Page 39 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade6_Flipbook

Writing Workshop 4 (continued)
My Notes
2. What are some elements that are common to good short stories? Students’ responses might include an exciting plot, characters that the reader cares about, and a believable setting.
During Reading
3. As you read “The Fun They Had,” look for elements of a good story and mark the text when you find them.
Students’ responses might include realistic dialogue on page one, strong ending that emphasizes the main ideas, descriptive details of the mechanical teacher, etc.
The Fun They Had
By Isaac Asimov
Margie even wrote about it that night in her diary. On the page headed May 17, 2157, she wrote, “Today, Tommy found a real book!”
It was a very old book. Margie’s grandfather once said that when he was a little boy, his grandfather told him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper.
They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny
to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to—on a screen, you know. And then, when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had had when they read it the first time.
“Gee,” said Tommy, “what a waste. When you’re through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. Our television screen must have had a million books on it and it’s good for plenty more. I wouldn’t throw it away.”
“Same with mine,” said Margie. She was eleven and hadn’t seen as many telebooks as Tommy had. He was thirteen. She said, “Where did you find it?”
“In my house.” He pointed without looking, because he was busy reading. “In the attic.”
“What’s it about?”
“School.”
Margie was scornful. “School? What’s there to write about school? I hate school.”
Margie always hated school, but now she hated it more than ever. The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography, and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector.
He was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with dials and wires. He smiled at Margie and gave her an apple, then took the teacher apart. Margie had hoped he wouldn’t know how to put it together again, but he knew how all right,
2 SpringBoard® Writing Workshop with Grammar Activities Grade 6
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