The document provides guidance to students on completing a project called "What's Your Story?". It involves retelling a short story they read, using vocabulary words and explaining the author's message. Students have completed plot diagrams and identified themes. The document reviews how to make text connections, including comparing the short story to their own lives (text to self), other works (text to text), and broader societal issues (text to world). Students are encouraged to think critically and ask questions to make connections, even if they disliked aspects of the story.

1. Last week, we began a new projectCalled What’s Your Story?!

2. Let’s refresh your memory…Project “What’s Your Story” Requirements:Retell the story

3. You all read your story.

4. You all did a Plot Diagram

5. Use 5 Vocabulary Words

6. You are completing the worksheet so you understand what they are. (Due Wednesday)

7. Explain the message

8. You all wrote down the theme, so you are half way there.Here’s what you have left to do…Make your “text connections.” (We will do this today)Text to SelfText to TextText to World

9. Here’s what you have left to do…Make your powerpoint slide (You can do this on your own)

10. Put together your presentation (We will do this later this week).Plan what you will say to retell the story.Make sure you use your Vocabulary wordsExplain the author’s message.

11. Making Text Connections

12. During your “Need to Knows” many of you asked…

13. “What if I don’t have any connections to the short story?”

14. Don’t worry…Connections always exist.You don’t have to like the storyYou don’t have to like the characters…In order to make good text connections, all you need to do is think carefully.Usually, it’s a matter of asking yourself the right questions.

15. Text connections…The easiest way to make connections is to compare and contrast:Compare = How things are the sameContrast = How things are different.

16. To make a text to self connection…Pick one or more of the following and answer it:Explain how you might be the same as characters in the story.Explain how you might be different from characters in the story.

17. To make a text to self connection…Relate your own life to situations or events that happen in the story.Relate the lesson, theme, or moral to your own opinions.Discuss or interpret a specific quote in the text.

18. To make a text to text connection…Compare and contrast your short story with another one.Ask yourself if they come from the same genre.Explain if the stories you chose have similar themes.

19. You automatically have two stories you could choose from! (But you can choose others)The Lottery by Shirley JacksonLord of the Flies by William Golding

20. Make a text to world or text to society connection by…Explaining why the author would write a story like this.Ask yourself why the story is significant or famous.Discuss what the theme means for people in general.You may want to research the story, author, or genre to help.

21. Remember, it’s all aboutthinking critically!!!