Today, we are going to workshop stories. Everyone should talk - this is a participation grade. Things to comment on - characters? Can the student make the character more descriptive. Setting - do you understand the setting? Does the setting need to be more define? Plot - does the plot seem to reach a climax? What is it? Descriptions. Where can the student improve their descriptions - or use metaphors or similes? Dialogue. Does the story need dialogue.
There is a technique called Murray's Feedback that is often used in responding to someone else's writing. You can use this to help you.
Things to think about as you take notes.
1) Think of something you like about the paper and comment on this first. Be positive. There should be something good in every paper you hear. Remember, you are not telling the writer what is wrong but what can be improved.
2) Think about the ideas of the short story. What is the main idea? Is it clear? If it is not clear what needs to be done to make it clearer? Is it interesting? Does the thesis make you want to read the story? If not—why?
3) Think about the plot. Does the story follow traditional plot? Can you pick out the inciting event, the climax and the resolution?
4) What types of conflict does the author use? Do they use quotations? Are these quotations adequate? Do you understand what the author is trying to say? Does the author use other types of support?
5) Did you hear any places where the grammar seemed off? If so make a note of where? Did the paper switch tense? Did a sentence seem awkward or not make sense? Did you hear fragments or run-ons that were not used for style or effect. Talk to the writer about these.
6) What type of literary devices does the author use? Metaphor, symbol, simile, etc?
7) Is there a dynamic character?
8) Voice—do you think the author’s voice needs work in places (probably everyone’s does)? Make notes about places where the voice doesn’t sound like the author. Is the voice consistent with the voice at the beginning? Does the author use any clichés? If so mark these down. Discuss them. Does the author seem to be copying someone else’s voice? Ask the author who their audience is.
9) Does the piece have an ending? Does the ending work? Does the ending complete the idea and restate the thesis in a new or fresh way. Does it conclude.
10) Ask the author what his/her favorite part of the paper is and why. Discuss this part. What is good about it? What could be improved?
11) Ask the author what they’ve learned so far in writing this story.
12) Ask the author what they think they need to work on. Why? Do you agree? Discuss this.
13) Ask the author where their ideas came form and if they are pleased with how the ideas came out? Do they think the organization of the story brings out the idea? Or is the idea lost in the mess of writing?
11/2 – 11/4 Workshop Stories
11/7 – pages 90-100
11/8 – pages 100-110
11/9 – quiz
11/10 – 11/11 Workshop Stories
11/14 – work on stories or catch up on reading journals
11/15 – 110-120
11/16 – 120-130
11/17 – 130-140
11/18 – 140 – End of Book. Short Stories FINAL DRAFT DUE.
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