SHORT STORY ASSIGNMENT (60 pts)
From the beginning of human history, people have loved hearing stories. Storytelling satisfies our need to experience adventure and explore ideas without ever leaving the comfort of our armchairs. But storytelling can be challenging for the writer, who is expected to introduce characters and setting, create conflicts and problems—and solve them—all withina matter of a few pages.
The Assignment: Write a story of at least 750 words about a character or set of characters who face a problem/dilemma and must find a way to solve it. Make sure that your story, no matter how original or creative, is tied to reality in some way. Even though the Harry Potter books take place in a fantastical world with magical elements, the problems the characters face very closely mirror our own. If the reader does not care about your characters, then you have not achieved your aim as a storyteller.
Very Important! Make sure your story has a point, possibly a theme, moral, message, or layers of meaning that make it worth reading.
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Prewriting:
Use the space below to begin mapping out your story idea. If you cannot think of a story idea, use your character worksheet to help you get started. Don’t be afraid to borrow and adapt something that has happened in your real life. Or read some bizarre news stories to get inspiration.
Please copy the following story map into your notes.
Writing Checklist
Here are a few of the things I will be looking for in your story:
_____A. Setting - Have you described the time and place appropriately? Do they contribute to the mood, plot, or characterization?
_____B. Characters - Do you have a main character who is well-developed? Are the other characters developed as well using description, dialogue, thoughts, and actions?
_____C. Point of View – Do you tell the story from a clear point of view—either 1st person (using “I”) from the perspective of your main character or 3rd person omniscient (an objective narrator who narrates the story using “he,” “she,” and “they”)?
_____D. Dialogue – Have you included dialogue and conversations that develop character and/or advance the plotline of the story? (All dialogue must be essential to the story.) See dialogue formatting:
Bobby Weeks had just had the worst week of his life. Having gotten kicked out of his old school, his parents decided to enroll him in a military academy. From his first day there, the other guys stared him down and gave him attitude. The teachers looked at him as if he were a criminal. And who could blame them? He sort of was.
“Does anyone know who wrote ‘The Tell Tale Heart’?” Mr. Lewis asked, twirling his mustache around with his finger.
“Is it Shakespeare?” said a nerdy kid who sat in the front of the classroom.
“No, I’m afraid not,” Mr. Lewis said, turning his attention to Bobby. “Mr. Weeks, perhaps you can enlighten us since you were a junior last year, too.”
Bobby stared at the teacher with rage in his eyes, trying very hard to remain in his seat. “Edgar Allan Poe,” he said calmly.
“And what can you tell us about Poe, Mr. Weeks?” Mr. Lewis asked.
“He was an author known for writing about madmen and murderers, characters who could act out his darkest fantasies.” He glared back at Mr. Lewis, hoping his teacher felt as frightened as he did.
_____E. Conflict - Does your story have a strong conflict or problem introduced early on?
_____F. Climax - Have you developed the conflict by using complications and reversals? (The ups and downs of the roller coaster) Do these events lead to a climax?
_____G. Resolution - Does the problem get resolved? Remember, a resolution does not always need to be a happy one.
_____H. Style - Did you consistently show, not tell? Does your story have a unique style, with concrete nouns and adjectives, vivid verbs, and varied sentence structure?
_____I. Overall Theme - Does your story have a point? Does it have a message or moral or guiding concept that makes it satisfying?
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Your grade: ______/60