1. Story Bracket Day (continued)
November 10th, 2014

2. Warm Up: Veteran’s Day Warm Up: Veteran’s Day
Date: Tuesday, November 11th, 2014
Writing Prompt: What thoughts come to mind with the image to the left? Write for the length of 2 songs and do not stop until I say so.
Image source:

3. Agenda
Learning Target: Today I will learn how to compare stories to see which one is the strongest and most viable.
Story Rubric and Bracket
Keys to Expository
“The Tell-Tale Heart” Quiz

4. Our Last Two (Notable) Stories
Flowers for Algernon
The Tell-Tale Heart
Charlie Gordon goes from being a mentally retarded man into a genius
Algernon the lab mouse becomes his friend
Charlie experiences life as an adult man and as a child
Charlie learns his friends are not as genuine as he had thought
Charlie experiences a rollercoaster of emotions
Old Man and Narrator live together
Narrator kills Old Man because of his dead eye
Narrator tells this in first person
Story details are limited to the Narrator’s perspective
The reader is uncertain of whether the narrator really killed the Old Man or not

5. Which of these is a better story?
Using the rubric we created in all of the classes, individually evaluate the two stories.
You can use your literature book (page 78 on) or the printed story to reference “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “Flowers for Algernon” respectively.
Next, you will work with your table group add up your scores and come up with a group average score for each story.

6. Story Rubric 1 point 3 points 5 points Characters Plot Writing Style
The personalities of the characters are dull and the reader develops no emotional connection to them.
The characters are somewhat interesting, but are not entirely relatable or they seem cliché and their actions are predictable.
The characters have well-developed personalities that grow throughout the story. They create sympathy and emotion while reading.
Plot
The plot is weak and boring.
The plot is somewhat engaging, but does not entirely hold the interest of the reader.
The plot must be encouraging and suspenseful. Plot twists are welcomed, and the plot must make sense.
Writing Style
The writer has no distinguishable style and the writing is notably bad.
The writing was somewhat engaging but left the reader wanting more depth or detail.
The writing is stylish and balanced great detail with useful plot elements. The writer uses literary devices.
Mood
The mood of the story leaves the reader feeling empty and emotionally detached.
The mood is somewhat impactful.
The mood is distinctive, extremely intriguing, and relatable.
Themes
The themes are bad, flat, or unclear.
The themes of the story are either forced or a little flat. The reader finds them predictable or cliché.
The themes of the story were clear and relatable to the reader.
Overall Enjoyability
The story is painful to read.
The story is not always exciting, but is worth reading.
The story is enchanting and fun to read. I really want to read more of this author’s work.

7. Bracket Results What scores did each of your groups get? FFA TTH
Group 1 (Avg.)
Group 2 (Avg.)
Group 3 (Avg.)
Group 4 (Avg.)
Group 5 (Avg.)
Total/Average

8. Keys to Expository What is expository writing again?
Share words you could use to describe expository writing.
Expository
Writing
Factual
Non-Fiction
Process
Description

9. Homework
Read for 30 minutes.
Work on Genius Hour project.

10. Quiz Time!
Pack up your items in preparation for the “Tell-Tale Heart” quiz.
All you will need is the class set of the quiz (2-sided, 8 questions) and an iRespond remote.
Once I tell you to do so, you may begin.

11. Quiz Time! (Constructed Response Questions)
9. Given the following information, what does the title of the story mean? Is it a good title? Explain using textual evidence.
Dictionary definition of Telltale:
noun
1. a person who heedlessly or maliciously reveals private or confidential matters; tattler; talebearer.
2. a thing serving to reveal or disclose something
adjective
9. that reveals or betrays what is not intended to be known: a telltale blush.
10. giving notice or warning of something, as a mechanical device.
10. In the short story, “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator tells us what has been going on in the house where he lives night after night. Why does the narrator kill the old man? Do you think the narrator feels guilty for his crime? Why or why not? Explain using textual evidence.