Creative Short Story Assignment - English

Short Story Creative Writing Assignment
Real life stories are unfolding around us all the time. This time, you are going to write your own
ending to a real life story.
The Situation:
On August 4, 2010, 33 miners were trapped in a collapse inside a gold and copper mine at
Colpiapo, Chile. After 17 days of searching, rescuers discovered that all of the men were alive and were
able to start sending the men essential items through a tiny hole that went 2,200 feet into the ground.
NASA scientists, psychologists, spiritual and political leaders, and family members were also able to
communicate with the miners. Initially it was thought that the men could not be rescued until early
December, but over a 22 hour period on October 12 and 13, the men were successfully pulled out of the
mine through an international effort of engineering excellence.
Your Task:
Now that you know the Introduction, Trigger Incident, and Climax of the story, you will write the
Denouement. You will need to do some on-line research to determine whose point-of-view you would
like to use in your writing. Here are some examples:
• Select a particular miner and follow his journey
• The president of Chile, Sebastian Pinera
• A wife, girlfriend, mother, or mistress of one of the miners
• A journalist who was covering the story
As we have discussed in class, Short Story writing is about choosing your words and ideas
carefully. You will need to be careful to plan and edit your story inject as much meaning as possible into
a short piece of writing. You will need to include:
Details:
• Character development
• Setting
• Theme
• Plot
• Figurative language (ex. metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, pathetic fallacy)
• Twist ending
• 500-750 words
• Give it a great title!
• Typed, double-spaced, with 1” margins
• Your name, my name, the course and date on the top left-hand corner
Option:
If you would like to use another current news story (ex. Egyptian protests) as the basis of
your assignment that will be fine, just confirm with me first.

Self-Editing Checklist – Name of Author: ___________________________________________________
Great title!
Engaging opening sentence
Story draws you in and encourages you to read more
Vividly described setting
Clear, logical plot
Characters are clearly defined
Clever integration of theme
Good twist ending
Loose ends are ‘tied up’
NI S G E
Use of at least 5 literary devices (metaphor, alliteration, etc.)
500-750 words
Perfect spelling
Style – good flow, combination of long and short sentences, no
awkward phrasing
Impeccable grammar
Peer Editing Checklist – Name of Editor: ___________________________________________________
Great title!
Engaging opening sentence
Story draws you in and encourages you to read more
Vividly described setting
Clear, logical plot
Characters are clearly defined
Clever integration of theme
Good twist ending
Loose ends are ‘tied up’
NI S G E
Use of at least 5 literary devices (metaphor, alliteration, etc.)
500-750 words
Perfect spelling
Style – good flow, combination of long and short sentences, no
awkward phrasing
Impeccable grammar
Comments: