My Dog Story

​​Objectives: ​I can...
  • write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. (W5.3)
  • orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. (W5.3a)
  • use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations. (W5.3b)
  • use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events. (W5.3c)
  • use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely. (W5.3d)
  • provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events. (W5.3e)

​STEP 1 - Choose a Prompt

For this assignment you need to write a fictional narrative. Fiction means that it is made-up and did not really happen. Narrative means that it tells a story. You can choose one of the following prompt:
Prompt 1:
What if you wake up to discover that you had been turned into a dog for one day? What type of dog were you turned into? Describe what your day would be like. Write a narrative story telling about the moment you changed into a dog until you returned to your real self at the end of the day. Did you stay in one place? If not, where did you go? What did it feel like to be a dog? Remember to use vivid verbs, interesting adjectives and showing sentences, not telling sentences. Don't forget to add some similes and metaphors, too!  
Promp 2:
What would happen if one morning you woke up and found out that your dog could talk? Imagine what would happen if your dog could really talk. Think about what your dog would sound like. What things would your dog like or dislike about its life, and what things would be important to your dog? Write a narrative story about the day you spent with your talking dog. Remember to use vivid verbs, interesting adjectives and showing sentences, not telling sentences. Don't forget to add some similes and metaphors, too!  


​STEP 2 - Brainstorm Ideas

Directions
Now that you have your writing prompt, brainstorm all the possible ideas.
  1. Create a Circle Map on a piece of notebook paper.
  2. Brainstorm all the possible story ideas you can think of about dogs in the first circle map
  3. Now choose your best story idea and draw a second circle map to brainstorm ideas for this one story

Step 2: Planning

Planning a narrative includes:
  • Develop your main characters, (Step 2a-template below) 
  • Map out the problem and solution (Step 2b-thinking map below ) 
  • Map out your story events (Step 2c-Plot map below)

STEP 2a: CHARACTER MAP

Who is your main character?   Will your dog act like a dog or have human characteristics? Will you dog have super powers? What other main charters are going to be in your story?

Directions
  1. Create a Circle Map or use the GoogleDoc attached here
  2. Review the image to the right.  Who will your character be?  Add details about your character to your circle map?
STEP 2b: PROBLEM AND SOLUTION
Take a second look at your image.  What could be the problem in your story based on the picture?  How will you solve your problem?
Directions
  1. Create the chart to your left 
  2. List the problem you would like to be the focus of your story in the box labeled "problem".
  3. What events might be connected to your problem?  List these in the boxes below.
  4. How will you solve your problem?  List how you would like to resolve your problem in the box marked "solution?.
  5. What events need to happen at the end of your story for your solution to occur?  List these in the boxes below solution.​​

STEP 2c: PLOT MAP

Now put it ll together and map out your whole story.

Directions
  1. Create a Plot Map 
  2. Review the image to the right. 
    1. ​What is your setting?
    2. Who is your protagonist and antagonist?
    3. What is the main conflict of your story
    4. What events will be your rising action?
    5. What event will be the turning point or climax of your story?
    6. How will your story end
    7. What is the theme of your story?​

Step 3: Writing the First Draft

Now that you have planned out your main characters, the problem and solution and have  a story map, make sure your paper has a beginning, middle and an end.

An introduction/beginning

The body/the middle

An ending

Step 4: Revise and Editing

MINI LESSONS

Dialogue

Conjunctions

Sensory Details

Narrative  Traits