Creating
the
Perfect Story
Creating the Perfect Story
$160 per month
1 session per week
Teachers
Assignments
All writing assignments will be uploaded to Basecamp. You will be invited to the join Basecamp before the first session. This allows the publishing house to view the stories for the anthology after they have been edited in the Monster Lab. The stories that the students write will be collected each week in order to be published in the Monster Tales! anthology. The students may be given the option to publish one or more of their stories in a children's book.
This class is for the creation of short stories not novels. Academic Warriors offers students the opportunity to create novels through the Camp Write Right course.
Subjects
Writing
Ages
8 - 12 years old
Sessions
Session 1: Creating Your Characters
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
Students will be introduced to the pre-writing, writing and publishing processes.
Students will understand the terms antagonist, protagonist and supporting character. They will explain how needs, want and motivation affects a character.
Students will construct a complete character sketch of their antagonist, protagonist and supporting characters.
HOMEWORK:
Create a complete character sketch of your antagonist, protagonist and supporting characters. Be ready to present your characters to the class in the next session.
Bring two of your favorite books to the next session.
Session 2: Understanding Genre
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
Students will present their characters to the class.
Students will distinguish the difference between non-fiction and fiction.
Students will identify the different genres under nonfiction and fiction.
Students will learn how genres affect character and how to create a believable character.
HOMEWORK:
Choose a genre for your short story and make the necessary changes to your characters so they fit your story's genre. Be prepared to tell the class what genre you chose and what changes you had to make to your characters in the next session.
Session 3: Creating Your Believable Setting
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
Students will inform the class of the genre they chose and the changes they made to their characters.
Students will take a field trip to a park or historical building where they will experience what life was like for those who lived in that time and place.
Students will practice reading a map.
Students will recognize how the laws created by an authority figure and the resources in the environment affect how their characters behave.
HOMEWORK:
Create a map of the world in which your story takes place in.
Create ten rules and the consequences if someone doesn't follow those rules. Whose making those rules?
Be prepared to share the map of your world, the rules, the consequences and whose making those rules with the class in the next session.
Session 4: Planning Your Story
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The class will review the stages of prewriting, writing and publishing.
Students will present their map, rules, consequences and whose writing the rules to the class.
Students will examine the story arch and recognize the three act structure.
Students will recognize the terms inciting incident, rising action, plot point one, pinch 1, midpoint, pinch 2, plot point 2, beginning, new beginning, conflict, and paradigm.
Students will practice the process of creating their story paradigm.
HOMEWORK:
Finish your story paradigm and have it ready for class in the next session.
Session 5: Writing Your Sloppy Copy
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The class will review the writing process
Students will discover how to construct their story using their paradigm.
Students will write a captivating beginning for their story using descriptive words.
Students will prepare to write their first drafts by removing their inner editor.
Students will write their sloppy copy.
Lessons 5 through 8 are writing workshops. Please be certain that your students have their manuscript and the ability to modify or write in their manuscript for each session.
HOMEWORK:
Finish writing your sloppy copy and have it ready for class in the next session.
Session 6: Proofreading and Beta Readers
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The class will review the writing process
Students will practice proofreading in five areas that real authors have to look at before sending their stories to Beta Readers.
Students will learn who Beta Readers are, what they do, and how they help authors.
Students will discover how to use Beta Reader's notes and their proofreading to construct their second draft.
Lessons 5 through 8 are writing workshops. Please be certain that your students have their manuscript and the ability to modify or write in their manuscript for each session.
HOMEWORK:
Send your proofread story to three Beta Readers. Use their notes to write your second draft. Bring your second draft to the next session.
Session 7: Editing
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The class will review the writing process
Students will explain what they had to change in their stories based on their proofreading and the Beta Readers notes.
Students will compare/contrast Beta Readers and Editors using a Venn Diagram.
The students will learn how to use editing marks and will practice using them with short stories.
Students will learn how to construct their Final Draft.
Lessons 5 through 7 are writing workshops. Please be certain that your students have their manuscript and the ability to modify or write in their manuscript for each session.
HOMEWORK:
Find someone who is good with grammar to edit your story. Write the Final Draft of your story after you receive the notes from your editor. Please send your student's Final Draft to abruning@academicwarriors.com
Session 8: Publishing
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The class will review the publishing process
Students will recognize the difference between self-publishing, author services and traditional publishing.
The teacher will meet with parents and students concerning the publishing contract. Students have the option to turn their short story into a children's book in addition to having their short story published in the Arts in the Parks Anthology.
