Short Story Unit 2015 Tasks

Part 1: 1) Complete one story from each of the nine categories below. (Formative)
2) Do one more of your choice from any category. (Summative)
3) Complete a mini-summary for each story that you read. (Refer to the handout)
Value 25. One due every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting on March 25th.
Formative. The two mini-summaries for April 3rd and 6th can be handed in on either
April 2nd or 7th. The tenth mini-summary will be summative and is due on April 15th.
Part 2: Complete a Story Promotion Sheet for 3 stories that you read.
In paragraph format, it should:
- introduce the reader to the plot, main character, genre, and setting of the story
- summarize the main conflict, but not the conclusion, of the plot
- apply one of the six critical perspectives to the story
Comparisons to events, shows, or media with similar conflicts, characters, or settings are
encouraged. Be prepared to present one to the class. Length: 1 page maximum each.
Value 15. Due dates are every Tuesday; March 31st, April 7th, April 14th. Formative.
Part 3: Produce a Short Analysis Package for your favorite story that includes one exercise from
each category of: Category 1 or 2, Category 3 or 4, and Category 5 or 6.
OR: Write your own short story or screenplay that will be presented, discussed, and
reviewed in class. Short story 3-10 pages. Screenplay 6-15 pages.
Value 15. Due April 17th. Summative.
Length vs
Difficulty

Short

Intermediate

Long

Easy

Penny in the Dust

The Faceless Thing
Stains*

The Street That Got Mislaid

Division of Gravity (film, drama)
The Cat Piano (film, mystery)
Apricot (film, romance)
Blinky (film, horror)
Snow White

The Clearing
Earthquake*

A Thousand Words (film, drama)

Moderat
e

Dense

Sight (film, thriller)

Black Hole (film, dark comedy)
Candy Crime (film, drama)
ES
A Childs Dream of a Star
The Overcoat
The Old Man at the Bridge
The Cat in the Rain
Blue Against White*
Svayamvara*
The Camera (film, mystery)
Portal: No Escape (film, action)
MS
A Clean, Well Lighted Place
Hills Like White Elephants
The Coup de Grace
The Cat with Hands (film,

EI
Among the Paths to Eden
The Happy Prince
Cinderella
The Tell Tale Heart
Sunrise on the Veld
Araby
A Rose for Emily
A Chilly Evening in March

EL
The Little Mermaid
Two Kinds*
A Good Man is Hard to Find

MI
The Summoners Tale
The Wife of Baths Tale
A Sound of Thunder

ML
The Old Chief Mshlanga
The Pardoners Tale

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DS

DI

An * means the story is in the Crossroads 10 textbook.

Part 1: Formative Mini Summaries One page maximum.
Showing understanding is the goal.
These will be used to provide feedback directed at:
- improving your ability to provide supporting evidence and explanations.
- improving your application of reading strategies and conventions.
Complete a mini-summary for each story that you read. Address the following requirements in
paragraphs and complete sentences:
A. Outline the basic plot or conflict in 2-3 sentences
B. Quote and explain a section of theme, setting or character development. Identify why
it appeals to you.
C. Explain what you did, and did not, like about the story.
Make sure you also include your name and the title of the story.
Value 10. One due One due every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting on March 25th.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Part 2: Formative Story Promotion Sheet One half to one page maximum.
Conciseness and Density of writing is the goal.
These will be used to provide feedback directed at:
- Improving your creative writing style and voice.
- Improving your application of conventions for effect.
The story promotion sheet is a one pargraph write up that:
D. introduces the reader to the plot, main character, genre, and setting of the story.
E. summarizes the main conflict, but not the conclusion, of the plot.
F. applies one of the six critical perspectives to the story.
Comparisons to events, shows, or media with similar conflicts, characters, or settings are encouraged.
Use the back of a movie case or novel as an example of a promotion sheet.
Be prepared to present one of these to the class.
Value 15. Due dates March 31st, April 7th, April 14th.
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DL

Part 3:
Analysis Package Exercises. Summative. On clean white paper.
Complete 1 exercise from each category of: Category 1 or 2, Category 3 or 4, and Category 5 or 6.
Category 1 Knowledge Recall facts, terms, concepts.
Construct a plot diagram Explain why the physical
Write a well-developed
Identify and explain an
that identifies key events setting strengthens the story. three paragraph character
important theme or truth
as specific parts of the
sketch.
that the author uses to
plot.
relate to the audience.
Category 2 Comprehension Organize and interpret main ideas.
Create an artistic
Explain the details of the
Explain the importance of
drawing that represents a setting that are linked with something that the main
main event, character, or the values, ideals, or
character fails to realize for
setting in the story.
attitudes in the story.
most of the story.
Provide a reason for
using the image you
created.

What concepts or ideas

about relationships does
the author use to make the
story realistic?

Category 3 Application Problem solve by using knowledge in a different way.

Explain what you believe Present and explain ideas
Construct a flow chart that Describe how one of the
would be the best
for other settings that
shows and explains other
minor characters in the
solution to the conflict in would work well for the
options that are open to, but story would have a
the story.
story.
not taken by, the main
different view of events.
character.
Category 4 Analysis Identify motives and triggers through supporting evidence.
Make a flow chart that
Using the setting of the
Think about the actions of
Explain why the point of
shows how events in the story as evidence, conclude the main character. Why do view used in the story is
story are related by cause what beliefs the society at
they do, or believe in, what important.
and effect.
that time likely had about
they do?
issues in the story.
Category 5 Synthesis Combine details in new ways or propose different solutions.
Create an artistic collage Transpose this story into
Predict what tomorrow will Put yourself in the story.
of images that represent
the setting of one of the
bring for the main character How would your actions
key elements of the plot. others. How would this
as a result of the climax.
be similar or different
Include a short
effect your understanding
from that of the main
explanation of the
of the story?
character.
images you used.
Category 6 Evaluation Presenting and defending judgments about information and ideas.
How realistic are the
Explain whether it would
Identify the strengths and
Do people take better
events of the story in
be realistic to find these
weaknesses of the main
truths from the real life
terms of intensity and
events happening in real
character. Why do you find stories of others as
complexity?
life in the setting of the
them realistic or
opposed to fictional ones?
story.
unrealistic?
Explain your reasoning.

Value 15. Due April 17th.

Short Story / Screenplay

Should you choose the short story option over the analysis package, you will be required to write
your own unique story that follows the primary conventions of plot and story structure. Along with
this, you will also be expected to follow the proper formatting of the writing style you choose (short
story or screenplay).
Conventions:
Structure
- motivating incident
-rising action
-climax
-falling action
-resolution

Writing Traits
- content/ideas
- organization
- word choice
- voice
- sentence fluency

Style
- genre
- setting
- unique characters
- imagery
- metaphor

Formatting:
Short Story
-complete sentences
information
-proper use of paragraphs
dialogue
-punctuation
-descriptions

Screenplay
- visual, rather than descriptive,
- proper use of dialogue
- appropriate slug lines and scene changes
- active character information
- concise and short action lines

Your short story or screenplay will be presented, discussed, and reviewed in class.
Short story 3-10 pages. Screenplay 6-15 pages.
Value 15. Due April 17th.
* Remember, you choose between doing either the story analysis package OR the short story OR
screenplay.
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Links to Short Films:

-A Thousand Words: https://vimeo.com/2884813
-Sight: https://vimeo.com/46304267
-The Black Hole: https://vimeo.com/15759511
-The Camera: https://vimeo.com/32655795
-Portal: No Escape: https://vimeo.com/30064863

-Division of Gravity: https://vimeo.com/36813256

-The Cat Piano: https://vimeo.com/3985019
-Apricot: https://vimeo.com/8076064
-Blinky: https://vimeo.com/21216091