Block Day, December 1 & 2 ~ Let's Talk About Our Short Stories

Roots

• macr, macer - lean
• magn - great
• mega - great

FYI: 

• Roots Quiz on Tuesday, December 6
• Short story due on Block

Prompt: Write a mighty tale of nobility, courage, and grace.  Your story must....

• be full of adventure,
• teach something noble, 
• In general, your work will be descriptive.  Please read this overview of the basics from Purdue University on descriptive writing. 

Format

• Typed MLA (12 point, Times New Roman, proper margins, etc.)
•  
• All prose must be double spaced and punctuated according to modern MLA usage. 

Requirements

• Two or more pages (double spaced, at least 850 words)
• Less than 2,100 words (fewer than five pages)
• Your story must include all the steps of Plot.
• Example Contest Winner from Bookshop Santa Cruz: "Among the Trees" by Breanna Eddy 

Due Dates

• Your short story is due Block Day, December 8 & 9.
• 5 extra credit points if you turn it in on Wednesday!

Your Grade

• If you are short of the minimum, you will earn no more than a D. When completed, the story should be free of typos and grammatical and spelling errors. In general, 2 errors or fewer on any page =A-, 3-5 errors on any page=B-, and 6 or more errors on any page =C- or lower. Failing to adhere to the themes or neglecting to meet any of the other standards on this handout will result in a significantly lower grade. Fragments and run-On sentences are major deductions.
• You may not include pieces written for other classes (past, present, or future) or for other assignments in this class. You will fail this assignment if you do so.

Start it early, and write something you are proud of.  Work to make it wise in its theme, rich in its descriptive imagery, and clever in its execution. Consider all the tools of the writing craft that we have examined in other stories. 

How can I get started? 

• Is there a lesson or theme you want to aim for?
• Identify a protagonist; think of people you actually know.  Change them up a wee bit. 
• Identify an antagonist (character, internal conflict, natural force, or other combination). 
• Use the STEAL chart to brainstorm character traits.
• Consider how you will generate tension between the protagonist and the antagonist? 
• Share ideas.

In Class Today: You will have 30 minutes to clean up your journals (15,16,17) if you need to. They are due by 3:30 Friday afternoon. For those of you who are all caught up, move on to Journal 18 - The Gift of the Magi.

Short Story #4 - The Gift of the Magi

EQ: What is irony? 

Words to know:

• parsimony - extreme unwillingness to spend money
• mendicancy - beggar
• appertaining - belonging to 
• depreciate - to lessen the price or value
• meretricious - superficially attractive
• prudence - exercising good sense; careful 
• patent - official
• scrutiny - careful examination
• inconsequential - not important    

 Journal 18 - The Gift of the Magi - Critical Thinking Questions

1. What are the instances of irony in the story?

2. What is the significance with the number 3 in the story?

3. Several passages in the story reveal subtle clues about Jim. Identify three passages that reveal something about Jim's character and explain their significance.

4.Why does the author use the allusions of King Solomon and The of Queen Sheba?

5. How would the story change if it was told from Jim's POV?

6. Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?  

7. Is there foreshadowing in this story? Give an example.

8. Does the story end in the way you expect? Explain.    


HW for West's Class: Complete the journal for The Gift of the Magi and complete a STEAL chart as a brainstorm for the main character of your own story. This will be worth 10 points on Monday.