Extra Credit: Short Story

EXTRA CREDIT: Write a short story including U.S. History.  The type of story is up to you, but it should take place during the time we have been studying.  You could write a science fiction story (time travel, for example) or a story about a Jewish person living in Nazi Germany or Poland or a story about a Japanese American being put into a camp or a story about the wife of an American soldier being alone in America -- or anything else that connects your characters to history.  Write neatly so I can read your story.

To get into the mode of historical fiction, think about it like this:  You are entering a time machine to go and witness history during the era you have chosen. Close your eyes. Step into the time machine and listen to the machine's whirring hum as you are transported through space and time, back, back, to the most fascinating place you can imagine! This place and time has intrigued you...and there you are! You climb carefully out of the time machine. You look around. Whom and what do you see? What do you hear? What are people doing? What confuses you about your new surroundings? Remember as many details as you can, so that you can share your observations in a story about that time in history.

• Characters:All characters must behave in realistic ways.
• Problem:The characters are involved in a dilemma that is realistic for that period.
• Description:Places and events are vividly described.
• Setting:The setting is a definite time in history and a very real place.
• Plot:Real events are mixed with fictional happenings. The plot makes sense and ends with a logical solution.
• Dialogue:The characters' words reflect what people knew and thought about in those times.

Could you write a story about trying to change history?  A story about what it's like to be a child living during that time?  An alternative history where something changes the outcome [good or bad] such as Abraham Lincoln being saved, the South inventing better weapons to win the war, Germany developing the bomb first, etc.?  Maybe it's a love story or a drama about someone losing a family member?

• Today you will brainstorm and outline your story [or build upon what you already have]
• Rework your story to incorporate historical events from your text book
• Write out your story.  
• When it's finished, have a classmate read your story and write some notes/suggestions on your paper -- then have them sign next to their suggestions.  
• Students who leave feedback on a classmates paper [if I can read their signature] will receive Extra Credit.  
• If you get feedback from TWO of your classmates [or more], then YOU will get extra credit as well.
• Your homework is to take home your story and feedback/suggestions, and neatly rewrite your story.  [Make sure you attach your original with classmate feedback tomorrow!]

Be creative and start with some brainstorming.  I suggest using a Story Arc.

Another way of looking at it: