Name: _______________________________
English 9 – Short Story Project
Instructions: Write a short story based on one of the three stories that you’ve read recently in class.
Include many of the features of an effective narrative, including:
 An exposition that introduces the story’s main characters, setting, and atmosphere
 Rising Action: A series of 2-3 actions or events that get increasingly tense or dramatic
 A clear climax that describes the moment of greatest tension
 A clear resolution that briefly wraps up the story and/or hints at what will happen next to the
characters (however, a cliffhanger/creative resolution would also work)
Story ideas:
1. ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ – Write a story based around the idea of someone being hunted or
pursued by another person/creature/being. Suggestions:
 A gang/gang member trying to escape from rival territory
 A solider trying to escape from an enemy
 A fugitive on the run from the law
 A crazy psycho killer pursuing somebody
2. ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ – Write a story based around some kind of supernatural object that makes
people’s wishes/dreams come true. Suggestions:
 A cure for cancer that turns people into zombies/monsters/mutants, etc…
 Someone gets a huge amount of money only to be kidnapped/harassed by family and friends, etc…
 A person gets anyone he/she wants to fall in love with them only for it to end badly
3. ‘The Cask of the Amontillado’ – Write a story based on the idea of revenge. This can be from the
perspective of a crazy person or someone who had been legitimately wronged. Suggestions:
 Someone takes revenge on their ex- who cheated on/left them
 A falsely accused prisoner gets revenge on the person who betrayed them
 A normal person takes revenge on a person/group who hurt/killed their family
Rubric:
Grading Criteria
Story Elements – Use writing to effectively describe and
develop the story’s characters, settings, and mood
 The story includes at least two main characters (one
can be the antagonist) and explains their motivations,
appearance, background, behavior, etc…
 The writer uses descriptive writing/imagery to
describe the location, time period, and atmosphere in
which the story takes place
Above &
Beyond
Meets
Standard
Almost
Needs
Work
4 Points
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
Narrative Structure – The story contains all of the relevant
aspects of well-constructed narrative
 A series of at least three actions or events that increase
in tension/suspense/intensity
 A clearly identifiable climax that reveals the moment of
maximum tension in a story
 A resolution that clearly wraps up the story and hints
at what happens next to the main characters
4 Points
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
Writing Frame
Instructions: Use the form below to plan out and organize your story.
Exposition:
1. Where/when does your story take place? Describe it:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who is your main character? Describe them by including info. about their age, personality,
background, motivation, etc…
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rising Action #1:
1. Who is your story’s villain/antagonist? Describe them by including info. about their age, personality,
background, motivation, etc…
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is your first dramatic action/event? Describe what happens:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rising Action #2:
1. What is your second dramatic action/event? Describe what happens:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rising Action #3:
1. What is your third dramatic action/event? Describe what happens:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Climax:
1. What happens in the climax of your story? Describe it below:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Resolution:
1. How does your story end?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What will happen next to your characters?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________________
Rubric:
Grading Criteria
Story Elements – Use writing to effectively describe and develop the
story’s characters, settings, and mood
 The story includes at least two main characters (one can be
the antagonist) and explains their motivations, appearance,
background, behavior, etc…
 The writer uses descriptive writing/imagery to describe the
location, time period, and atmosphere in which the story
takes place
Narrative Structure – The story contains all of the relevant aspects
of well-constructed narrative
 A series of at least three actions or events that increase in
tension/suspense/intensity
 A clearly identifiable climax that reveals the moment of
maximum tension in a story
 A resolution that clearly wraps up the story and hints at
what happens next to the main characters
Above &
Beyond
Meets
Standard
Almost
Needs
Work
4 Points
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
4 Points
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________________
Rubric:
Grading Criteria
Story Elements – Use writing to effectively describe and develop the
story’s characters, settings, and mood
 The story includes at least two main characters (one can be
the antagonist) and explains their motivations, appearance,
background, behavior, etc…
 The writer uses descriptive writing/imagery to describe the
location, time period, and atmosphere in which the story
takes place
Narrative Structure – The story contains all of the relevant aspects
of well-constructed narrative
 A series of at least three actions or events that increase in
tension/suspense/intensity
 A clearly identifiable climax that reveals the moment of
maximum tension in a story
 A resolution that clearly wraps up the story and hints at
what happens next to the main characters
Above &
Beyond
Meets
Standard
Almost
Needs
Work
4 Points
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
4 Points
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________