Mr. Davis

English 7: Short Story

Short Story Compare/ContrastAssignment

Comparison/Contrast

Many great stories are interpreted through film. During a comparison/contrast writing piece, writers note similarities and differences between the adapted film and the original text.

Guidelines:

Subject: A film version of a short story you enjoy

Form: A comparison

Purpose: to analyze differences between film and story

Audience: Family and classmates

Writing the Compare/Contrast

When Desmond wrote his comparison/contrast of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” he focused on the following elements:

  • MEANING: The first paragraph introduces both versions and describes the message of the short story and film.
  • CHARACTERS: The second paragraph focuses on characterization.
  • KEY SCENES: The third paragraph deals with the key scenes included or excluded.Omissions are parts that have been left out.
  • THOUGHTS: The final paragraph tells what Desmond thought of the film version. Notice, it does not use first person.

You will decide which elements you wish to use for your compare/contrast. It is highly recommended that you focus on similar elements that are used to create the film’s meaning.

RESPONDING TO THE READING. Go back and view the film on your own. Think about how Desmond uses the following traits in his comparison/contrast; then answer the questions that follow each trait.

  • Ideas (1) What did Desmond notice about the film that you did not? Explain
  • Organization (2) What is the main purpose for each of the paragraphs in Desmond’s review?
  • Voice and Word Choice (3) What words show Desmond’s feelings about this poem? What transitions were used between ideas or paragraphs?

______

1-

2-

3-

PREWRITING: RE-VIEWING THE FILM

Tonight, go back and view the film again. You may find this through YouTube-just search for a version of the film. Try to find the same one we viewed in class, but other versions may work as well. Take careful notes for yourself in the four main categories:

MEANING:

CHARACTERS:

KEY SCENES:Omissions are parts that have been left out.

THOUGHTS:

  1. PREWRITING: Understanding a Short Story

The first step to understanding a story is reading it--again. Read your story quickly, scanning for the most crucial parts of the plot, and then consider the questions below.

Meaning:stories are full of meaning. To understand the meaning of your story, ask yourself the following questions:

  • (1). What is the overall message of the story?
  • (2). How do characters contribute to the meaning?
  • (3). As a viewer, which version (film or story) was better at conveying the meaning?

Characters: stories contain characters. Ask yourself the following questions to focus on characters:

  • (4). Which characters seemed to be most important?
  • (5). Were the actors appropriately chosen for the characters?

Key Scenes: Focus on the key scenes of the film:

  • (6). What key scenes needed to be in the film to make it accurate?
  • (7). How well were those scenes interpreted?

Thoughts:(8). How did you feel about the overall interpretation of the film? Was it effective? Entertaining? Was it a bore? Why?

  1. WRITING: Creating Your First Draft

With your prewriting in hand, you are ready to write the first draft of your compare/contrast. Take it one paragraph at a time.

BEGINNING PARAGRAPH: In your first paragraph, name the story (in quotation marks) and the author as well as the film director. Then summarize the story’s meaning by using information you have already gathered. End with a statement that sums up how you feel about the story based on your response to question 3.

MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS: Use questions 4-7 to write the middle paragraphs of your review. In the first middle paragraph, describe the characters of the film. In the second middle paragraph, focus on the key scenes and omissions.

ENDING PARAGRAPH: In your last paragraph, explain your feelings about the film interpretation. Leave your reader with a decisive choice as to which was better. AVOID FIRST PERSON PRONOUNS.

  1. REVISING Your First Draft

Begin the revision process with the standard CIRCLE, SLASH, and COMBINE before focusing on these more specific guiding questions with a peer reviser.

BEGINNING PARAGRAPH:

  • Does the writer introduce both the director and the author?
  • Is the title of the story in quotation marks?
  • Does the writer clearly identify the meaning of the story and explain how they feel?

MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS:

  • Are characters clearly described? Could you suggest any stronger adjectives to make them clearer?
  • Focus on the key scenes paragraph (paragraph three). Does the writer thoroughly explain which scenes were needed? Can you offer any suggestions?

ENDING PARAGRAPH:

  • Search for personal pronouns (I, me, my, our, etc.) and DESTROY!
  • Read the final sentences: does it leave the reader with a definite opinion of the story? Offer feedback as needed.
  1. EDITING YOUR Draft

Scan your paper and three other papers for glaring surface errors. Be tenacious with your scanning to ensure you don’t commit one of the fatal errors:

Spelling: check that all words are spelled correctly.

Punctuation-beware of COMMA SPLICES, and pay particular attention to the need for end punctuation.

Personal Pronouns-keep the voice of your speaker to a third person perspective. Avoid using PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

Note SENTENCE STARTERS: make sure sentences begin in different ways.

USE A TOOLBOX STRATEGY: This will be highlighted on your draft:

  • Adjectives out of order