Understanding and Teaching Short Stories at Secondary Level Language Learning Support Section 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm October 25th 2007 What is a short story? Why use short stories in class? A girl was asked to write a short story in as few words as possible for her college class. The instructions were that it had to discuss Religion, Sexuality and Mystery. She was the only one who received an A+ and this is what she wrote: Extremely short stories For sale: baby shoes, never worn. - Ernest Hemingway Corpse parts missing. Doctor buys yacht. - Margaret Atwood wired.com Internet magazine. Issue 14.11 Some definitions: A short story…….. • can be read in one sitting (Edgar Allan Poe “The Philosophy of Composition” 1846) • is 1,000 – 20,000 words long • has a limited set of characters, a single setting, and a simple plot Why teach short stories? SBA NSS •Responding to texts •Giving opinions •Justifying opinions •Knowledge of text features •Applying knowledge to their writing •Reading skills •Making inferences •Getting the main idea •Predicting events •Responding to characters •Responding to plot •Responding to themes •(writing, oral, performance) Experienc TSA e Strand Fairy tale • Fairy tales tend to be about royalty, fairies, wicked stepmothers, giants and talking animals. • Settings often include castles, forests, cottages and the time is often “long ago” • Events are magical and supernatural. The good live happily ever after at the end and the bad are punished in some way. • Formulaic language, including rhyme and repetition, is common. Parable • Usually refers to the stories told by Jesus in the New Testament • They are used to explain difficult theological concepts in terms which people can easily understand Fable • Characters are usually animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature which are given human qualities. • They illustrate a moral lesson which is often expressed explicitly at the end Slow and steady wins the race! Myth • Myths tend to be about gods or supernatural beings. • Often tell about events from the distant past • Sometimes creation stories or explain natural phenomena • Legends are similar, but usually about heroes rather than gods. Folk tale • Folktales are similar to fairy tales, except that they usually concern ordinary people rather than royalty • Values such as thrift, kindness, honesty and diligence are usually rewarded • As with fairy tales, formulaic language is common • Also called “mystery” genre or “whodunnits” • Mystery plots always involve characters trying to discover a vital piece of information which is kept hidden until the climax. Solving crimes by the use of clues is common in this genre. • Characters usually include detectives, criminals, or the police. Crime story Science Fiction • Science fiction plots commonly explore ideas like space travel, cloning, time travel, or aliens. Fantastical things happen but all have a scientific explanation. No use of magic. • Settings often include other planets, space ships, or futuristic cities. These may be described in detail • Characters will often include robots, aliens, astronauts, or scientists • The plot is always a horror experience and it usually involves the intrusion of a Ghost / supernatural element into everyday human experience. Horror Story • Characters are often ordinary but vulnerable people, such as children and women. • Settings vary but they are usually secluded and isolated places. • Atmosphere is often created by description of the setting. Love Story (Romance) • Plots of romance revolve around two people as they develop romantic love for each other and work to build a relationship together. • Both the conflict and the climax of the story should be directly related to that core theme of developing a romantic relationship. • There is often a happy ending. Realistic story • Realistic fiction is usually set in modern times. • It can also have a historical setting - events usually have something to do with an important historical event • Characters will be ordinary, believable people. • Stories may be funny or serious • Dialogue will be realistic Traditional stories • “flat” characters • unspecified settings • simple and fast moving plot • ending is clear and usually happy • formulaic language • simple past tense • third person narration Modern stories • “round” characters • setting may be described in detail • may not be much background at beginning • ending may be inconclusive • present tenses may be used • first person narration can be used Elements of a story Setting Location & time Characters The people & their relationships 5 Elements Plot/ story line Actions and events Style Writing techniques Theme Main or recurrent idea (could also be a lesson to learn) 2. Complete the story map Characters Settings Little Red Riding Hood Themes and lessons Opening Plot Ending Complication The Wolf eats Grandma and lies in her bed. Crisis Ex poser – special features Theme / Plot • Gradual increase in tension during the questioning process • Twist ending Characters Language Features • David reveals himself through • First person his thoughts narration and attitudes to others • Simple present • David himself tense cannot interpret these, but the reader can Lesson Procedures for “Ex Poser” Pre-reading Building up knowledge of the topic Strategy / activity used 1. Use of pictures to introduce idea of a lie detector Teaching focus •Teaching or reinforcing vocabulary •Background knowledge important for the story •Bringing out the 2. Use of dictionary theme of the story extracts to focus on the meaning of the title •Predicting events While-reading Understanding the details Strategy / activity used Teaching focus 1. “Think aloud” of first two paragraphs Inferring meaning of words from context (reading skill) 2. Tick chart about characters 3. Predicting the questions Teaching students to understand and respond to character descriptions Predicting the continuation of the story (reading skill) While / Post-reading Strategy / activity used 1. Completing a chart of the main character’s emotions Integrating and applying Teaching focus Teaching students to understand and respond to character descriptions Teaching students to understand and respond to plot development 2. Writing Sandra’s diary Understanding and responding to characters (point of view) Teaching or reinforcing language patterns (tenses) Approach to teaching a short story 1. Understand the features of the text type 2. Understand the features of the genre 3. Analyse the text 4. Decide teaching objectives 5. Plan lessons and materials Stages in working with the text Languag e Theme Understanding the details Building up knowledge of the topic Pre- reading Integrating and applying Characters Plot While-reading / Post-reading Extension activities Pre-reading stage Building up knowledge of the topic When? In class --- Teacher-guided How? Recall previous knowledge and experience Make predictions about the setting of the story Pre-teaching / Providing background information What activities? Brainstorming Predicting from titles, pictures etc While-reading / Post-reading stage Understanding the details When?  In class, under teacher’s guidance How?  applying reading strategies  connecting the story to reader’s mind and experience  responding to the writer What activities?  Engaging in discussions  Identifying story elements using story organiser  Summarising events Extension activities Integrating and applying When?  After teaching the story Purposes:  Integrative use of skills to show interpretation and appreciation  Consolidating understanding of the story  Applying the language skills learnt What activities?  Performing e.g. readers’ theatre  Writing stories  Extended tasks and projects Workshop instructions Part A Instructions • Briefly analyse the story of “The Hairy Toe” and consider how you can use it with your students. • Put your group’s ideas in Part A of the handout. Part B Instructions • Choose ONE teaching point your group put in Part A and think of ONE teaching and learning activity for it. Edgar Allan Poe Roald Dahl Oscar Wilde Agatha Christie H. H. Munro (Saki) Katherine Mansfield M. R. James Isaac Asimov Useful resources East of the Web: Short Stories Teaching Resources: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/teacher.html BBC/British Council Teaching English: British Literature: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/download/britlit/britlit.sht ml Merlyn’s Pen: http://www.merlynspen.org/ American Folklore: http://www.americanfolklore.net/index.html Story Arts: Storytelling Activities and Lesson Ideas: http://www.storyarts.org/lessonplans/lessonideas/index.ht ml Language Learning Support Section http://cd1.edb.hkedcity.net/cd/languagesupport/article/inde x_e.htm