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IWW Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: This is Classified (Version 2)

These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop (http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).

Prepared by: Florence Cardinal
Posted on: May 18, 2003
Reposted on: September 5, 2004
Reposted on: September 11, 2005
Reposted, revised, on November 12, 2006
Reposted, revised, on April 22, 2007
Reposted on: June 29, 2008
Reposted on: July 19, 2009
Reposted on: September 16, 2012
Reposted on: May 1, 2016
Reposted on: May 17, 2020
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, tell a story, or give us the beginning of one, that
explains what prompted someone to run a classified advertisement that you find.

Be sure to include the ad and credit the source at the beginning of your sub. Stick
to the information given--don't change the family dog to a cockatoo, or substitute
a pair of glass slippers for the wedding gown.

-------------------------

This is another in the "inspiration is everywhere" category.

Have you ever read the classified ads in the newspaper and wondered about the
story behind some of them? For example:

"FOR SALE: Wedding gown, Size 8. Never worn. PH: XXX XXXX."

Why didn't the woman wear her wedding gown?

Or:

"TO GIVE AWAY: Five-year-old male cocker spaniel. Great with kids. Family pet.
Looking for a good home."

Why are these folks giving away the family dog?

Find such an advertisement in a daily or weekly newspaper old or new, a community
bulletin board, or at Craig's List: http://www.craigslist.org/about/cities.html

-------------------------

Exercise: In 400 words or less, tell a story, or give us the beginning of one, that
explains what prompted someone to run a classified advertisement that you find.

Be sure to include the ad and credit the source at the beginning of your sub. Stick
to the information given--don't change the family dog to a cockatoo, or substitute
a pair of glass slippers for the wedding gown.

-------------------------

Critique: Do the characters come to life in your imagination? Were you intrigued
by the plot? By the end of the story, did you clearly understand why the item
was offered for sale?


Web site created by Rhéal Nadeau and the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.