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Story Craft Assessment Sheet

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Story Craft Assessment Sheet

A dance competition is about to begin, but one important prop has gone missing. Use the activities below to explore story structure, build suspense and plan your own complete story. You may write ideas in the planning boxes before drafting.

Read the story

The Missing Silver Ribbon Ngaio tightened the silver ribbon around her wrist. It was the final detail for her dance group’s performance, and Aisha and Oliver were waiting by the stage door. Outside, rain tapped on the roof of the community hall. “Ready?” called Aisha. Then she frowned. The small box of costume ribbons was empty. Their group was due on stage in five minutes. Oliver checked beneath the chairs while Ngaio searched the bags. At last, she heard a faint jingling near the curtain. A silver ribbon was caught around the wheel of a music stand. Oliver freed it carefully, but the ribbon was creased. Ngaio smoothed it against her costume. “It’s not perfect, but it’s ours,” she said. The three friends hurried to their places. When the music began, they moved together, smiling at the audience. The ribbon flashed under the lights. At the end, the crowd clapped loudly—and Ngaio felt proud that they had solved the problem as a team.

1.Which detail tells you where the story begins?

At a community hall before a dance performance
On a beach after the performance
In a classroom during lunch

2.What is the main problem the characters need to solve?

3.Put these events in the order they happen. Write 1, 2 and 3 beside them: ___ Oliver frees the ribbon from the music stand. ___ The friends discover the ribbon box is empty. ___ The group performs on stage.

4.Find one phrase that helps create a tense or worried feeling. Explain how it affects the reader.

5.What does Ngaio’s response to the creased ribbon show about her? Use evidence from the story.

6.Choose the strongest replacement for “They hurried to their places” if the writer wants to build suspense.

They walked slowly and chatted.
With the music about to start, they dashed to their places.
They were at the hall.

7.Write one line of dialogue that Oliver might say when he spots the ribbon. Use speech marks and choose words that show his feelings.

Plan your own dance-competition story

Use this story map to plan a new story. It should have a character, a setting, a problem, events that lead to a solution, and an ending. You may use Ngaio, Aisha or Oliver, or invent your own characters.

Character and setting: Who is in the story, and where does it happen?

Beginning: What is happening before the problem appears?

Problem: What goes wrong just before the performance?

Events and ending: What do the characters try? How is the problem solved?

8.Write the opening of your story. Introduce the character and setting, and include one detail that helps the reader picture the scene.

9.Continue your story with a clear problem, at least two events, and a satisfying ending. Include an ordering word such as “first”, “then” or “finally”, and at least one line of dialogue.

10.Check your draft: circle one strength (clear beginning, vivid detail, dialogue, ordered events, or satisfying ending). Write one change that could make your story clearer or more exciting.