Page 36 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

4
WRITING WORKSHOP
Narrative Writing: Short Story
Learning Targets
• Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
• Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
• Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
• Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
• Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
• Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
• With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen
writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new
approach.
• Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups,
and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues,
building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
• Come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study;
explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or
issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
• Use punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) to indicate a pause or break.
Writing a Short Story
Do you ever wonder where writers get their ideas for stories? Story ideas are all around us. They may come from something as simple as meeting a stranger on a field trip or imagining some strange object in the sky to be a spaceship. The key to writing stories is imagination and practice, practice, practice. Writers use their own insights and observations about life, as well as their imagination, to create stories that entertain us, teach us something, or provide a combination of both.
You will work with your teacher and with your classmates to construct two model stories. You will then use these models to construct your own story.
ACTIVITY 1
Discovering the Elements of a Short Story
Before Reading
1. Think about a story you’ve read that you really enjoyed. What did you like about the story?
Students’ responses will vary.
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.
LEARNING STRATEGIES Think-Pair-Share, Brainstorming, Marking the Text, Graphic Organizer, Skimming/ Scanning, Visualizing, Drafting, Role Playing, Self-Editing/Peer Editing, Webbing, Sharing and Responding, Marking
the Draft, Note-Taking, Adding, Reviewing the Prompt
Writing Workshop 4 • Narrative Writing: Short Story 1
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.