Short StoriesUnit

Short Story Project You will choose a partner and a short story (from a hat) of 8-

13 pages to read. Take notes on setting, characters, and conflicts.

Write a summary of your story. Create a graphic organizer for notes on author’s life, setting(s),

characters, conflicts, themes, and symbols. You may choose to illustrate some or all of these elements.

Illustrate a scene from your story. Identify one passage from the story that is important and read it

to the class. Explain why this is important. [It might explain a character’s behavior, illustrate a conflict, or clarify a theme].

Choose a piece of music that represents something (ex: theme, character, or conflict) in your story. Be sure to explain how the music is connected to your story. BRING ME A COPY OF THE LYRICS FOR APPROVAL THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PRESENTATION.

When your group presents, you must have an aim for your lesson and a “connect to your life” activity discussion.

Stories “The Devil and Tom Walker” p. 349-359 “Gary Keillor” p. 424-433 “The Mask of the Red Death” p. 454-461 “A Rose for Emily” p. 516-524 “The Life you Save May be Your Own” p.

528-538 “A Mystery of Heroism” p. 593-601

More “The Legend of Gregorio Cortez” 702-717 “The Yellow Wallpaper” p 765-778 “The Man Who was Almost a Man” p. 1045-

1054 Richard Wright “Hostage” p. 1200-1209 “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” p. 500-513 “I Stand Here Ironing” p. 806-813

Connect to Your Life

You may create your own link between the story and life, OR

You may use the one provided in the text book (either on the page before the story begins, or from the questions at the end of the story).

Author’s Life / Setting

Characters

Conflicts Themes Symbols

There is a brief bio of the author at the end of each story.

Class notes

Narration: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person narrator? How do you know?

Plot: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution

Characters: flat, dynamic, static? / purpose in the story

What are the author’s messages? (themes)

Illustration of a scene

You may illustrate an important scene from your story on drawing paper

OR You may use computer graphics to

create a representation of the scene.

Key Passage, page

Read it Explain why it is important to the

work as a whole.

Musical tie-in Choose a piece of music that

represents something (ex: theme, character, or conflict) in your story. Be sure to explain how the music is connected to your story. BRING ME A COPY OF THE LYRICS FOR APPROVAL THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PRESENTATION.

Presentation Directions: Each presenter will receive a grade based on

Voice ……………………. (15 pts.) Eye contact ……………… (15 pts.) Body language …………… (10 pts.) Content of project ………... (60 pts.)

Audience will take notes on the presentations and write one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement for the presenters.