (100% - 200 words)

8. 200 Word Challenge
When you complete a 200 Word Challenge, you will be given
The information you need to include
The style of writing that you must write in
A stimulus of some kind; visual, quote, list of facts, etc
A 60 minute lesson to complete it
Presented on one page, or slide
Complete the following sample task

9. Your
MUS
least
words

11. Your
MUS
least
words