Bellwork
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Draw the story structure map on your paper.
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution
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You will write a creative short story about a spooky,
strange, mysterious, or scary occurrence. Use all the
brainstorming we will do for bellwork to help you plan
your story. I am looking for description (adjectives)
and specific details (action verbs). You may include
dialogue in your story, but do make sure you
punctuate it correctly. If you have questions, ask. I
want to see an interesting plot that is clearly written.
In other words, I should understand your story and be
entertained. The short story must be at least 2 pages
(front and back on one page) in length (7-10 words per
line).
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You will be writing a short story in this two
week unit. Consider a short story that you
have read in the past and enjoyed. Write in
complete sentences.
1. What made you like it?
2. What do you think a short story needs to
have to be entertaining?
Characters: Think about the types of people
you want in your story, starting with the main
character. Picture each character in detail.
 1. What is the name and gender of the main
character?
 2. What is important to him or her?
Describe what your main character looks like.
 1. What color hair?
 2. How big, tall, or small is he or she? Is there anything
unusual about how he or she looks?
 3. How does your character talk? Does he or she speak
a dialect or have a unique voice in anyway?
Dude, it’s reading time!
Begin your two column journal.
Remember: Use quotation marks in the page number.
Correct Format: Author’s name (Last, First.) Title of Book.
City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Characters: Think about the people you want in your
story, specifically the antagonist. Picture the character
in detail.
 1. What do they look like?
 2. How do they act?
 3. What is important to him or her?
Dude, it’s reading time!
Begin your two column journal.
Remember: Use quotation marks in the page number.
Correct Format: Author’s name (Last, First.) Title of Book.
City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Conflict: List the events of your story in the
order they’ll happen.
 1. What causes the conflict?
 2. How will the main character respond?
 3. How will the conflict be resolved?
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Setting: Describe where and when your story
will take place. Use sensory images, such as
description of sights, smells, and sounds.
1. Write at least 2 descriptions of objects or
settings in your short story.
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1. What is the mood of your story?
2. What can you add to your writing to establish
this mood?
Dude, it’s reading time!
Begin your two column journal.
Remember: Use quotation marks in the page number.
Correct Format: Author’s name (Last, First.) Title of
Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of
Publication.
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Dialogue: Start with two characters talking
and see what they have to say. Dialogue can
tell you a lot about the characters as well as
the conflict. Writing dialogue is a good way to
get ideas flowing.
Make sure that your dialogue has at least
three lines and uses quotation marks
correctly.
Figurative Language: These are non-literal statements
that add description. “Our house was always
swarming with people” and “the boys came buzzing
round like bees” are examples.
 1. Write a line of figurative language that can be used
in your story.
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Dude, it’s reading time!
Begin your two column journal.
Remember: Use quotation marks in the page number.
Correct Format: Author’s name (Last, First.) Title of Book.
City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Look back at your descriptions of your main
character that were written last week.
 1. What has changed about that character?
 2. What will you add to your story involving
that character?
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Choose a character from your story. If that
character had a bag, what would be found in it?
List at least five items that your character would
carry.
Dude, it’s reading time!
Begin your two column journal.
Remember: Use quotation marks in the page number.
Correct Format: Author’s name (Last, First.) Title of
Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of
Publication.
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Career Day Question. Write out two
questions you have for our career day
speaker.
1.
2.
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Review back over the plot structure chart that
you drew on the first day of this unit. Does
your story contain those traditional elements
of plot? Label the plot structure with quick
summaries of each event your story covers.
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution