Comparing & Contrasting Ancient Sparta and Athens:
Historical Fiction Creative Writing
Prewriting-After reading about life in the city-states of ancient Sparta and Athens, consider the important aspects of life that the two city-states shared in common. List them. Then create a t-chart where you can note differences between the two cultures especially in the following areas: geographical setting or terrain upon which each was situated; system of government, economy, education, gender roles, and societal values.
Brainstorming-Review your findings and consider which of the two city-states you would prefer to have lived in if you were suddenly transported back in time. What age would you be, what gender, and from what type of family? What do you imagine a typical week in your life would be like based on what you know about each city-state? Brainstorm and write down your thoughts or notes.
Drafting-Write a narrative short story in which you imagine yourself (or your character) suddenly transported back to the time when Athens and Sparta flourished. Choose a point-of-view for your story and maintain that point-of-view throughout. Although this is a fantastic (fantasy) concept, make sure the process by which you (or your character) are transported in time would make logical sense to your audience. Choose the city-state that you prefer based on your prewriting activities. Be sure to add factual information about the setting including geographical terrain and time. Establish the social atmosphere or mood of the people that you/your character first observes. The purpose of this story is for you to show your mastery of the history standards for your city-state. With that in mind, be sure to also include plot details that reveal information about the economy, system of government, what education was like, gender roles, and societal values of your city-state. Incorporate this information within your exposition in a way that is logical and that moves the story along.
Establish your character! What is his/her name and gender? Try to choose a name that sounds like it might have been used in that area of the world. You may have to do a little research. In what type of household, if any, does your character(s) live? Describe it and the people. What types of activities does your character like doing? What physical and character traits do your characters posses? Make sure to incorporate this information into your story to give the plot credibility. Don’t forget to include minor characters in your story to interact with the protagonist, add interest, and move the plot along.
Be sure to present your character with a solid conflict. The rest of the story should detail the adventures of the character as they work to solve the conflict. The conflict should be logical and make sense. Incorporate activities and aspects of life in the city-state that you chose as you write about your characters adventures in solving the conflict. You can use your t-chart, notes, book and even independent research to help you make your story come alive and have accurate historical context.
Finally, your story needs to reach some sort of climax where the protagonist makes a major discovery that solves the conflict or he/she has a major realization that there is no real solution to their problem. Your story then needs to quickly come to its resolution. What finally happened to the character? The resolution should tie up loose-ends in the story so that your audience feels satisfied and does not have unanswered questions about what happened to the character.
REFLECTION- After you finish writing and revising your story, write an informative 3-paragraph reflection. In the first paragraph, explain why you chose that particular city-state, age, and gender. Be detailed in your explanation of what aspects of that society especially attracted you.
In the second paragraph of your reflection, explain using historical details, why you did not choose the other city-state. What things about the other did you not like? Use details from your reading and research to help you cite specific factors that caused you to prefer one city-state over the other.
In your third, and last, paragraph, explain what you liked and/or disliked about this activity and why you feel the way you do. (Be sure your 3-paragraph reflection is stapled to the rubric before you hand it in.)
Be prepared to read your story to the class and have them critique it based on the elements outlined in the assignment requirements and grading rubric.
Similarities
Sparta Athens
contrasts______contrasts
Name______Period____ City-State: Athens / Sparta Final Score: ______
160
Greek City-State Historical Fiction Culminating Activity
Pre-writing (T-chart) ______5 2 0
Brainstorming ______10------0
Historical Fiction Narrative Short Story (Worth up to 125 points)
· Consistent POV ______5 ------0
· Setting: geographical terrain accurate, visual imagery
______5 ------0
· Physical and character traits of protagonist well established
throughout plot; descriptive language used 5 ------0
· Social atmosphere/mood evident through plot events
and narrative 5 ------0
· Character interacts w/others to add interest and move
the plot along 5 ------0
· Main conflict is evident 5 ------0
· Climax 5 ------0
· Clear and satisfying resolution; no unnecessary
loose ends ______5 ------0
· Plot events follow a logical sequence; clear & easy to
understand ______5 ------0
· Narrative short story shows a mastery of the unit 80 ------20
Standards in relation to what life was like in the
chosen city-state, esp. in the following areas: comments
o Geography/topography/setting (6.4.1) ______
o System of government (6.4.2 & 6.4.3) ______
o Economy (6.4.1 & 6.4.6) ______
o Education (6.4.6 & 6.4.8) ______
o Gender roles (6.4.6) ______
o Societal values (6.4.6 & 6.4.8) ______
· Reflection ______ 20 ------0
Additional comments: ______