Please read the attached instructions.

Draft 1: Handwrite a 1-page draft of a story.

Draft 2: Whittling down
a. Read aloud.
b. Highlight what you could keep.
c. Trim the fat.
d. Handwrite clean draft.
e. Count the number of words and circle the word count.

Draft 3: Sculpting
a. Read aloud.
b. Highlight what you could keep/develop.
c. Trim the fat.
d. Change words/Make notes.
e. Handwrite clean draft.
f. Count the number of words and circle the word count.

Draft 4 and beyond: Fine tuning
a. Read aloud.
b. Trim the fat. How can you convey the same idea with fewer words?
            World War I (3 words) vs. WWI = (1 word)
            “I don’t want to do that!” (6 words) vs. “No!” (1 word)
c. Make every word matter. Are you repeating the same word without purpose?
d. Evoke.
e. Handwrite clean draft.
f. Count the number of words and circle the word count.

Final Draft: 
a. Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
b. 50 – 55 words
c. Imaginative Title (not part of word count)
d. Four elements of a short story: Setting, Character(s), Conflict, Resolution
e. Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Final work submission:
A. Label every handwritten draft and turn in to the basket in class (First Draft on top, etc.) and attach your final draft to this assignment.

OR 

B. Take pictures of your handwritten work, and put them in order on a Google Doc. Your final draft will be on the last page, typed, with a title (check the Medway Example). Attach your work to this assignment.

You are earning two grades:
1. W3: Narrative writing (based on your final draft)
2. W5: Revision (based on your drafts)

The following writing assignment is optional and can only help your grade:


Using Mary Oliver’s poem “The Journey,” answer the Collaborative Discussion questions at the bottom of the poem:

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION What kind of journey do you take in this poem? With a
partner, discuss what obstacles need to be overcome to complete this journey. Is the journey worth the effort? Cite specific textual evidence to support your ideas.

When you are asked about the kind of journey you take, imagine that you are the speaker taking this journey. Your claim needs to offer an interpretation of the poem. Your evidence needs to support your claim. Your reasoning needs to explain the figurative language of the evidence and connect to your claim. Please refer to the CER Rubric.

Be thoughtful and be clear. It’s up to you how to structure your work, i.e., how many paragraphs to write; however, you are encouraged to write at least two paragraphs to reflect how the journey progresses from start to finish.

Please handwrite your work. If you write at least two drafts – editing (marking up) your first draft, and your final draft is stronger than your original – then you may earn a Revision grade. Label each draft, e.g., Draft 1, Draft 2, etc. Staple the final draft on top. Your work is due by the beginning of class on Friday, December 10.

Please read the instructions.


If you choose to type, please create a Google Doc and attach it to this assignment.


Typed format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced

What do the branches and stones on the road symbolize, or represent? 

Create a Google Doc and attach it to this assignment. Answer in
paragraph form (3 – 5 sentences: Topic sentence, supporting sentence(s),
concluding sentence). Format: Times New Roman, Double-spaced, 12-point font

Thank you, my beautiful scholars. If you're completing this assignment for Independent Study, you only need to turn in a response for #3 from the Instructions. You have your mission. Go forth and conquer!