What grabbed your attention from the novel? What made you daydream or picture yourself in one of the chapters of the book? Do you have a pet that you imagine on a fantastic voyage? To help you decide, you may choose from one of the options below or create your own tale.
How you survived in the wilderness
The most frightened you’ve ever been
A disastrous journey
The longest minute of your life
A family trip gone wrong
Why you love your best friend
Once you have decided on a topic, create a brief outline. Your essay or story will be two pages long, typed double-spaced.
In the first paragraph, identify your setting. Remember that the setting comprises both time and place.
In the following paragraphs, develop the conflict that drives your plot. Use dialogue, and perhaps even dialect, to add interest to your characters. Flesh out your characters by describing their actions, physical characteristics, social context, the words they speak, and their intellectual capacity.
Did you notice in the novel that every time a new character speaks, the dialogue begins on a new paragraph? Refer to the book to see how to format your dialogue. Don’t forget to use vivid imagery, specific verbs, and colorful adjectives.
Once your rough draft is complete, have you or someone else read through it to give you ideas on improvements.
As you revise your essay or story for your final draft, answer the following questions:
Does my first paragraph identify the setting?
Can the reader relate to my characters? Have I included vivid descriptions and dialogue?
Does each paragraph focus on one idea?
Do I develop my plot through events and conflict? Is there an identifiable climax and resolution?
Do I bring my story to a conclusion by the last paragraph?