Your Points:

___/30 San Pasqual Academy

English 9 & 10 - Ms. Priester/Ms. Na’im
“Notes from a Bottle” SPA Flood Message in a Bottle
Directions:
Write a message from the point of view of a student who is living through the last three days of a catastrophic flood at San
Pasqual Academy. Put the message in the bottle for until it is opened and read.

Situation:
Pretend that you are in a situation similar to the narrator of “Notes from a Bottle.” However, instead of being in an
apartment building in New York City, you are in a building at San Pasqual Academy. In order to share your story with any
survivors, you write notes in the form of a journal and seal them in a bottle. Tell your story over the course of three days
of severe flooding using ambiguity, concrete sensory details, and emotions and feelings.

Pre-writing:
Jot down a few of your ideas in the spaces below. Plan to include ambiguity, concrete sensory details, and emotions and
feelings. Your final written copy of your story must be at least 150 words in length; that is an average of 50 words per
day.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

(__/3)

Writing:
On a sheet of paper, write your invented journal entries.

Remember to:
o date each entry (__/2)
o be creative (__/2)
o use ambiguity--don’t reveal the source of the water or the narrator’s fate (__/7)
o include at least three sensory details—sights, sounds, smells, feelings/touch, & tastes (__/2)
o share the narrator’s emotions and feelings (__/2)
o use a total of 150 words (__/4)
o write in complete sentences, using correct spelling, and legible handwriting (__/4)
o stick to topics that are classroom appropriate – I will not accept your assignment if it is inappropriate.

Completion:
When you are finished, write your number in very small handwriting on the back of your letter. Do not put your heading on
it. Then, neatly roll it up and place a small amount of tape to secure it and keep it closed/rolled up. Place the note in the
basket, before the bell rings. (__/4)

Sharing:
Tomorrow, we will share and read everyone’s notes.

N.Priester 12/2/2009