Year 7 English

Short Story: Fairy Tales

Length: 600 words.

Due Date: Term 1, Week 6, 6^th or 7^th March 2008 (as directed by your teacher).

Purpose of this assignment:

In this unit you have studied how to write short stories and then you have examined fairy tales. The purpose of this assignment is to assess how well you can write short stories and how well you can use the fairy tale genre.

Outcomes Assessed:

1. A student responds to and composes texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis and pleasure.

2. A student uses a range of processes for responding to and composing texts.

4: A student uses and describes language forms and features, and structures of texts appropriate to different purposes, audiences and contexts.

5: A student makes informed language choices to shape meaning with accuracy, clarity and coherence.

11: A student uses, reflects on and assesses individual and collaborative skills for learning.

Task: Write a short story in the fairy tale genre.

It may be completely original or an adaptation of an existing fairy tale.

For example, you could write a fairy tale written from a particular character's point of view, or one written as a contemporary story.

Note:

Brainstorm, rough draft and editing must appear in your English workbook. Teachers will be monitoring the process of your writing.

Publishing your story: a word-processed or hand written copy is acceptable.

Assignment Planner:

Define the Task

To prepare yourself for this task you need to revise the following:

• The features of a short story.
• The structure of a short story.
• The features of a fairy tale.

Locate Information

Find and read a fairy tale that you want to adapt, if appropriate.

Select and Create

Brainstorm ideas about:

a) The structure of your short story:

• Introduction.
• Initial situation or problem.
• Complication and action.
• Climax.
• Resolution.
• Conclusion.

b) Characters.

c) Setting in time and place.

If you are adapting an existing fairy tale, think carefully about how you would do this in a), b) and c) above.

You must use the writing process:

Brainstorm - Rough draft - Conference - Edit - Publish

Create and Organise

a) Write your rough draft.

Use the RIGHT HAND PAGE of your workbook only. The LEFT HAND page will be used for editing and writing improvements.

Don't worry if you are not happy with parts of your story. You can improve these later.

Don't worry if you find the introduction difficult. It is always hard to start. Again, you can improve it later.

b) Check that you have included:

• Descriptions of characters and place.
• Dialogue.

Include or improve these on the left hand page if needed.

c) Ask someone else in the class to read your fairy tale/ story.

On the left hand page they are to record:

• Two aspects of the story that they like or think are effective.
• Two ideas about how to improve your story/ fairy tale.

d) Revise your story.

Edit:

· Spelling.

· Vocabulary.

· Punctuation.

· Sentence structure.

· Paragraphing.

· Organisation of ideas.

Present

Word-process your story or write out the final copy.

Include one illustration of an aspect of your story: plot, setting or character.

Give your story a title.

Evaluate and Reflect

You will be assessed on your ability to:

• Write in the fairy tale genre.
• Use narrative structure effectively.
• Write effective paragraphs.
• Write description.
• Write dialogue.
• Write an interesting and creative introduction.
• Write an effective resolution and conclusion.

Make sure that you know the date on which this assignment is due. Make sure that you have recorded it in your diary.

Make sure that you understand the assessment policy.

Talk to you teacher if you have any problems with this assignment.

Fairy Tale Marking Guide

	Advanced	Highly Competent	Competent	Developing	Experiencing Difficulty
Critical Components Involves love and/or adventure
Includes “Fairy tale” opening
Includes a magical event as a key element in the story
Includes a hero/heroine and a villain
Includes royalty/animal characters
Conflict is clearly identified
Evil is overcome and story ends happily OR Fairytale expectations are reversed
Style Word choice Precise and descriptive vocabulary
Fluency and expressiveness
Impact of opening and ending
Ideas Originality and creativity
Detailed characterisation
Effectiveness of dialogue
Mechanics Ending punctuation
Capitalisation
Spelling
Grammar
Quotation marks
Paragraph structure
Structure Logically expressed ideas
Orientation, complication, climax and resolution
Length
Drafting Process Draft in workbooks
Evidence of plotting story

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