narrative-'I warned you'

 prank war, mc walks into a trap, boys vs girls, annoying bsf but turns out she was right all along

I flitted down the hall, darting around the corners lightly. Georgia meandered behind, hands in pockets as she hummed nonchalantly. 

"Georgia!" I hissed, snapping my head back to glower at her. "This prank war means everything-do you know how humiliating it will have to be to clean boys' toilets for a month if we lose?"

Georgia, unfazed, raised an eyebrow. "Your fault for getting into cohorts with Smelly Benny." She sniffed.

A plethora of unkind words was ready to burst through my lips, however I swallowed them down and proceeded to slink down the lockers. My mingled dread and regret left an unsettling sensation in my stomach-I should have not associated with Smelly Benny, Georgia was right. So much for blending in.

However, the torment Smelly Benny and his gang of like-minded, spotty stooges had tormented the girls of Silverlake High for too long. I was doing this for my women. Forcing him into ignominious retreat would mean our days of terror would be over.

I skulked down the hallways. The lights flickered-I froze, a deer in headlights. Georgia yawned as she trundled behind. "No use being sneaky," she murmured. "Benny's the king of pranks-his disappearance is leading you into a trap."

"I know what I'm doing, he has tutoring! Have faith in your best friend and her glorious egging prank!" 

Georgia's caustic expression said it all. I sighed, moving further down the morose, grey hallway. 

Here I was. This was now or never-my chance of winning. I could taste the victory. My mouth split into a complacent grin. Hand gripped onto the Math Class's door handle, egg box in hand and a reluctant best friend by my side, I swept the door open in passionate valour.

At least two cartons of eggs toppled down onto my head before I could even prepare myself. Squawking, I shrieked for Georgia as the nauseating orange gloop sank into my eyes. Egg shells scattered my uniform, as I miserably stared at the mucus-like substance drip down to my shoes. 

My cheeks burned, averting the gaze of what I knew was a triumphant Benny (who, as of right now, was no longer the smelliest). I turned to Georgia, heart sinking in my chest as I could almost envision all the urinals I'd be scrubbing for the next four weeks. 

Georgia's voice floated over my hung head. "I did warn you, you know."

Persuasive:prolonged effects of daily exercise

 30MIN

-mental health, appreciation of life, inclusiveness

-dangerousness of obesity, stiff joints

-attractive body, posture, height

Daily exercise varies in endless forms. However, whether you're getting those 10,000 steps in, the half-hour of gymnastics or a few laps in the pool, it's easy to agree that all types are beneficial as long as they're done on the daily. Look at the people who promote this! Their mental health is superb, they live far more than the expected age and frequent exercise is rightfully associated with attractive people. This is no coincidence-no matter who or where you are, daily exercise will always benefit you.

Health is a major concern for anyone, whether it's to improve or maintain good health. Regular exercise is the key to surefire long-term health. The growing population of obese people are shortening average life spans, as we lose loved ones and friends to diseases affected by a lack of exercise such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Don't make the choice to ruin your health when you have the option to improve it.

When talking about the benefits of exercising often, not only your physical health improves. Alone time (or the opportunity to socialise!), mindfulness, a greater appreciation of life and good character are things that automatically come along. What's better than teaching yourself commitment and hard work, while being able to interact with nature? Daily exercise can even double as free meditation, a part of the day where you don't have to stress or think. That's how versatile it is!

Your mental health also improves with the added confidence in your body image. Who doesn't want to be looking their best? Exercise of any kind tones your body to an extent, and there are even exercises to target certain areas you want to trim down. Regular training gradually improves your posture as you're no longer slouching on the sofa, and instead putting your muscles and bones to good use. It's that simple, yet you'll be feeling better in your own skin-after all, why wouldn't people exercise when they want to look attractive?

So don't laze about! Even a mere daily trundle down the street could add years to your lifespan. Why waste time trapped in your home when you could be happier, healthier, social and more confident? It's the simplest, yet easiest and most versatile tool. So don't waste your potential while you still have time-it's now or never.

narrative-the day i became blind

 Bleakly opening my eyes, the air felt hot and stuffy as I seated myself up. My mouth stretched into a yawn as I fumbled for my glasses. My fingertips brushed against the bedcovers. 

Dread chilled my insides. There was no familiar feeling of the metal frame running along my fingertips. It hit me-I had foolishly smashed them and they were withering away in some drawer or other.

I would have to go blind for the day.

I fumbled my way downstairs, yelping as my foot slipped every now few steps. Thudding down the stairs half awake was not pleasurable. I felt as if I was a newborn deer stumbling to the kitchen, but at least I could utilise my other senses.

"Morning!" My mother chirped as I stumbled into the kitchen, squinting. The view was almost indiscernible but the room was redolent of fatty fried bacon and eggs, the silverware clinking as she resumed what I guess was the washing up. The blurry blob hunched over the sink shuffled over. The same convivial tone floated in my direction.

"Oh, right, you broke your glasses."

I almost scoffed-the lack of remorse in her tone! She must have been livid about buying new glasses. 

I blindly scraped my plate, almost stuffing a forkful of scrambled eggs into the corner of my mouth. 

"Don't laugh," I snapped as I felt my parents chuckle in my peripherals. 

Four times I had splattered toothpaste all over the floor trying to get it onto my toothbrush. Feeling utterly vacuous as I stared at the blob in the mirror, my anxiety and dread mingled in my stomach, leaving an unsettling taste. How was I to survive a whole school day half blind?

Putting on my jacket for the fifth time after wearing it backwards, I could feel tears obscuring my already blurred vision. How was I to walk to the bus stop? Could I even cross the road? What would my peers even say?

Storming out of my room (albeit cautiously), I slammed the door. I trudged down the hallway once I knew I was going in the right direction. My dad murmured a greeting. I haughtily tossed my head in what I assumed was the opposite direction-I had no time for those who didn't need to suffer just to see. 

"Wait up!" My mum sang from behind me. "Forgot something?" 

Halfway out the door, I whipped my head around to give the coldest glare I could muster. "What?"

A weathered, warm hand gently clasped mine and I felt a cold object drop in my palm. I ran my fingers along it, my face twisting into exasperated confusion. The familiar, smooth texture of spectacle lenses immediately made my tensed shoulders collapse. I heaved an immense sigh.

"It was fun watching you fumble about all morning," my mum teased. "Be glad I felt bad enough to remind you we got spares." 

persuasive-Team sports means good character

 plan

-practicing good leadership, good listening skills, cooperation

-you may not like it but it's essential especially in the future

-teams often achieve more than a singular person does so it's important to be good at teamwork

30MIN 

Good character is a trait that seems we all own, deep down inside us. However, it's obvious that those who play teams sports have more morals than others. This is no coincidence-many essential life-changing skills such as teamwork, respect, listening skills and even good leadership can be strengthened with the help of team sports. You may not like it, but being in a team will be something everyone will have to experience one day. So not only physical abilities are strengthened with team sports!

As previously mentioned, traits such as good leadership, listening, cooperation and compassion are enhanced when being able to apply them in team sport. As a team, you will all have to overcome obstacles and work out solutions for them if you want to succeed. Maybe the team is lost and it'll depend on a reliable leader to put things back in order. Maybe you're sharing ideas, meaning you'll have to listen respectfully and earn the appreciation of others. You don't even have to try too hard-these skills practice themselves, while you work on the playing!

These traits will always come handy, no matter where you are in life. Almost any and every job requires some social interaction. Impressing in-laws, new friends or even becoming a parent becomes smooth sailing once you learn the ropes of teamwork. You can get what you want, along with the joys that come with being social and knowing you have things in control. I mean, who doesn't want to be likeable?

You might be saying how there are some aspects of life that are better done independently. However, although you can always go alone, you'll find you can achieve more as a team. You can be a skilled soccer player, but can you score, block and pass all the balls by yourself? Has anyone-no matter how strong or prepared-been able to climb Mount Everest without at least the help of  a few others? It's often that people want to go independent to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour-on the other hand it feels more like a victory when it's celebrated with other people who worked equally as hard.

Since good character is so necessary for navigating through life, it's important we can utilise it in team sports. Does a person who wants to do everything by themselves and not have good social skills sound likeable? This is why so many athletes who participate in team sports are admired-sometimes brawn really does equal brain.

narrative writing: challenge

25MIN

 I wiped my clammy palms on my frock. Thickly swallowing, I averted my gaze to the lighting above. All these years of competing, yet I still had never gotten over my stage fright.

Being a talented pianist was natural. Going alone, I could play the most complex of rhythms. It was only that act of playing in front of others that brought out my stage fright. Almost ignominious considering how important competitions were. As a reticent, yet passionate player, it wasn't the playing but rather the social interaction that left me dumb. This would be my biggest challenge yet.

So, ambling up the stairs, I internally winced as the click-clacking of my shoes echoed throughout the auditorium. The hushed  audience's eyes pierced me, as did the harsh, splitting lights. Several grades' worth of piano seemed to suddenly abandon me as I stood there gawking in my gaudy attire. Every eye seemed to scan me over-even the resplendent piano onstage glaring down at me. 

I shrunk back into my dress, making absolutely no eye contact with anyone so as to not exacerbate the drying of my mouth, the sweat dampening my back. What had all my hard work come to?

I awkwardly shuffled over and slipped into the seat. Posture? Ok. Dress? Looking good. Nerves? Work in progress.

My gaze floated over to the audience. I felt my mother's stare burn into my peripherals. I gulped and quickly turned back, resting my slick fingers on the keys. 

A warm feeling of familiarity spread from my fingertips, expanding throughout me. The melody and finger positioning came back to me-my love of piano hadn't deserted me. Inhaling deeply, my eyes fluttered shut as I brushed away all the jitters.

And so I began the journey of challenging not only the best contestants in the country, but by far the most formidable one-myself.

Why sport is for fun, not competition-persuasive

30MIN

-you can't enjoy it if you're constantly pushing yourself

-nothing is enjoyable under pressure, stress

-influence on others, moving should be for enjoyment, others would exercise more if they saw it was fun

Most of us have mixed opinions on whether sport is enjoyable or not-however this usually depends on the type of sport involved, and often the latter is said about competitive sports. Grueling exertion, or lighthearted fun and games? Which one sounds better? It's impossible to enjoy sports if the competition means you're constantly pushing yourself and stressing yourself out. And since exercise is such a good thing, others should be able to see that sport for the fun activity it is instead of the drudgery that competition turns it into. Because what is life if you're not enjoying it?

In competitive sports, you're always pushing yourself to do better than others; otherwise you'll fall behind. If you simply did exercise for the fun of it, participating wouldn't be so hard because you'd have the passion for it, and you'd know you could pace yourself. In cases like these you may even perform better because you'd have the motivation. I mean, why try competing and pushing yourself so hard when you don't even enjoy all the forced effort?

The stress that competitive sports bring can be destructive. The desperation to win this or do better than others (instead of simply doing it for your own personal enjoyment) can drive people to do dangerous things such as take drugs or medication to cheat-which is already a bad thing in itself. If you do sports for fun, you're only concerned about the amount of enjoyment you're experiencing-not a medal! This is why many athletes also become slaves to competition, and it's sad how their lives revolve around trying to better others. 

If you want to convince others that sport is fun, they'd be more obliged towards participating in enjoyable sports rather than something as daunting as training for hours just either wallow in your own guilt for losing, or live in glory for a few seconds before you're back to square one and have to keep competing. Exercise is healthy for your heart rate and internal organs. Even your mindset improves with stress-relieving sports. But the only way to convince society that they should participate in sports is to make movement enjoyable-this simple solution would fix things such as health problems with the elderly, or the growing population of obese people.

Exercise is fun-perhaps one of life's greatest gifts. And a bit of friendly competition is always interesting and enjoyable. But to strain yourself and not even enjoy it? To go to extreme measures just to win something? That is what convinces so many people that they shouldn't exercise, and it's time we put that behind us. Sports is a pleasure, not a punishment.

Narrative: Surprise

 30MIN

office workers surprising the boss, they accidentally surprise the wrong person perhaps an annoying character

I flitted around the room, rummaging through the papers and shoving miscellaneous items aside. 

"Sorry, Mary," Alexandra said, shuffling past me awkwardly with her face obscured by several binders. I grunted at the awkward positioning. 

"No problem," I called back. "Make sure to get boss's cake here while Peter distracts him."

The exhaustion was starting to set into my eyes. Imagine directing a dysfunctional office for the whole day without your morning coffee-not to mention this nasally, vacuous fool totting around doing the chores that require least attention.

Just for today, the gaggle of nine-to-five office drones had turned into party planners. Paperwork and coffee duties had turned into decoration and party-planning. Even the most morose of workers had a ghost of a smile on their face as biscuits were iced and streamers were hung. It didn't matter that the Big Boss wasn't the most favourable-the fact that for once he had allowed the office to do something for his birthday sent waves of relief and jubliance over us all.

Even as Boss was due to arrive in five minutes and counting, stressing over party decor and catering was far better than computer programming.

Evan burst into the room, his ruddy face pink with exasperation. 

"Peter stuffed up," he wheezed. "Boss thinks something bad's up and he's coming over to check." 

At that moment, every breathing organism in the room seemed to stiffen with fear. The stifling silence sent a chill over me. Alexandra once again dropped all the folders, mumbling apologies as she awkwardly scrambled after them.

I clapped sharply, disturbing the spell that had come over us all. 

"No time to stop, then!" I yelled. "Let's go get this done!" At this everyone seemed to wake up and rushed back to their previous duties, the previous hubbub recuperating. Ties flew as the boys delivered paper work and stuffed party hats on each person. 

"The cake!" Someone shrieked. Dread filled me. Alexandra darted out of the room, and all I could do was hope that she wasn't going to water the plants again for the fifth time today. 

Boss's muffled voice emanated from behind the walls. We froze once again, glancing at each others with owl-like eyes. The lights flickered. 

"Whatever, cake comes later!" I hissed, straightening the frilly cone-shaped abomination on my head. "Everybody hide now!"

We dove under the desks, several women squealing as their skirts stretched. Every person crouched in their cubicle, anticipating the emergence of the Big Boss. Party blowers poised, streamers in hand, everything we had prepared for came down to this moment.

The door swung open.

"Surprise!" We hollered, streamers, confetti and the like shooting into the air. A few relieved workers cheered and clapped as the person behind the door shuffled in.

Alexandra, armed with a mug of fresh coffee in her hand beamed over us all as she squeezed her portly figure through.

"Aw, you guys didn't have to," She chirped. "It's not even my birthday!"

Handwriting should no longer be taught in schools

For centuries, possibly since education came into existence, school-age students were taught to hand-write and practice good penmanship. However, needs have changed and it's no longer as necessary. It's a waste of time for everyone involved! In modern society, other things matter more than pretty letters and writing specific spaces apart. Handwriting is simply so easy to practice and fit outside of school hours that while it's convenient, it's not important enough that it should be taking up teachers, students and parents' time.

Absolutely everyone wastes precious resources on handwriting. Parents pay for supplies, teachers waste time teaching it, and students waste precious brain space and time that could be spent learning more valuable things on fitting letters in between lines. Would you rather your child be learning important life skills such as managing money instead of handwriting? Handwriting wouldn't help a child in life as well as being able to spell properly would. In the end, all this effort goes into such a tedious subject that won't have much beneficial outcome.

And before you start going on about how much handwriting has helped people over the years and how people in history have benefited from good penmanship, do remember we live in a modern society. This is one where the quality of our words matters more than how pretty they are, where we can find ways around bad penmanship. New-age technology allows us to use typing, voice recording, and illustration (to name a few ways) to carry out our ideas without having to write. In the past passing on and retaining information could only be done using the written word so it was of more importance, but now as more and different life skills are required and we can use what assets we have handwriting classes are no longer essential.

When I say 'no longer essential', I mean in school. Of course good handwriting has a few advantages, but not enough for it to become compulsory to learn in the classroom. Important skills such as math and english should be taught by professionals who know how to carry out the right information fruitfully. It's easier to squeeze in handwriting outside of school hours, since it's far more simple to self study and practice writing the alphabet for a few minutes. You could make your own resources, such as lined paper, instead of having to waste money on handwriting books that are used only a few times! 

Isn't it simple to see how tedious and resource-wasting handwriting classes are? Not only are there other ways to practice it without having to waste the time of everyone involved, there's more freedom to invest in more important subjects. Times have changed. Don't restict the promising and budding generation of our future to writing in between the lines!