The stories that make up A Sense of Belonging have been chosen for their variety of style and theme, providing students with the opportunity to examine different writing models and techniques. A Sense of Belonging begins with a comprehensive account of the basic elements of short story writing (theme, characterisation, plot, setting and style), and gives students a step-by-step guide to writing their own short stories. Each story is accompanied by a selection of carefully graded activities which range from straightforward comprehension to a detailed analysis of structure and technique. Students are encouraged to make comparisons between stories, evaluate the effectiveness of dialogue and imagery, and comment on the appropriateness of the writer's style to the story being told.