This document provides instructions for students to create a short story in groups. It outlines the process which includes researching short story elements, using a graphic organizer to plan their story, writing a rough draft and final draft, and presenting their story to the class. Students are evaluated based on a rubric that assesses inclusion of elements like characters, setting, conflict, and resolution. The goal is for students to learn about short story components and work as a team.

1. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Creating a Short Story
Title For Educators
Introduction Designed by
Task Samantha Spicer
Process sfs17@zips.uakron.edu
Evaluation
Conclusion
Credits Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

2. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Introduction:
Students will learn the different components of what
Title makes a story. They will research websites as tools to
Introduction help them better understand the different components.
They will then be paired up with a classmate to create
Task their own short story. They must start with a specific
Process idea then go off and answer questions like who, what,
where, when, and why.
Evaluation
Conclusion What is a Short Story?
A short story is a fully developed story with a theme but
less elaborate than a novel. A short story consists of an
introduction; which is the beginning of a story, the
background information. Here you name the setting, the
situation, and a main character. After the introduction
there must be a conflict, the conflict occurs, then the
after math of the conflict or the resolution. Short stories
must answer the question of the 5 W’s; who, what,
where, when, why, and why.
Credits

3. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
The Task:
Title When it’s all said and done you will be able to:
•You will start with a graphic organizer to get down all of
Introduction your ideas on paper to better organize what you will
Task write in your short story
•Be able to create a main character
Process
•Introduce a problem the main character is encountering
Evaluation •Be able to create a setting and background information
Conclusion for the main character
•Answer the 5 W’s: who, what, where, when, why
•Find a resolution to the conflict
•Then put all of these components together to create a
short story
•When it is all done and put together the students will
stand up in front of the class and read their short stories
aloud to the other students.
•You will become experts at short stories!
Credits

4. The Process:
Student Page 1. You will find a classmate and partner up
[Teacher Page] 2. As a team the two of you will follow the link to a website where you can read
short stories to get examples for your own. Short Stories
Do not directly steal from these stories. Use your own imagination to
create your own, these are simply a helpful tool.
Title 3. Next you two will go through and learn what each element of a short story is
that will need to be included into your story. Elements of a Short Story
Introduction 1.You will create your main character and the problem he/she has
going on in this story.
Task 2.Develop one or two side characters to enhance the story.
3.You will pick a setting; where the story takes places
Process 4.Give background detail about why the character has this problem.
5.Tell us what happened leading up to the big moment where the
Evaluation problem occurs.
6.Tell us how the main character deals with the problem.
Conclusion 7.After tell us how the main character got through his/her problem and
is doing now.
8.Make sure you include dialogue amongst your main characters and
the other characters.
4. When you are done answering the above questions and creating an rough
draft to your story, print out this graphic organizer and fill in this graphic
organizer to help you remember everything. Story Map
5. After you are finished putting your ideas down onto the story map, you will
then begin to develop a rough draft of your story. In your rough draft make
sure you answer the 5 W’s.
A rough draft is the beginning stages of writing, it is the first sample
before you submit your final story. It allows you to correct and adjust
what you like and dislike
6. After you have written your rough draft you will bring it to me for me to check
and make minor corrections.
7. Once I have completed the editing and have given it back you will go ahead
and write your final draft. Your final draft must include all the details that are
listed above in order to get a complete and good grade on the assignment.
8. When your story is all complete you will then think a catchy tittle that goes
along with your short story. That will have it’s own page in the beginning of
your story.
Credits 9. Finally you and your partner will share your story out loud for the whole class
to hear what you have come up with!
10.GOOD LUCK!

5. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Evaluation:
Title Follow this link to find your rubric: this is how your
Introduction short story will be graded.
Task The elements that are on the rubric are:
1.Introduction
Process
2.Characters
Evaluation 3.Setting
Conclusion 4.Problem/Conflict
5.Action
6.Solution/Resolution
7.Dialogue
8.Title
9.Spelling and Punctuation
10.Creativity
This short story is worth a total of 40 points!
Credits

6. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Conclusion:
Title In this lesson you have not only learned about short
stories and the different elements are such as:
Introduction Introduction, Problem/Conflict, Setting, Characters, and
Task Resolution. You also learned how to write a simple story
with many different details included. This will help you
Process
in later years when you must complete different writing
Evaluation assignments with the same concepts. Finally you
Conclusion learned how to work as a team which you will always
need to know how to do!
Credits

7. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Credits &
References:
Title
Introduction Elements of a Story
Task Jump Start
Process Writing Process
Evaluation The WebQuest Page
Conclusion The WebQuest Slideshare Group
Short Story Definition
Rough Draft
Thank You:
Marilyn Croskey
Louden Webster
Barb Spicer
Clip Art
Credits