Thursday, September 26, 2019

Short Stories; The 500 Word Short Story: Day 2

Please return to read your short stories this morning. As you read, notice the format and how each author uses dialogue, setting, description, language, sentences, a hook, plot elements, and conclusions. You should read and complete a total of 3 short stories (2 from last class, or finish them...and one from the list today). You may read a 4th for extra credit during period 3.

For each short story identify:
  • POV (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person POV)
  • Identify the speaker/protagonist
  • Identify the conflict/antagonist
  • Identify the setting
  • Identify the theme or message of the story. We might also call this the premise. What is the story about?
  • How does the title help make meaning or help focus the reader's attention?
Read THREE short stories from the site (2 from last class or from your homework, since some of you refused to read last class) and an extra one. All are due today by the end of 3rd period. Use your time to read SILENTLY and answer the questions on the handout form. Record the titles and authors along with your answers on the handout to turn in for credit at the end of period 3 today. 

Then, if you did not already do so, take about 3 minutes to comment in the COMMENT section below: 

In the COMMENT section below, please leave me a comment about your favorite genre of fiction. Explain in a couple sentences why you like to read that genre or that style of fiction. What do you get out of the experience?

Period 4:

Whether you are done or not, please turn in your short story analysis handout sheets. Even if they are incomplete!

Please move on to our next assignment: The 500 Word Short Story draft. See the handout to help you. Use the handout to write a 500-word short story. Here are the rules:
  • The genre and style of your short story are completely up to you.
  • Your story should have a beginning, middle, and end.
  • Your story should have a title.
  • Consider what we learned about short stories and include some of that. See the instructions and advice on the handout as well to help you.
  • Your story should have an MLA formatted heading. Call it the 500 Word Short Story Draft #1.
  • Yes. Your 500-word short story should be only 500 words. Not 400, not 1,000, not 16,004, not 26, but 500 words. You may find it easier to write your short story then cut it back to 500 words by cutting out any unnecessary plots, details, or hum-drum or boring use of language. 
  • You may adjust your story's title to INCLUDE or REDUCE your word count to 500. To help you, a 500-word short story is about 1 full-page, single-spaced (or 2 if double spaced). To check the exact # to make sure it is 500 words, use the TOOL menu, select WORD COUNT in your Google Docs. 
  • This is an EXERCISE. It is not a statement about your ability to write, or a measure of your artistic or personal worth. It will count as your baseline fiction draft for me.
    HOMEWORK: If for some reason you did not complete the 500-Word Short Story draft today in class during our writing time, please finish it and turn the draft in by next class (turn your work in to our Google Classroom).

    14 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    Watch 'To all the boys that will one day date my daughter' on button poetry.

    Anonymous said...

    My favorite genre of reading is fiction.

    Anonymous said...

    My favorite type of fiction is coming of age.

    Anonymous said...

    Fiction

    Anonymous said...

    Non fiction - true crime

    Anonymous said...
    This comment has been removed by the author.
    Anonymous said...

    My favorite genres are fiction, and detective stories.

    Anonymous said...

    My favorite genre of fiction is horror/murder/mystery and occasionally action. I love using my brain and background clues to try to solve it before the main character does but it's challenging. If I want to solve before it's revealed I'll need to re-read multiple times and try to patch things together. I've been thinking about getting into romance but horror and mystery suits me more. I read a lot of manga like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and My Hero Academia as well as Detective Conan, so that's where I get a lot of inspiration from.

    Anonymous said...

    romance..

    Anonymous said...
    This comment has been removed by the author.
    Anonymous said...

    My favorite genres are realistic fiction and romance.

    Anonymous said...

    I prefer to read fiction thriller or fiction. I enjoy trying to figure out who killed who or who stole this before the narrator or character can reveal it.

    Anonymous said...

    I love ficional romance with species that aren't human. Werewolves and whatnot are very cliche though. Love between sirens or mythical creatures that we can learn about is pretty cool. :)

    Anonymous said...

    I like historical fiction. I like to read and write this genre of fiction because they interest me the most. I prefer stories that are based on past events because it gives them a sense of outlook and helps us imagine what it was like during that period of time. Out of the experience, I learn new facts about the world's history and the people that lived back then. This is important to me because I enjoy learning about the past, considering history is my favorite subject.

    The Graveyard Book - Discussion Questions

      In your discussion groups, please answer 5 of the 10 discussion questions. Choose a member of your group to record your answers. Make sure...