short short stories

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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 5

This lesson contains 13 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 45 min

Items in this lesson

Slide 1 - Slide

Even if your story is extremely short, you want it to feel complete and satisfying.

Slide 2 - Slide

For a story to feel like a story, something has to change between the beginning and the end. 

Slide 3 - Slide

What could change? 
  • The character's situation. For example, at the beginning of the story, is trying to escape a burning building. At the end, he reaches safety. 
  • The character's perspective on the situation. For example, at the beginning of the story, the character believes his wife is as happy in their marriage as he is. At the end, he realizes that she is hiding feelings of alienation. 
 

Slide 4 - Slide

  • The reader's understanding of the situation. For example, the beginning of the story seems to take place at an idyllic vacation resort. At the end, the reader realizes that the resort is haunted and everyone working there is a ghost.

Slide 5 - Slide

The beginning of the story seems to take place at an idyllic vacation resort. At the end, the reader realizes that ...

Slide 6 - Open question

Some strategies you can try: 
1) Start late in the story. There isn't time for a lot of introduction. You have to jump right into the action.
2) Choose the right details.
3) Imply more than you show.
4)Remove unnecessary words.

Slide 7 - Slide

Slide 8 - Link

Slide 9 - Link

creative assignment
Create a short short story of about 100 words. 
It should include elements from the story you picked for today's lesson. 
You could just mix up some sentences. Let your individual characters meet. 
Hand in one group document that contains your separate stories and the one your joined effort. 

Slide 10 - Slide


Slide 11 - Open question

Slide 12 - Slide

Slide 13 - Link