1. Using the Newspaper – Find an interesting classified
advertisement about an item for sale. Use it as a springboard for writing a
short story. Think about who would have placed the ad, why the person was
selling the item, who would be going to buy it, and what events occur as a
result.
2. Using the Newspaper – find an interesting headline in the
newspaper. Use the headline to create a short story. You could also read the
article and use some of the details to create the short story.
3. Short Story Writing – Write a short story using the ideas of
prejudice, hate crimes, bystanders, scapegoats, etc.
4. Short Story Writing – Write a short story using an idea that
you discussed in health as a basis for the story.
5. Short Story Writing – Write a short story that takes place in
some future society. How would you envision the future? What conflict would
the character be facing? Be sure that there is some point you are making in
the story (as the novel The Giver did and as all science fiction
stories about future societies do.
6. Short Story Writing – Write a short story that shows a
parent/child relationship. What will the conflict be between the two/three
characters? ("The Torn Invitation")
7. Short Story Writing – Write a short story in which a
character makes a choice that he/she regrets and learns an important lesson as
a result. ("Marigolds" "A Taste of Melon")
8. Persuasive Writing – Write a persuasive essay. It should have
an introduction, as many body paragraphs as arguments (have at least 2-3), and
a conclusion. You could use something in the news like the Elian Gonzalez
story. Make sure the topic you choose has two sides to the argument. You take
one side and defend it. Make sure it is something you know about or you are
willing to research the information needed.
9. Personal Essay – Write a personal essay about what it is
like to be a teenager. Consider the problems a teenager faces, the advantages
of being a teenager, the disadvantages, etc. Again make sure your essay as an
introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph
should discuss a particular advantage, disadvantage, etc. The paragraph should
use specific details to support your idea.
10. Personification Story – Choose an ordinary object and
have it come to life. What would its story be? The story should be told in the
first person (the object’s point of view) As in any story, create a
conflict, setting, characters, etc. The story should show what it is like to
be that object. It should, of course, be funny.
11. Descriptive Writing – Write a descriptive essay. First,
you must choose a subject: what will you describe? Next, decide what overall
mood or emotion you wish to create. Finally choose images and descriptive
language that will help to create this mood or emotional state. The key to
this type of writing is vivid language.
12. Writing April/May Issue (pg. 25) - Write a story in which a person
is thrust into a situation he/she is not prepared for. It could be something
that seems like a "dream come true" but in reality is something
else. If this interests you, ask for the magazine to look at.
13. Poetry Booklet – If you like to write poetry, you could
create a booklet. Choose a theme and have all your poems related to that
theme. You can write formula poems or free verse. You must write at least five
poems. Each poem must be illustrated. The poems should be made into a creative
booklet.
14. Point of View Story – Choose a typical children’s story.
Read it. Now tell it from someone else’s point of view. For example, I have
a book you could look at for an example (The True Story of the Three Little
Pigs). It is told from the wolf’s point of view. Choose
any other fairy tale and do the same.
15. If you have any ideas that you would like to pursue, let me know and I
will consider it.
