Before class on Wednesday, March 23, students will…

  • Finish writing a short story based on your Journal 4 entry. Remember, you must tell it in Third Person and write 350-400 words! (Details are on the Assignment page for Week 7.)
  • By class time on Wednesday, create a post, title the story Full Name, Short Story 1 (First Draft), and save it under the category Short Stories.
  • Write a paragraph critique of Le Guin’s work. What did you enjoy? What questions/suggestions do you have for the author? Title it Full Name, Le Guin Critique. Post it under Discussions by class time on Wednesday, March 23.

During class on Wednesday, March 23, we will…

READ, WRITE, & DISCUSS:

  • My Announcement on POV.
  • We’ll look at a picture and write mini stories about the picture (150-300 words). Please title your story Full Name, POV Story for Picture ___ under Assignment Posts. (Be sure to insert A, B, or C in the blank space.)
  • I’ll divide the class into three groups and post the pictures in the Course Profile: POV Story, Group A (last name A through H), POV Story, Group B (last name I through P), or POV Story, Group C (last name Q through Z).
  • You will take 20 minutes and do the following:
  1. Look at your picture (only your picture–it’ll spoil the activity otherwise).
  2. Write a short (very short) story in the Third Person about the picture (again, 150-300 words).
  3. Answer the following questions in your story and post it under Assignment Posts. Title it: Full Name, POV Story for Picture ___ under Assignment Posts. (Be sure to insert A, B, or C in the blank space.):
  • Who is involved?
  • What is happening?
  • Why is this happening?
  • When did this happen?
  • Where did this happen?
  • Have fun with this–answer the questions in your story as best you can! We’ll see how many different stories can be drawn from these pictures!

Here’s an example of a story I wrote in eight minutes:

Example Picture

Evelyn and Maria are sisters. They’ve never spent more than a day apart. Neither of them drive anymore–Evelyn’s eyesight is pretty bad and Maria’s is even worse. Each Saturday, one of their grandchildren drives them to the supermarket so they can buy groceries. Evelyn sits up front because she’s a better navigator than Maria. Maria comments on the grandchild’s driving skills. The sisters often argue with one another about their purchases on the way home. Evelyn thinks that Maria buys too much red meat and Maria thinks Evelyn buys too much vodka.

  • Obviously, many different stories could be drawn from this picture, but that’s what I wrote in eight minutes. Note that I answered all the questions and shared the sisters’ personalities–all using third person!

Please note: Your picture will be different from the Example Picture!

  • After the time is up , we’ll go to Student Assignments and read at least three stories that weren’t in your letter group!
  • That means if you are in Group A, find stories that were in Group B or C. If you’re in Group B, find stories that were in Group A or C, and so on.
  • Comment on the stories. What did you enjoy? What questions/suggestions do you have for the author?

WORKSHOP:

  • Send the link to your short story to your Cohort and review your Cohort’s work.
    • Remember to email it to your Cohort and me (creative.writing.citytech2@gmail.com).
  • People may have been added to your Cohort, so be sure to check the page with the names of students.
  • It is YOUR responsibility to send your short story link to your Cohort. If your Cohort doesn’t receive anything from you, they aren’t responsible for your story.
  • Read and respond to your Cohort’s stories by the due date under “After class” using the worksheet on the Course Profile, titled “ENG1121 Critique for Short Story 1.”

After class, students will…

  • Write Journal Assignment 5: Write about a moment from your past that changed you. It can be a large or small change—but focus on what, exactly, happened and how you changed. Title it Full Name, Journal #5 and save it under the category Journals by Wednesday, March 30.
  • Respond to your Cohort’s work by class time on Wednesday, March 30 and email it to them and me. (Remember, these critiques are worth 20% of your overall grade!)
  • Read Chapter One from Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer.