Language Arts 8

Unit 1 – Look

Story Writing Project

Name: ( )

______

Complete a short story, based on the given story starter.

There are five parts to this assignment: freewriting, organizing ideas, web chart, Venn diagram, and writing.

*Read ALL parts of this assignment before you begin.*

______

PART A: FREEWRITING

Start by freewriting for ten minutes to get the ideas flowing:

( )

Total Marks for Part A: / 5

  • There is evidence of a sincere attempt to use the freewriting strategy of producing ideas.

______

PART B: ORGANIZING IDEAS

Plan your story by organizing your ideas into a point-form list, giving the main points and events of the story, including how the conflict will be resolved. The list has been started for you, below. Place your cursor after the word, “conflict,” and begin typing to add at leastten points to this list, including several major events within the rising action.

Note: to add new lines without bullets within a category, hold down the Shift key while you tap the Enter key. To add a new line with a bullet, just tap enter at the end of a line.

  • Characters -Narrator
    -Julian
  • Setting(s)-a dark forest at night
  • Conflict-

See Lesson 2 if you need to review the use of point form notes.

Total Marks for Part B: / 10

  • list contains at least ten points
  • building of conflict and resolution are evident

______

PART C: WEB CHART

Create web charts of characteristics for the two major characters in your story.

You may use the file, la8-1P-map, that you can download for this project (you don’t have to fill in every oval; be sure to save each web with a different file name), or you may use one of these other methods:

  • Use a drawing program to create your own webs.
  • Draw your webs on paper.
  • Mail the webs to your instructor, but send an email to let your instructor know they’re on their way.
  • If you have a scanner, you could scan your drawings and submit them.
  • If you have access to a fax machine, you could make arrangements to fax your drawings to your instructor.

See Lesson 2 if you need to review webbing/mapping.

Content: / 10

  • AT LEAST five details about each character included
  • personalities are well described
  • examples of each trait provided

Organization: /5

  • web format used appropriately
  • traits are identified around the character’s name
  • examples to support those traits branch off from each trait listed

Total Marks for Part C: / 15

______


PART D: VENN DIAGRAM

Create a Venn diagram, showing the shared and different characteristics or situations of the two major characters.

You may use the file, la8-1-P-venn, that you can download for this project, or you may use one of the other methods suggested above.

See Lesson 3, if you need to review Venn Diagrams.

Content: / 5

  • each character has AT LEAST three characteristics/situations unique to them
  • there are AT LEAST three characteristics/situations in the common circle

Organization: /5

  • Venn Diagram format is correctly applied
  • connections are evident

Total Marks for Part D: / 10

______

PART E: WRITING

Here is the beginning of your story. It is up to you to finish it. Using what you have learned about descriptive and narrative writing, continue the story, providing the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. Be sure to use dialogue, as well. Your story should be at least two pages long.

  • Use literary devices, such as simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.
  • Maintain the point-of-view used in the story starter.
  • Maintain the verb tense used in the story starter, and avoid unnecessary tense shifts.
  • Post your first draft in the “Editor’s Den” for feedback, and wait at least 24 hours. (Work on other assignments, or other subjects while you wait.)
  • Revise your story, making at least one major change.
  • Proofread and edit your story, using the downloaded checklist, before submitting it.

Enter your title between the blue brackets below.

Type your first draft and copy for publishing between the indicated brackets. (Or you may copy and paste from a separate Word document.)

______

STORY STARTER

Title:( )

“C’mon. I think it’s this way,” called Julian.

I hesitated. “I don’t think so. I don’t remember seeing that big rock before.” I nervously eyed the dark forest, its towering trees reaching menacingly in the deepening darkness. At the entrance to the forest path, a large, grey stone crouched like a lion ready to lunge.

“It’s a shortcut.” Julian urged me on. “C’mon! I know this place.”

I sighed and followed Julian into the forest.

First draft: ( )

Copyfor Publishing: ( )

______

Content: ( / 30)

  • title is interesting and appropriate
  • story contains the plot elements of rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
  • setting is vividly described
  • character development is present
  • dialogue is included
  • story uses literary devices effectively
  • story holds reader’s interest
  • there is a satisfying conclusion

Organization: ( / 15)

  • good sentence and paragraph structure
  • events occur in logical sequence
  • smooth transitions
  • point of view is maintained throughout
  • there is evidence of at least one MAJOR revision

Mechanics: ( / 15)

  • dialogue is punctuated correctly
  • verb tense is consistent throughout
  • attention has been paid to spelling (especially homonyms) and pronoun use
  • word choice is varied and precise (especially synonyms for “said”)
  • tone and language are appropriate for purpose and audience

Total Marks for Part E: / 60

Student Comments:

( )

Overall Total: ( / 100 )

Percent: ( )

Teacher Comments:

( )

Submit this complete assignment by depositing it in the appropriate Language Arts 8 Dropbox as soon as it is finished.