English I Writing EOC Retest Students: Sample Short Stories

To become better familiar with the practice and strategies of writing the 26-line story, I have begun writing 250(ish)-word stories, at least one per day. Each story is based on a prompt (not necessarily EOC-style, but they get the job done), and I do my best not to have a story in mind when I create the prompt. Occasionally, I comment on the writing process, as well.

If you'd like to see the stories, check out my other blog Wordstorm. If you'd like to write a story based on the prompt, print out a 26-line page, and have fun! If you'd like feedback, type the story into an email and send it to me.

Enjoy!

Pre-AP English II: "Haircut" Ending

In class we discussed the "unreliable narrator" (a narrator who may intentionally or accidentally obscure the truth). The barber in Ring Lardner's short story falls into this category. (Iago, in Othello may be another.)

First, read the short story, then answer the following question:

What about Jim's death is the narrator unaware of?

English I (Pre-AP): Two More "Flash" Fiction-Writing Resources

This page discusses writing stories 100 words or fewer. You should write more than that, but the page has a couple good tips, nonetheless.

Squidoo also has a flash fiction how-to page. Again, some of the material is for writing far less than you should on your End-of-Course exam, but some good observations and examples can be found, too.

English I (Pre-AP): Short short stories

Please check out this website of short-short stories. Each is 250 words or less (if you write an average of 10 words per line on your literary composition on Monday, you'll write 260 words).

I've scanned the stories and haven't come across anything classroom-inappropriate, but don't let that deter you from reading them. (Conversely, if you come across something offensive, please don't freak out.)

English I (Pre-AP): Timed Writing / Forgiveness

If you missed class today, you missed an opportunity to participate in an End of Course-style timed writing. In approximately 45 minutes (and 26 lines) please respond to the following prompt:

Write a story about the power of forgiveness. Be sure that your story is focused and complete and that it has an interesting plot and engaging characters.

At the end of the story please answer the following question: Besides the word "story" in the prompt, what are 2 other clues that you should not respond with an expository essay? (Bullet points are fine.)

English I (Pre-AP): Timed Literary Writing (Batboy)

Look at the "photograph."



Write a story about a terrifying event. Be sure that your story is focused and complete and that it has an interesting plot and engaging characters.

Maximum length: 26 lines.

Pre-AP English I: "Most Dangerous Game" Literary Writing Assignment

Bearing in mind the TEA's rubric for Literary Writing, write a short story detailing what happens to Rainsford that begins after this passage where he escapes from Zaroff by jumping into the sea:

Rainsford had hardly tumbled to the ground when the pack took up the cry again.

"Nerve, nerve, nerve!" he panted, as he dashed along. A blue gap showed between the trees dead ahead. Ever nearer drew the hounds. Rainsford forced himself on toward that gap. He reached it. It was the shore of the sea. Across a cove he could see the gloomy gray stone of the chateau. Twenty feet below him the sea rumbled and hissed. Rainsford hesitated. He heard the hounds. Then he leaped far out into the sea. . . .

When the general and his pack reached the place by the sea, the Cossack stopped. For some minutes he stood regarding the blue-green expanse of water. He shrugged his shoulders. Then be sat down, took a drink of brandy from a silver flask, lit a cigarette, and hummed a bit from Madame Butterfly.

and concludes with him coming within sight of the chateau; the story should end with the line: At last, Rainsford could see the chateau, and -- even better -- he had a plan.

Please take into account that Zaroff thinks Rainsford died in the fall and that Rainsford says at the end that he swam most of the way to the chateau.

Limit your story to 26 lines.

Incoming Pre-AP English II Students: Week 7 Reading Assignment

This week's stories deal with themes of prejudice, and therefore may be somewhat disturbing to some of you. Please do your best to get through one or both; you may have an opportunity to discuss your feelings in your responses next week.

• Barn Burning by William Faulkner (audiofile)
  
  The word niggard (more appropriately, niggardly) means "stingy," "ungenerously small" or "meager." (The fire the narrator's father builds is not a large fire; it gives off very little heat and light.) It is a different word than the racial slur that also begins with the letter N. (That word also appears in the story and if you find it necessary to refer to it in your response(s) next week, please substitute N-word or n-----.)


• Cathedral by Raymond Carver (no audiofile available)
  
  Don't do drugs. Stay in school. Hit the books; they don't hit back.

Last Year's Freshmen: EOC Writing

I'd like to get a handle on what worked for the essay and short story on the EOC -- and what, unfortunately in many cases, didn't. If you remember how you wrote your essay and story -- did you use the fake research company, did you use the characters we made in class, etc. -- or anything else about your strategies, please email me.

cmikesell-at-dallasisd-dot-org

Thanks, and have a great rest of your summer.