Creative Writing - Switch it Up

Introduction

Students read published stories, use the characters, plots, settings, and conclusions to create new stories.

Introduction

Have you ever read a book and thought the story could have been better if the author had changed the plot just a little? Have you ever read a story such as The Three Bears and thought that it would have been hilarious if Goldilocks would have actually been the zookeeper at the Three Bears' zoo, and the bears just thought she was a weird intruder that kept coming into their house?

Or maybe you read the story of Jack and the Beanstalk and wondered what would have happened if Jack and his mother ate the magic beans instead of throwing them out the window?

If you have ever read a story and thought that the author could have written the story better, well here is your chance to take a common story and make it uncommonly great...or at least, entertaining to your friends!

Task

You will be in groups of four. After reading the story, each person in your group will have a job that relates to "re-developing" the plot, setting, characters, and the conclusion. Your group will work together to build this new story, but each person in your group will give the final decision on how their part will play out in the story. When finished writing, your group will narrate and portray your story.

Process

Lets begin by:

1. You will be put in groups of fours.

2. Read this Switch It Up example of: Jack and the Beanstalk.

3. After reading this unique version of Jack and the Beanstalk, your group will make a decision on which popular story you want to "Switch It Up"

Your choices are:

Little Red Riding Hood

The Lion and the Mouse

Robin Hood

4. Each person in your group will be given a job: Character, Setting, Plot, or Conclusion. You will work as a group, but you will have the final say as to what will happen with your part of the story.

5. You will all read the common story your group has picked.

6. Your group will determine the Characters, Setting, Plot, and Conclusion of the common story by writing them in Padlet and sharinf the link (Don't forget to write your names)

***Helpful Information***

Setting: when and where the story takes place.
Character: a person, animal or thing that plays an important role in the story.
Conflict: the problem of the story.
Plot: All important events in the story.
Theme: The main message of the story.

***More Helpful Information***

The Steps to Good Writing are:

1. Prewriting - Brainstorm and take notes about your new Character(s), Plot, Setting, or Conclusion ideas. Each one of you will take your own notes and be ready to share them during the next step.

2. Drafting - Just get your ideas down. Now one of you will be the writer as the others in your group help verbally.

3. Revising - Make it flow. Work together to make the story.

4. Editing - Each person needs to read the story, by his or herself, in order to catch spelling and punctuation errors. Check to make sure everything is good.

5. Publishing - Make sure this is the best story your group can create.

NOW FOR THE SWITCH IT UP

Click here to begin the writing process

Work together to brainstorm your story on poster board when your group is finished you can start writing. Click here to begin writing the story.

We will gather props and costumes so you can act out your stories when finished.

Evaluation

This is how your work will be evaluated:

4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

	4	3	2	1
Read the Main Story	I read the entire story and I am able to describe the plot, setting, characters, and conclusion.	I read the story, but I am only able to describe two or three parts of the story.	I read the story, but I can only describe one part of the story.	I did not read the story or I do not know what the story is about.
Spelling and Punctuation	There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout.	There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.	There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.	The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.
Title	Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the story and topic.	Title is related to the story and topic.	Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the story and topic.	No title.
Characters	The main characters are named and clearly described in text as well as pictures. Most readers could describe the characters accurately.	The main characters are named and described. Most readers would have some idea of what the characters looked like.	The main characters are named. The reader knows very little about the characters.	It is hard to tell who the main characters are.
Setting	Many vivid, descriptive words are used to tell when and where the story took place.	Some vivid, descriptive words are used to tell the audience when and where the story took place.	The reader can figure out when and where the story took place, but the author didn\'t supply much detail.	The reader has trouble figuring out when and where the story took place.
Conclusion	The solution to the character\'s problem is easy to understand, and is logical. There are no loose ends.	The solution to the character\'s problem is easy to understand, and is somewhat logical.	The solution to the character\'s problem is a little hard to understand.	No solution is attempted or it is impossible to understand.
Plot	Several action verbs (active voice) are used to describe what is happening in the story. The story seems exciting!	Several action verbs are used to describe what is happening in the story, but the word choice doesn\'t make the story as exciting as it could be.	A variety of verbs (passive voice) are used and describe the action accurately but not in a very exciting way.	Little variety seen in the verbs that are used. The story seems a little boring.
Writing Process	Student devotes a lot of time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works hard to make the story wonderful.	Student devotes sufficient time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works and gets the job done.	Student devotes some time and effort to the writing process but was not very thorough. Does enough to get by.	Student devotes little time and effort to the writing process. Doesn\'t seem to care.

Conclusion

You have practiced your writing skills by using the Five Steps to Good Writing: Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Publishing. You have also learned about Characters, Settings, Plots, and Conclusions to stories. I am so excited to hear each group narrate and portray the Switch It Up Story each group has written. Let's see who took a common story and made it funny.