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Short Stories

Writing a Short Story

Construct the Plot

1. GET AN IDEA for your story –

It is difficult to write convincingly about things you don’t know first hand; therefore, draw upon real experiences as much as possible. Try to think of an unusual, humourous or unforgettable event.  Perhaps you can set your story in an interesting place you’ve actually visited – or set your story around a scene you’ve witnessed.

2. Identify the main CONFLICT on which your story will be based. 

3. Decide what COMPLICATIONS you will use to add to the intensity of the conflict.  What unexpected events will interfere with the plans of your character?  What occurrences will increase the reader’s involvement in the character’s problem?  How can you create suspense?  Make sure the complications you add are believable.

4. Decide on the CLIMAX.  The reader should be anxious to know how the problem will be resolved.  Remember that the climax comes very near the end of the story.  The conclusion which follows should be brief; you will ruin the story if you drag out the ending.

Create the Characters

Your characters should be convincing and lifelike.  A character should be revealed in a variety of ways.  Do not simply describe him/her to the reader.  Let him reveal himself by what he says, does, thinks.  Or let the character be developed by the attitude of others toward him, shown by their actions and their conversation.  SHOW, don’t tell. 

Beginning the Story

Whatever way you begin your story, you must capture the reader’s interest. 

Begin with :

-         a conversation between two characters with some indication of the setting

-         a description of the main character – emphasizing the key trait that will be seen in the story.

-         Describe an interesting feature of the setting.

Remember that the mood/atmosphere should be established in the beginning.

Choose a point of View

Do you want a character in the story to tell the events (first person p.o.v)?

Do you want a 3^rd person omniscient (all knowing) narrator – who can see into the minds of the characters and describe several characters’ emotions and thoughts?

Revising

1. Is the beginning effective?  Does it harmonize with the general tone of the story?  Will it arouse interest in the reader?
2. Is the conflict sharp enough to be interesting?  Is the complication plausible?
3. Does the action leading up to the climax create genuine suspense?
4. Have you made good use of contrast in your characters?
5. Is the story unnecessarily drawn out after the climax?
6. Is there enough dialogue, or could you heighten interest by making your characters talk more?  Does your dialogue help define the character and advance the plot?
7. Have you used effective synonyms for SAID?
8. Have you employed figurative language for description where it would be effective?
9. Is your title suggestive? Is it brief?  Does it reveal too much?

Happy Writing!

Developing a "real character"

Short Story Writing

Quantity Assignment #1 Due: ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

Description Prose

Description

Descriptive writing answers the question, “What is it like?” Description underlies all effective writing and is, inevitably, embedded in most other types of writing.  Through description the writer helps the reader to better understand the object, the process, place or event about which they are writing. 

Description is not a list of details; it’s not the passive experience of sitting back and looking at a scene.  It’s the story of a character’s encounter with a person, place or thing.

Observation:  Careful observation of details answers the question

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

Word Choice:  One precise adjective will serve better than four carelessly chosen.

                        Words must show as well as tell.

Element of Surprise: Challenge the reader to see something in a new way or context.

Make an impression:  Concentrate on one dominant impression that you wish to leave the reader with.

-          what it looked like

-          how it felt

-          what it meant

-          what it was worth

-          what people do with it

-          distinctive markings or

Precision:  Be as precise as possible in the description.

-          there are five senses: touch, smell, taste, sound, sight.  Appeal to your reader’s senses by making him/her feel, smell, taste and hear as well as see what you are describing. 

-          There are two other senses: thermal [temperature] and kinetic [movement]

Organized:  organize information in a way most appropriate to the subject i.e.

-          SPACE [inside to outside, front to back, etc.]

-          ASPECT [focus on one aspect, such as colour, then move on to another characteristic, like texture]

-          PERSPECTIVE [multiple perspectives paint a more complete picture of that subject; when describing wars, you could include the perspective of more experienced soldiers vs. fresh new recruits; the enemy and the allies = comparative descriptions]

-          Arrange your details in some kind of logical order that is significant

o       Inner-outer

o       Outer-inner

o       Top-bottom

o       Bottom-top

o       Edge-centre

o       Centre-edge

o       Present-past

o       Past

Resources:  Use a thesaurus (electronic or print) and dictionary to find vivid words for your piece.

Literary Devices:  Use devices such as similes, metaphors, personification etc. to make abstract concepts or unfamiliar subjects more concrete, more visual to your reader. 

WATCH OUT!

Avoid clichés:  This is part of being specific.  Clichés are tired and hurt your writing’s originality and precision. 

“He ran like a madman, she was as pretty as a summer’s day, Bob fought like a tiger…” Find some other way to visualize the scene or appeal to a different sense.  If you can’t picture it, how will you enable your reader to do so?

Course Outline

Below is the course outline for your online-referral.  Please note the

groupings for assignment deadlines:

Group A = Ankenmann ----> Legge

Group B = Lilleyman -----> Upans

ENGLISH: THE WRITER’S CRAFT

EWC 4UI

 Course Outline, February 2012

Ms. Durnin – jenna_durnin@bwdsb.on.ca

Welcome! “This course emphasizes knowledge and skills related to the craft of writing. Students will analyse models of effective writing; use a workshop approach to produce a range of works; identify and use techniques required for specialized forms of writing; and identify effective ways to improve the quality of their writing. They will also complete a major paper as a part of a creative or analytical independent study project and investigate opportunities for publication and for writing careers.” Prerequisite: English, Grade 11, University Preparation [Source: The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12: English 2007].

Text

The Writer’s Workshop by John Parker: This text contains writing ideas/topics, instruction in the revision process and mechanics and organizational and other writing skills, a glossary of terms, professional models, characteristics of the various genres, etc. Keep this text in your lockers/the classroom for use in class. If taken home, bring it back each day.

Achievement Categories

Weighting of Summative Evaluation

Example Strategies

Course Work	70%	Knowledge/Understanding; Thinking; Communication; Application
Knowledge/Understanding	15%	Quizzes, tests, Quantity and Quality projects, freewriting presentations
Thinking	15%	Open-ended questions, organizers, Quantity and Quality projects
Communication	20%	Open-ended questions, written responses in a variety of genres, debates, speeches, discussions, interviews, conferences, seminars, oral presentations
Application	20%	Quantity and Quality assignments, editing workshops/comments
Summative Evaluation	30%	Culminating Activities: Independent Project AND Writers’ Festival AND Exam

Note Bene:  The above mark distribution may be changed to suit the evolving nature of the course or changes in requirements.

Learning Skills

The following five (5) learning skills will be assessed and assigned a letter grade: Independent Work, Teamwork, Organization, Works Habits/Homework, and Initiative. E [excellent]; G [good]; S [satisfactory]; and N [needs improvement].

Definitions:

Quantity:             -write and/or revise every day (includes assigned Quantity

 assignments as well as periodic additional writing tasks)

-writing folder marked for completion and effort; teacher will take home periodically to evaluate. Daily effort is important.

Quality:                -must include a variety of genres (see below)

-marked based on degree of competence and creativity

-some assignments are compulsory

-choice within some assignments

-on computer

-must show serious effort to revise: must include prewriting, drafting,          

 editing

-must include rough work

Freewriting:                All students must lead class instruction for a freewriting activity. Freewriting activities will be discussed and scheduled on an individual basis. We will also be having a Writer’s Festival, during which we can share our best pieces of

                                                writing from the semester.

Tests/Exams:    -assess knowledge of various kinds, forms, techniques of writing, as

well as mechanical skills when writing "under pressure" and

"on demand".

One (1) Quantity assignment is due every second Monday (or the Tuesday if there is no school on the Monday for any reason). The first due date for assignments will be (Tuesday) 21 February 2012 for everyone. Thereafter, the due dates will be staggered by class groupings (see below). Quality assignment due dates will be negotiated on an individual basis as the course progresses and you develop a body of work. Keep in mind that you will need to do five (4) Quality assignments in addition to nine (8) Quantity assignments over the course of the semester!!!

Group A                                                                                              Group B

Tuesday Feb. 21                                                                               Tuesday Feb. 21

Monday Feb. 27                                                                                Monday Mar. 5

Monday Mar. 19                                                                                Monday Mar. 26

Monday Apr. 2                                                                                 Tuesday Apr. 10

Monday Apr. 16                                 8 Quantity                               Monday Apr. 23

Monday Apr. 30                                 Assignments                            Monday May 7

Monday May 14                                                                               Tuesday May 22

Monday May 28                                                                               Monday June 4

N.B.  Assignments must be handed in on time...unless there are extenuating circumstances approved by the teacher. GHSS policy is 15% maximum deduction up to 3 days after the due date. After that time, a mark of zero will be given.

Genre Choices

Use the text as well as direction/instruction/models provided by the teacher and your editor(s).

Students must complete a total of eight (8) Quantity assignments from the following list of choices. These should include seven (7) different genres. Students are also required to complete four (4) Quality assignments. These may be polished versions of any of the Quantity assignments or an original piece of work.

Caveat! Even though there is “only” a total of 12 assignments outlined here, there will be other assignments periodically which you must complete. It is imperative that you remain on task and self-motivated to be successful in this course and to get all course work completed. Budget your time wisely!

TRACKING SHEET

Use this sheet to keep track of what assignments you’ve done, marks received. Keep it in your portfolio.

Author’s Name:  ______________________________________________________

Genre Choices	Text Chapter(s)	Assignment Number/ Category	Submission Date/ Mark Received
Research Report	12, 13
Letters: e-mails, editor, business, application    [includes résumé]	17, 18, 20
Fiction [short story, screenplay, children’s literature]	1, 6
Poetry	1, 2, 7, 8, 10
Exposition: essay, demand, informative, argumentative	3, 4, 5, 16
Prose Description	2
[Auto]Biography	7, 8
Review [concert, play, film/DVD, CD, game, etc.]	9
Journalism [news article report, feature article]	14
Analysis	10, 11

N.B. Seven (7) different genres must be chosen to do eight (8) Quantity assignments.  You will also be required to do some other minor activities for a Quantity grade.

The dates for the four (4) polished Quality assignments will be negotiated on an individual basis. Two will be due in one term and three will be due in the other term.