The document discusses techniques for writing compelling opening sentences in short stories, categorizing examples into elements like setting, action, dialogue, and character portrait. It emphasizes the importance of engaging the reader immediately with exciting and memorable introductions. Additionally, it encourages readers to practice writing and sharing their own narrative openings.

1. Short StoriesStart with a ‘big bang’!

2. What makes a killer
sentence opener?
Grab your Attention

3. AND
make you want to read on

4. Are the following sentences exciting and boring?
1. Yulia and her best friend
Sheryl were walking to school.
2. “Just jump!” roared Adam.
3. It was a bright, hot, summery
day.
4. The bomb exploded exactly
at half past twelve.
5. Most people think that ghosts
do not exist.
6. Suddenly, a scream pierced
the night.
7. One day, Zhen Hong was on
his way to the shops.
8. Have you ever wondered
what it might be like to fall
from a plane and not have
your parachute open?
Write them down.

5. What do you think makes them
exciting?

6. Remember
S T A R O C S
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7. Close
your
eyes
and
imagine

8. SETTING
The hottest day of March so far
was drawing to a close and a
drowsy silence lay over the
large, square houses of Jurong
Street 21.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by JK Rowling
A thin crescent moon, high in
the sky, shed faint white light
over MacRitchie Forest. Stars
glowed brightly. Breezes full of
fragrance floated over the
nearby lake. MacRitchie itself,
veiled in darkness, lay utterly
still.
Poppy by Avi

9. TALKING
“How long will we be stuck
here?” I asked the taxi
driver impatiently.
“I am not sure,” he replied.
“You’d better ask the police
officer there.”
“Good night Alyaa.”
“Good night Adam.”
It was on the tip of my tongue
to invite him in. But I
hesitated.
“I had a good time Adam.”
“So did I.”

10. ACTION
The lift door opened and
Istianah stepped forward to get
in. As she did so, a man pushed
her aside and entered the lift.
Bryan dropped the container
marked “Dangerous. Handle
with care,” and the world
seemed to slow down. Bryan
could swear that minutes
passed between it leaving his
fingers and crashing to the
ground with such terrible
consequences.

11. REPORT
On 17 January 2010, there was
an article in The Straits Times
that reported a man who
jumped down. I knew that man.
In fact, he was my third uncle
whom I had addressed as “Jiu
Jiu” (which is Mandarin for
uncle).

12. OPINION
I wish I could say
something nice about
Sherman but I can’t. He
is the rudest person I
have ever met!
In my opinion, Mr Goh is,
by far, the most
awesome, handsome
and magnificent teacher I
know in Shuqun.

13. CHARACTER PORTRAIT
In truth, I do not know how it was, but everyone
was taken with Lisa, at the very first time of
seeing her. She had such pretty ways and
manners, and such a look of kindness, and
a sweet soft light in her brownish eyes, full
of trust. I have been out in the world a great
deal, and yet have never seen Lisa’s equal for
making a weary man comfortable.

15. SUSPENSE
Petrus glanced at my watch
impatiently. Petrus knew that
the relay race was due to
start soon but…
On the bus to Boon Lay, Alson
was aware of somebody
staring intently at him. The
stare annoyed him. He looked
up. She continued staring. He
looked away nervously, and
from the corner of his eyes,
watched closely the
movements of this bold
stranger.

16. Remember
S T A R O C S
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17. Can you think of other ways to start your narrative?

18. TOPIC
Write an original
story about a visit to
a dentist which went
wrong.

19. Discuss with a
partner about the
techniques you
would use to engage
the reader with your
opening sentences.
Be ready to share
your thoughts in a
minute.

20. TASK
1. Read the following introductions in the next few slides
and
2. State which type does each of them belong to in
STAROCS.

21. Spread out on the stainless steel of the cart was a multitude
of tools! The sight of probes, picks, and drills were slowly
turning my feet cold.
Oh, is it too late to back out now? I thought.

22. SETTING
Spread out on the stainless steel of the cart was a multitude
of tools! The sight of probes, picks, and drills were slowly
turning my feet cold.
Oh, is it too late to back out now? I thought.

23. “Ouch! It hurts so much,” Dinesh grumbled to Mother with
one hand, touching his right cheek carefully.
“I told you not to eat too much of the rich chocolates last
week,” Mother retorted in a “see-I-told-you-so” manner.

24. DIALOGUE
“Ouch! It hurts so much,” Dinesh grumbled to Mother with
one hand, touching his right cheek carefully.
“I told you not to eat too much of the rich chocolates last
week,” Mother retorted in a “see-I-told-you-so” manner.

25. All through the night, I lay awake with a terrible toothache. I
felt very miserable and felt like tearing my hair out of my
head. I could not pronounce properly when I talked and
could not chew properly when I ate.
Worst of all I did not get a wink of sleep the whole night
through.

26. ACTION
All through the night, I lay awake with a terrible toothache. I
felt very miserable and felt like tearing my hair out of my
head. I could not pronounce properly when I talked and
could not chew properly when I ate.
Worst of all I did not get a wink of sleep the whole night
through.

27. “Dentist!” The word always terrifies me.
I never like going to the dentist.
The dentist, whom I used to see twice a year, looked fierce
and unforgiving. She had a big round mole on her left chin
and her hair always reminded me of a lion’s mane.

28. CHARACTER PORTRAIT
“Dentist!” The word always terrifies me.
I never like going to the dentist.
The dentist, whom I used to see twice a year, looked fierce
and unforgiving. She had a big round mole on her left chin
and her hair always reminded me of a lion’s mane.

29. The burly dentist arrived and Hein Kai was ushered to the
dentist's chair. Normally, he would run away from the
frightening surgery with all its horrible drills and pliers, but
he did not. He had to get the offending tooth out. So he sat
down on the reclining chair while the dentist kept saying
some reassuring words. Hein Kai relaxed somewhat. The
dentist ordered Hein Kai to open his mouth. He did so.
The he heard the dreaded verdict, “That the tooth has to
come out.” Hein Kai nodded dumbly in reply.

30. SUSPENSE
The burly dentist arrived and Hein Kai was ushered to the
dentist's chair. Normally, he would run away from the
frightening surgery with all its horrible drills and pliers, but
he did not. He had to get the offending tooth out. So he sat
down on the reclining chair while the dentist kept saying
some reassuring words. Hein Kai relaxed somewhat. The
dentist ordered Hein Kai to open his mouth. He did so.
The he heard the dreaded verdict, “That the tooth has to
come out.” Hein Kai nodded dumbly in reply.

31. The End
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