Introduction to Literature • Corrigan • Fall 2010 • ENGL 2133 06

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Thursday, September 30, 2010

First "Special Entry" (Character Based Short Story), October 7

The "Guide to Blogging in This Class" says that there will be three "special entries" which "will require freewriting, drafting, and revision before posting" and which "will count for more than regular entries." The first of these special entries will be a character based short story, to be due October 7. The instructions for this story are as follows:
  • By "character based,"  I mean that the "point" of the story should mostly be about revealing and developing a nuanced or multi-layered or complex character.
  • You are encouraged to either use the character sketch that you wrote during class as a basis for the story--or to start over if you like. (The character could even be loosely based on someone you know.)
  • This story can be as long as you like. At a minimum, it should be at least 1000 words.
  • You can use as a model any of the stories we've read so far: "My Tea with Madame Descartes" by David St. John would serve particularly well.
  • It should be informed by the chapter of The Literary Experience on character and should make use of all of the tools of "characterization" as discussed in class: (a) what the character looks like (or sounds like, smells like, etc.), (b) what the character does, (c) what the character says (or thinks, if you decide to give us a view of his or her thoughts), and (d) what other characters say or think about him or her (if you have other characters).
  • It should have one or more characters, as many as you want, though in general one ought to be the main character.
  • Concerning plot, the story should have a beginning, middle, and end. It may have one or more scenes. 
  • The story should be written and revised through at least two drafts. I don't need to see the drafts, but the quality of the story ought to demonstrate that it is not a first draft.
  • The final draft of the story should be posted as the entry due before class on October 7, though you should begin working on it much sooner than then.

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