Students will be placed in groups and assigned one short story:
1.
Tell Tale Heart – Edgar Allan Poe
Nahoum/Mary/Alejandra/Caralyn/Rich
2.
The Yellow Wallpaper – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Kalvin/Sandra/Diana/Patricia/Taylor
3.
The Monkey’s Paw – W.W. Jacobs
Nicole/Selena/Heidi/Amanda/Lisa
4.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson
Lauren/Sam/David/Laura/Cindy
5.
A Good Man is Hard to Find–Flannery O’Connor
Angel/Tina/Eddy/Camila/Daniela
6.
The Veldt – Ray Bradbury
Maggie/Celeste/Kelsey/Sera/Kaylee
Procedure:
Step one
Each group will be responsible for providing the class with information on the following elements:
 Author’s biography
 Plot summary
 Character identification and analysis
 Point of view (identify and explain its effect)
 Setting
 Mood/Atmosphere
 Theme
 Conflict
 Literary devices
 Connections to other stories
 Gothic criteria
 A proper works cited page
All of this information must be presented on a handout which will be sent to Ms Shearer and posted on ClassNet
before the presentations begin.
Ensure that all information is cited properly (we will review MLA format).
One member of the group must post the handout on turnitin.com
Step Two
Each group will share their information in a brief presentation (15 minutes)
Along with being evaluated on your knowledge of the story and short story elements, you will also be evaluated on presentation and communication skills.
There will be a peer evaluation component to your mark.

1. Knowledge and Understanding of Topic
Members:
R
 Quality of information
 Degree of understanding of the story
 Quality of ideas/concepts/themes
1
2. Thinking/Inquiry
2 3 4
R
 Use of critical/creative thinking skills
 Interpretation and analysis of information
 Organization of ideas and information/accurate information
 Obvious use of textual support to clarify answers
 Works cited (MLA)
1 2 3 4
3. Communication
 Word choice and appropriate language for intended audience
 Effectiveness of chosen presentation style
 Speech – fluency, expressiveness and audibility
 Structured presentation
 Use of language conventions (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure) is effective and sophisticated
R
4. Application
1 2 3 4
R
 Use of visual aids
 Connections made between the theme or meaning of the story and life or society (either your own experiences or historical context of the story)
 Thoroughness and set up of handout
1
5. Use of class time
2 3 4
 Attendance at every work period
 Use of critical thinking and listening skills
 Effective collaboration with group members
 Contribution of information and ideas
 Handout completed on time
 R 1 2 3
Overall mark: ____________________________________
Comments:
4