Short Story Unit: Indiv. 9/10
For this unit, we’ll look at some literary terms and spend some time reading our first genre of literature, the short story. The first few short stories we’ll read will be super short stories, but we’ll branch out to more developed ones as we go. If you so choose, you may end up reading some quite long stories (Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Telltale Heart” is an example), but you may also choose not to read anything longer than 4 - 6 pages.
I. The Reading: The basic list of stories I’m providing is given below. You should read five of these*, and fill out a literary elements sheet for each one. You may do the literary elements sheets on the computer (they’re linked at the bottom of this page on line) or you may fill in the squares as you go. Each form counts as one h/w assignment (scored out of 10 pts).
Story Choices Provided
_______The Path Through the Cemetary--Leonard Q. Ross (read aloud on day 1)
_______ The Dinner Party--Mona Gardner (read aloud on Wed. Feb. 9)
_______ The Sniper--Liam O’Flaherty (download available)
_______ Tickits--Paul Milenski (possible download)
_______ Priscilla and the Wimps--R. Peck (possible download)
_______ The House on Mango Str--S. Cisneros (ditto)
_______ My Name--S. Cisneros (ditto)
_______ Thank You, M’am--Langston Hughes stretch option
If there are other stories (accepted literary merit; new to you) that you’re interested in, let me know and we should be able to pick a few for you.
*I may reduce the requirements for certain students if there is a good reason for it.
II. The Writing!
Once you’ve read five of these stories and have completed five lit. elements sheets, you should pick the one you think is the best and write a letter to the author, complimenting him/her on his/her work and discussing why you think it’s so good. Your first draft should contain:
A greeting;
An introduction that explains who you are, the purpose of the letter, and the overall reasons that you liked the story.
At least one body paragraph that gives really explains why you liked the story: use the literary elements language we’ve learned, and then give specific reasons that this particular conflict was interesting or protagonist was likable.
NOTE: one developed paragraph will probably = C. If you’re looking for a B(good) or an A (excellent) grade, you will want to include more paragraphs in your body.
A concluding paragraph that provides a clear, polite closing to your letter.
A closing like “Sincerely,” or “Warmly,” or your own choice, followed by your signature.
Once you have a first draft, you should hand it in to me (h/w grade) and I’ll edit it and return it to you, then you should revise your work and finally hand a final draft in to me--that counts as 100 points in the writing category! The final letter draft should be in to me by Friday, Feb. 18. IF YOU ARE ABSENT YOU SHOULD FIRST-CLASS ME YOUR FINISHED DRAFT!
So: reading and lit. elements sheets done by Tuesday, Feb. 15. ________
First draft to me by end of class on Wed. Feb. 16. _________
Thursday should be a very quiet day as everyone is working hard on his/her final draft. . .
Final draft to me by Friday, Feb. 18--then have a great break with nothing hanging over your head! _______