United States Postal System
​Writing Task-Narrative

What is realistic fiction?
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. 
 ​Pretend you got to be a rider in the Pony Express, carrying mail on horseback or one of the first mal carriers in Colonial America, working with Benjamin Franklin! Or maybe your story takes place in today!  Research your the postal system in the time period you chose to learn what kinds of things they had to do. What were the dangers, what was kinds of things did they see and hear?  What kinds of letters and packages did they deliver? Then use that information to write a fictional story about what you did on your day as a United States Postal Carrier. Your story can only be about ONE DAY.

 Planning

 CHARACTER MAP

 PLOT MAP
Who is your main character?  What other main characters 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?
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 2: 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
Remember, a good story has an interesting introduction. An introduction should have a hook and clearly introduce: 
  • the ​setting
  • the main character
  • the beginning of the day's journey
 Use one of the effective hook techniques to grab the reader’s attention:
  1. Start in the middle of action- "Water filled my mouth and nose as I crashed spectacularly off my surfboard." ​
  2. Use onomatopoeia - "Whoosh! We were off on the adventure of a lifetime!"
  3. Create Suspense- "Suddenly and unexpectedly there was a loud knock on the door."
  4. Use imagery to set the scene -"My heart pounded in my chest and my sweaty hands gripped the safety bar as the rickety roller coaster slowly crept up the rusty track."
  5. Use one word- "Relief. I was flooded with relief when the front door finally opened."
  6. Dialogue- "What do you think you are doing young man?" whispered my father sternly as I tried to stealthily creep back into the house after my curfew.​

MINI LESSONS

Dialogue

Conjunctions

Sensory Details

Narrative  Traits

Revise and Edit 

CHECKLIST
  •  Make sure your story is at least 5 paragraphs long.
  • Created an effective introduction with a hook
  • Developed a good  story that goes in a logical sequencial order
  • Create  short,  clear ending
  • Use details  to make your ideas come alive
  • ​Include figurative language to add voice
  • Used a variety of transitions​
  • Follow the rules of grammar usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling