Reading Like a Writer

 A short story is a piece of prose fiction which can be read at a single sitting.  There is often little action, hardly any character development, but we get a snapshot of life.  There is a limited set of characters, one single action and a simple plot (often: exposition, complication, crisis, sad / happy ending).  A short story very often begins in medias res. In the middle the action.  A short story is restricted to one setting only (fixed place and time, social surroundings).

 Your first task today is to read this short story critically. At the bottom of the text, record your initial reaction.  After you read the story once, you will go through a second time and annotate your copy of the text for the following things:  Words and phrases that are confusing or unfamiliar  Words and phrases that catch your attention  Words and phrases that go to directly to Setting  Words and phrases that go directly to Character