English @ CCHS
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short story writing

how do you engage a reader creatively?

No essays this week! This module is all about stretching your story development side. We'll explore a few ways to get started with a story, then draft original short stories from start to finish. 

Module summary:
  • review principles of creative writing
    • plot structure
    • "show vs. tell" in writing
    • dialogue formatting
  • pre-write with some creative warm-ups
    • tell tale cards
    • first line
    • paintings
  • draft a short story...
    • establish plot arc
    • incorporate descriptive language
    • format paragraphs and dialogue
    • participate in peer review
  • revise to perfection!
Picture
Even Tolstoy had to start somewhere!

essential questions

  • How do we add depth to stories?
  • How does the revision process strengthen our writing?
  • How does creative writing translate to other life skills?

goals

  • Students will understand that depth in stories comes from paying attention to the details and making intentional choices.
  • Students will understand that revision strengthens writing by being critical, looking for holes in the story, and ensuring ideas are expressed clearly.
  • Students will understand that key skills for creative writing - patience, trying new approaches to solve a problem, and revision - are important skills for most areas in life.

activities

Monday 
  • Literary terms and plot warm-up
  • Overview of module and syllabus
  • Discuss principles of creative writing
    • plot overview (review PPT here)
    • including balance of "show vs. tell" in writing - see handbook, pp. 22-23
  • Complete three free writes based on prompts. For each prompt, write as much as you can in 7 minutes. Try to not let your pen pause at all... just keep going, and don't worry about proper punctuation or spelling.
    1. Choose three tell-tale cards (you can find some here) and incorporate all three into a narrative somehow.
    2. Choose one first line from this list and fill in the rest.
    3. Write a narrative based on one of these paintings:
      1. Picasso's The Old Guitarist 
      2. Leonid Efremov's Alley by the Lake 
      3. Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory
  • Try more free-writes independently or start drafting a full story based on one free-write you completed

Tuesday, Wednesday
  • Work on draft of short story
  • First draft of story should...
    • include all points of plot overview
    • incorporate dialogue
    • have a balance of "tell" moments to move plot along and "show" moments to help reader engage with and visualize story
    • incorporate descriptive and sensory language
    • be 3-5 pages typed, double spaced
    • start with a catchy title ("short story" doesn't count...)
  • Complete peer review sheet with one classmate - exchange stories, read, and conference

Thursday, Friday
  • revise story content based on peer feedback
  • score your story with the Short Story Writing Scoring Guide
  • submit draft to Christine for feedback on content and style
  • revise both content and style based on Christine's feedback
  • polish mechanics
  • turn in finished draft!

c-tachs

Writing
  • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
  • Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach
Language
  • Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar when speaking and writing
  • Demonstrate command of standard capitalization and punctuation
  • Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meaning 

documents

Short Story Mod. Syllabus
File Size: 38 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Lit Terms & Plot Warm-up
File Size: 100 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Short Story WSG
File Size: 272 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Writing Dialogue
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Refer to your Reading and Writing Handbook for "show vs. tell" writing (pp. 22-23)

Picture

The Mission of Chaffee County High School

“We engage and empower our society through innovative education to make a more positive and peaceful world." 

Contact Us

  • Home
    • About
  • Research
  • Reading & Writing
  • Recent Modules
    • Connect >
      • Board Game Reviews (mini)
      • CCHS Powtoon
      • Coco!
      • Creative Writing Seminar >
        • Calvin and Hobbes
        • Pieces of art
        • Tell Tale Cards
      • Dragon Post
      • Editorializing
      • E-mail Etiquette (Dead Poet's Society)
      • E-mail Etiquette (Star Wars)
      • English Skills
      • Go Write Outside
      • HONY and Narrative Essays
      • Nature Poetry
      • Passion Project
      • Persons, Places, Things
      • Photo Essays
      • Rebel Girls >
        • Jane Goodall
      • Stereotypes
      • Teach Me Something
      • Virtual Reality-ing
      • What Music Means
    • Construct >
      • 2018 in Review
      • Book Censorship
      • Live Anywhere
      • Picture Book Inquiry
      • Propaganda Bombs
      • PSA Powtoon
      • Self-Improvement
      • State of the Union
      • Rant to Reason
      • TED Topics
      • Who Cares?
    • Be Curious >
      • Art Time is Fun Time!
      • Caper with the Classics
      • CCHS Librarians
      • Emma: Friend or Foe?
      • Fahrenheit 451
      • Found Poetry
      • Google Expeditions
      • Hero's Journey
      • Irreverence
      • Macbeth
      • Poetry
      • The Lottery
      • "Worthy" Art