The short story: Read to write
Teacher Alan Papprill
| Year
|
NCEA Level
|
Duration
|
| 13
|
3
|
10 weeks
|
| Achievement Standard being assessed
|
Achievement criteria
|
| AS90721 (English 3.2): Respond critically to written text(s) studied
|
- Develop a critical response to written text(s), using supporting evidence.
|
| AS90720 (English 3.1): Produce an extended piece of writing in a selected style
|
- Develop, sustain and/or support idea(s).
- Craft controlled writing which creates effects appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.
- Structure material clearly in a way that is appropriate to audience, purpose and text type.
- Use writing conventions accurately.
|
Introduction
The combined unit is designed to take a full term (10 weeks) but could also be taught as separate modules.
However, it should be noted that several sections of Learning task 2 (eg. setting, character) help build on the analysis of short stories in Learning task 1.
This unit of work draws on ideas and techniques from the Capital Area Writing Project (NCSU) and the work of Dr. Ruie Pritchard as well as exercises developed and trialed at Rotorua Girls High and Otahuhu College.
Apart from the web links through out the unit, see other useful references.
The units of work have been developed to provide a framework that allows the student to move from a study of the short story as a genre (AS90721 (English 3.2): Respond critically to written text
) through to planning, drafting and presenting an original short story based on their own experiences (AS90720 (English 3.1): Produce an extended piece of writing in a selected style
). From there the student could use the experience and information gained to research a theme in literature (AS90726 (English 3.7): Complete independent research on a literature topic and present findings in a written form
).
The approach provides a scaffold that allows the student to build on an appreciation of critically acclaimed writing, an understanding of the techniques employed by writers and a familiarity with common themes in short stories, to then draw on their own experiences to create an original work of their own.
The units can be treated as individual study units by the students or refocussed by the teacher to cater for the students' abilities or available resources.
Teaching and learning activities
Select and adapt these learning activities to best meet the needs of your students, and to fit the time available:
Learning task 1: The Short Story - A Study in Intense Brevity
Learning task 2: Taking up the Challenge
Learning task 3: The Perfect Segue: Leaping into Research
Assessment
as90720 (PDF 19KB)
AS90721 (English 3.2) Sample External Assessment Tasks and Assessment Criteria
AS90726 (English 3.7) Sample Internal Assessment "In Search Of"
Resources
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