AMERICAN LITERATURE SHORT STORY UNIT

In this Short Story Unit, you will create your own story inspired by aspects of other short stories. Use this cover sheet as guide
in writing your own short story.
You must select one short story as a source of inspiration, then integrate other excerpts to continue your own story (use a
minimum of _______ story excerpts). When integrating these excerpts, you must integrate include proper citations. For
example if you selected Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown as inspiration for the setting in your own short
story, include an excerpt about the setting to weave into your story. Please use foot notes or parenthetical citations as a form
of citation for these excerpts. See footnote example below.
She seemed unsettled despite the blue sky that was still visible except directly overhead, where this black
mass of cloud was sweeping swiftly northward1. She starred upward at this ominous darkness, transferring her anxiety
and animosity where as if from the depths of the cloud, came a confused and doubtful sound of voices2.
1, 2

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Young Goodman Brown. 6-7

Excerpts: Must be weaved into the text as italics and citations must accompany each excerpt. If the excerpts are from our
class text, Great American Short Stories, you only need to cite the author, title and page numbers. If you choose to use outside
readings, please include the full MLA citation.
Additionally, you must integrate a minimum of ________schemes and tropes from our lectures into the story.
Attach the rubric below in front of your typed final draft.

Short Story Rubric

Mrs. Rhude

Name: ______________________________
Title of short story: ____________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE (40 PTS)

1-15
16-27
Story does not use
Story attempts to use some
descriptive language.
descriptive language but
does not succeed in
providing a mental image for
the reader.

PLOT STRUCTURE (40 PTS)

1-15
16-27
Story merely describes with
Story does not present a
no narrative component
conflict to be resolved.
whatsoever.
Major parts of plot, such as
rising action, are missing.

LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS ( 20 pts)

1-7
8-12
Story does not appear to
Story contains many major
have been edited at all.
errors, such as subj.-verb
disagreement or lack of
paragraphs.

28-31
Story irregularly or
incompletely uses
descriptive language which
does not provide a complete
mental image for the reader.

32-36
Story uses some sensory
detail, figurative lan-guage,
and interesting word choices
to describe setting,
characters, and events with
few exceptions.

37-40
Story uses specific sensory
detail, fig. lang. (incl. simile
& personification), and
interesting word choices to
fully describe setting,
characters, and events of the
story.

28-31
Story provides some
elements of plot but does not
develop and resolve a
conflict. Other lesser parts,
such as exposition, may be
missing.

32-36
Story provides a plot which
attempts to introduce,
develop, and resolve a
conflict. Climax is
identifiable.

37-40
Story provides a complete
and well-constructed plot
which introduces, develops,
and resolves a conflict.
Climax is readily
identifiable.

13-15
Story contains errors
distracting to the reader,
such as run-ons or omitted
words.

16-18
Story shows good control of
written lang. conventions
with minor exceptions.

19-20
Story shows excellent
control of written language
conventions.

Comments:

Score: _____/40 + _____/40 + _____/20 =