Start with What Isn't There

setting moods in setting descriptions

The writing of author Stephen Kramer is inspiring student writers to try new techniques with the traits of voice and idea development.

By visiting this lesson's Teacher Instructions & Lesson Resources page, you will find even more student samples that can be printed for your classroom to be used as discussion tools during the teaching of this lesson. Your students can also self-publish their writing to this lesson by clicking here.

Student Sample: Early Elementary

The Haunted Ship
by Danny, 3rd grade writer

There are no people. No one has gone there. No music has been played.
No plants have grown. There was no light, not even a pinch.

Five kids didn’t believe in it until it happened. They were taken by the ship. There were spiders everywhere, even skeletons. Every night they heard noises. That night mummies were walking. They were never seen again.

(Click here to view and print Danny and two of his classmates' Start with What Isn't There paragraphs.)

Student Sample: Upper Elementary

Mexico Trip
by Justin, 5th grade writer

My dad and I went to Mexico for summer vacation. What were we doing in Mexico? Good question. My dad would not tell me. When we pulled up to this place, I went cold. It was definitely not a mansion. It was not even a medium-sized house! We got out of the car. When we got in the house as tiny as a mouse hole, my jaw dropped immediately. There were no living plants, no lights, no clean walls or countertops and …..NO TELEVISION! I felt a tear in my eye.

The beds were made out of pure stone. The toilets….you don’t want to know. All of the nonliving plants were pure black. I finally blinked and tears came pouring out. My dad took me out on a hike to let me cool down, but it didn’t work. I suffered in that cave my dad called a house for a month.

(Click here to view and print Justin and one of his classmate's Start with What Isn't There paragraphs.)

Student Sample: Middle School

Lost in the Forest
by Sarah, 7th grade writer

I walk from bright sunlight to a lonely place. You wandered too far away. It is very quiet, not a sound in the air. There are no people, toys, or food. There are no clothes to warm you from the cool breeze. There is but a bed of grass for you to sleep upon. You want to scream with sadness, but you know that chances are no one will hear you. When you are alone in the woods, you feel so alone. In this time of darkness, you know you are alone. No one can see or hear you cry.

Suddenly. You hear voices. The wind blows, and the tree branches seem to part, letting sun light the way to the voices. You see your family. You are not alone in these dark woods. At last you are with your parents. You laugh with relief. Birds chirp, and you are on your way home.

(Click here to view and print Sarah and two of her classmates' Start with What Isn't There paragraphs.)

Student Sample: High School

My Room
by Brandon, 11th grade writer

I enter my room. No silence here. It is an area void of any order or neatness. I know only by faith that the floor is even there, hidden beneath mounds of dirty and clean clothes. The walls, invisible under posters and pictures, souvenirs and snapshots, haven’t seen the light of day in years.

I take a step further in, being careful to avoid what could be hiding under the mounds of stuff that buries my floor. The stereo is booming beside my bed, which is unmade. This is a room of beautiful disorder. All four walls are one big collage.

(Click here to view and print Brandon and two of his classmates' Start with What Isn't There paragraphs.