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Here's a video link if you forget some moments from Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men":

 

 

Semester 2 Year 9 English

 

Mice and Men Short Story Task

Task:

Write a 400-600 short story or a chapter that could fit within a larger story responding to John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men.

In this response you will draw on Steinbeck’s writing style and some of the key ideas in the text to create your own characters in a different setting.

Your need to write a 100 word Statement of Intention explaining your choices.

This will be done throughout the term and you will have time to work on the response in class, draft your writing and receive feedback from your teacher.

Learning intentions:

  1. Utilise the style of an author

  2. Create interesting characters

  3. Show, rather than tell the reader about your character 

  4. Justify your decisions

  5. Consider the context of a creative response

  6. Write using a short story form

Success criteria:

  1. Write a creative response using John Steinbeck’s literary style

  2. Create a character to generate a particular reaction from a reader

  3. Convey themes from the text in a different context of your choice

  4. Write a Statement of Intention that justifies your decisions as a writer

Due Date: this will be due at the end of Week 6.

Examples:

These are some ideas that you could include within your story. Remember that you can change the setting of your story but you need to show the connections to Steinbeck’s ideas and writing style

You could write about a strong female character in response to Steinbeck’s depiction of Curley’s Wife.

You could write about the limits and tests of friendship in a different setting from Of Mice and Men

You could write about the idea that aspirations, even in the face of harsh realities, are an important part of leading a fulfilled life.

You could write a story that reflects on the power and danger of dreams

​

Videos: Structuring and Telling a  Short Story!

Questions  to ask when planning a short story!

Story Plot Worksheet

Fill in the blanks to plan your story. You can use the ideas provided here to get you started.
Who is your main character?


My character is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Ideas:

 

  • a professional dog-walker.

  • a school teacher with a hidden past.

  • the less popular twin.


What is something your main character wants?


My character desperately wants _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Ideas:

 

  • to move out of his/her parents’ house.

  • to date his/her neighbor.

  • to sing with a local band.


What does your character have to do to get what he/she wants? What’s a reason why he/she must do this RIGHT NOW?


My main character must _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

He/she has to act right now because _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .



What are three problems that might get in his or her way? What will he/she do to try to get past each problem? What will happen then?


Problem 1: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

  • My character will try to get past it by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

  • Then what will happen is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Problem 2: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

  • My character will try to get past it by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

  • Then what will happen is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .


Problem 3: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

 

  • My character will try to get past it by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

  • Then what will happen is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .


What are two possible endings for your story?


Possible Ending 1 (if my character gets what he or she wants): _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Possible Ending 2 (if my character doesn’t get what he or she wants): _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Essay Assessment.: Of Mice and Men/Preparing a Cheat Sheet.

http://www.universitysurvival.com/student-topics/preparing-a-cheat-sheet-2/

A cheat sheet is a document (generally only one page front and back) that contains all of the key information that is likely to be on a test. In some courses, a professor will actually let you bring a cheat sheet to a test to reduce the need for memorization. Even if you can’t use the cheat sheet on a test, the preparation of a cheat sheet is a great way to prepare for a test.

Here are some guidelines for preparing a cheat sheet.

  1. Develop the cheat sheet by adding new items on the cheat sheet following each class. This is a way to develop discipline and review the key points covered in class.

  2. Write out the cheat sheet by hand. You can get more on the document that way. If you have trouble reading your hand writing at the end of the day, you can try typing it as well. You can change the font size to make everything fit.

  3. On any cheat sheet focus on mainly what is being covered in class. Things that your professor placed a lot of emphasis on, anything written down on the board, or material that was discussed extensively should definitely be on your cheat sheet.

  4. For Math, Physics, or Engineering courses, include the following items on your cheat sheet.

    • Formulas

    • Example problems worked out

    • The steps used in the problem listed in order

    • Reminders of things to look out for in doing a problem

    • Any rules used to solve problems

    • Definitions

    • For math or chemistry classes, make sure your cheat sheet includes types of problems that you know will be on an upcoming quiz/test. This will make you more familiar with the type of problems and should help you recall each step in the equation in order to find your answer.

  5. For Science classes, include the following on the cheat sheet

    • Symbols

    • Sample problems

    • The steps used in the problem listed in order

    • Rules governing a scientific principle

    • Terms/definitions

  6. For General Education Requirement classes, include the following on your cheat sheet

    • Names of people and key facts

    • Theories and what they mean

    • Examples of the use of these theories

    • Definitions of terms

    • Dates of significant events

    • Key concepts with how and why they apply

  7. See if you can find old tests. Include information about test questions on your cheat sheet

    • If there was a problem that you got wrong on a previous test, make sure to put an example of that problem on the cheat sheet as a guide to find the right answer.

  8. Go to your book every once in a while for cheat sheet information. Sometimes the teacher will give a hint of what to focus on and get more detail on a subject they didn’t get too in depth in.

  9. Update your cheat sheet after the exam to include information on the exam but not on your cheat sheet. This will be very helpful for your final. Give yourself a grade on what percentage of the test questions you anticipated.

  10. Review your cheat sheet for at least 60 minutes every day for a week ahead of the exam. This continual review will help you remember the concepts. If you do this then you won’t have any of those all-nighters that usually only hurt you when preparing for a test.

  11. Use your exams as a guideline to prepare cheat sheets for future exams. You’ll know more of what the teacher tests on.

  12. Use your cheat sheet as the primary study resource for the final. If you have kept these up-to-date, you should be able to reduce your preparation time for finals.

  13. When the teacher is giving notes make sure you are able to sum up everything he/she says so it is easier for you to understand in the future, when you use the cheat sheet.

  14. While reading sections out of a book make sure to put those notes in the cheat sheet and reach all the important points.

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