English 10
K.Kucaj
Short Stories – Creative Writing Assignment
Assignment:
Instead of an essay, you will be writing a short story for your major assessment. You will
be using a painting of your choice as a window into a world. You must create a storyline
based on what is happing in the painting; it is your choice whether the actual painting or
“snapshot” takes place at the beginning, middle, or end of your story.
Assessment:
The goal of this assignment is to prove your knowledge of terms and tools that authors
utilize to create a successful short story. You will also be assessed on your ability to
optimize clues from a painting and creatively weave them into your story.
* I would like you to choose a painting that includes people although the story does not
necessarily need to be from the perspective of a person.
Here are some things to consider:
1. Make sure you review the short stories terms handout. Your story should include
a large number of those elements.
2. Use your 5 senses in describing scenes and people. Paintings are obviously visual
but think about what you might hear if you were actually in your painting. What
would you smell? Is their food that you could taste? Sea breezes you could feel?
Using the five senses is a great way to create a vivid short story.
3. Since this will be a short, short story make sure you write what you need. Choose
your words carefully and try to stay away from unnecessary information.
Expectations:
- Length of story: 2 pages minimum, 3 pages maximum. Do NOT go over or under page
requirement or points will be deducted.
- Format: Short story should be double spaced. Size 12, Times New Roman font. Proper
header. Make sure you have a great title!
- Terms Worksheet. Utilizing the short story terms handout, identify each of the elements
in your story. This worksheet needs to be stapled to the back of your essay.
- On top of your essay must be a picture of the painting. I would really like the picture to
be large and in color. You will not lose points if it is not, but it would make me happy.
Automatic Deductions:
-10
Incorrect Formatting
-10
1 day late
-20
2 days late
Short stories will not be accepted after two days and will be marked a zero.
K.Kucaj
English 10
Creative Writing Rubric
Details - story
Short Story
Elements - story
Style - story
Terms Worksheet
4 - Exceptional
Utilizes many
details from the
painting
3 - Strong
Utilizes a good
amount of details
from the painting
2 - Capable
Needs more details
from the painting
1 - Developing
Barely uses details
from the painting
Understands and
utilizes many
elements of a short
story
Vivid, descriptive
language. Creates
a pleasing whole
with varied
sentences
Thoughtfully
completed with
attention to detail
Understands and
utilizes elements
of a short story
Needs more
elements of a short
story
Barely uses
elements of a short
story
Uses a variety of
sentence types but
need for delights
for the reader
Uses simple
sentences and
elementary
language
Uses no sentence
variety and little
descriptive
language.
Completed; meets
expectation
Mostly complete;
could add more
Incomplete;
components
missing
English CP
K.Kucaj
Short Stories Terms – Worksheet for Stories
Use the Short Stories handout to fill out the information below based on your story.
You do not need to write in complete sentences, but make sure you are clear and use
details. If one of the terms does not apply to the story put N/A (not applicable) on the
line provided.
Title of story: “________________________________________________________”__
Author: ______________________________________________
PLOT – Fill in each specific element of your story.
1. Exposition –
______________________________________________
2. Conflict –
_____________________________________________

Internal –
______________________________________________

External -
______________________________________________
3. Rising Action –
______________________________________________
4. Climax –
_______________________________________________
5. Falling Action –
______________________________________________
6. Resolution –
______________________________________________
CHARACTERIZATION – List what characters are developed either directly or indirectly
and give an example for each.
1. Direct-
______________________________________________
2. Indirect –
______________________________________________
For the terms below, please write one complete sentence providing detailed
information from your story. Include reasons for your creative decisions.
SETTING – Describe the time and location of the action.
POINT OF VIEW – Identify the vantage point from which your story is told and explain
why you chose that point of view.
TONE – Describe the writer’s attitude toward her/his audience and subject.
MOOD – Describe the feeling created in the reader by the literary work or passage.
SUSPENSE – Identify when there is a feeling of tension or nervous uncertainty.
SYMBOL – Identify one object from your story that symbolizes something else. Explain.
THEME – Identify the lesson of your story.