Short Story Structure

Tablet Lesson

July 31, 2006

DSU

Lesson Objectives

To learn the elements of a short story and the function of those parts—conflict, complications, climax, resolution

To distinguish theme from plot To identify the them of a story

Large Group Instruction—Day 1

Using the Tablet and projection the elements of a short story are taught

Lids down activity Normal engagement issues

Large Group Practice—Day 1

Students read a sample short story (accessed via WebCT)

While reading students note elements of story and determine theme; cards determining groups are “dealt”

Small group collaboration—clusters created of short story elements and theme; emailed to instructor

Large Group Practice—Day 2

Instructor projects all group’s clusters for critique and discussion

Develop class model

Assessment—Day 2

Small groups draw movie title out of the hat Develop clusters outlining components of story plot

and state theme Clusters emailed to instructor for assessment Assessment using Tablet, digital ink, and recorded

comments Clusters sent back to student via email Grades posted on Infinite Campus for viewing

Culminating Project

Literature groups Create dust cover for novel Dust cover—book title, author, summary, and

graphic art symbolic of plot components and characters

Document submitted electronically as well as hard copy

Rubric used to assess project

Assessment Rubric

Dust Cover Rubric

  5 points 3 points 1 point

Summary complete and clearly writtensome elements missing;

unclear at times many elements missing;

unclear and confusing

Mechanics error free 3-5 errors 8+ errors

Graphicspleasing layout; fills space

effectivelylayout lacks thought; space

not completely filledlayout chaotic; many empty

spaces

Graphics--symbolsthoughtful graphics;

symbolic of elements lacks thought; connections

difficult to recognizegraphics are arbitrary; no

connections to novel

Neatness/Effortdocument is professional;

effort is evidentproduct has some flaws;

adequate effort evidentproduct is poor quality; little

effort evident

ResponsibilityAll deadlines met; uses rubric

effectivelyMost deadlines met; uses

rubric adequatelyMisses deadlines; no

attention to rubric