NARRATIVE ASSIGNMENT HUNTER-PERKINS FA 2014
In this class, I have asked you to read a lot of stories. Stories are often equated with fiction,
especially in a class that focuses on dystopian literature. However, while a narrative is a story,
for this assignment, your narrative can be true, real, and non-fiction or it can be completely made
up. Your task is to imagine a dystopia and tell a story about it.
With your narrative, tell us a story about how you imagine a make some use of images, at
least one. Images should clarify or be clarified by the text (captions help) and should appear near
text to which they are related. Any images that do not originate with the author should be cited in
a caption.
Narratives, especially personal narratives tend to follow a specific pattern, the narrative
arc. This generally involves: setting a scene, introducing a complication, action that rises to a
climax, resolving the complication, and then reflecting on the meaning of the action. Since this
narrative is meant to make use of sensory perceptions, dialogue, characterization, and a coherent
plot, do not be afraid to use first person perspective. In other words, say “I.”
Remember that your purpose is not just to entertain but to investigate and enlighten.
Rather than just telling a story, your narrative should explore the significance behind events. All
writing is an exercise in investigation and reflection on the topic. In this case, the topic is you.
When wondering what to write about and
how to write about it, think on the following
questions:
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What has spoken to you about the
stories we have read in class? Have
you read something else that was
interesting? What can you use from
that but change for your own version
of a dystopia?
What did you learn in your miniresearch paper on dystopias? Was
there anything there that really
intrigued you?
Did you have a cool idea way back
on the first week of class when you
were imagining a dystopia before
you knew anything about them?
Is there something about dystopias
that are very close to real life to you?
How can you explore that in a story?
Objectives: For this assignment, your
objectives are to demonstrate that you
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Can tell an interesting story
Can tell an interesting story that
means something interesting
Can write with an informal yet
thoughtful tone
Have a good grasp of narrative arc
and its various components
Have a good grasp of your rhetorical
situation
Can creatively interpret assignment
instructions while still following
directions
Can write clearly, with a minimum
of spelling/grammatical errors
Specs: Your peer review AND the draft you submit for grading should be in the following format
o
(At Least) Length:
1000words
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Should include at least one image.