1. Short Story

2. Learning Procedures Warming-Up: Story Chaining
The Basics of Short Story

3. Story Chaining
simultaneous, humiliate, dread, apron, linger frown, eagle, abnormal, UFO, socks, futile faint, safe and sound, friends and foes, cuddle, sob, beard, rice cooker, bikini stare, conceited, scold, beach, Superman

4. What is a Short Story?
A brief, imaginative narrative containing few characters, simple plot, conflict, and suspense which leads to a climax and a swift conclusion.

5. Key Elements
Typically short story has four key elements – Character (fewer is better), Setting (brief but poetic and vivid), Plot (as interesting as possible), and Theme (relating to majority of readers).

6. Character
Character – Any personalities who are involved in the plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy characters)
Usually less than 6 in a short story

7. Character Types of Characters:
Round- fully developed, has many different character traits
Flat- stereotyped, one-dimensional, few traits
Static – Does not change
Dynamic – Changes as a result of the story's events

8. Characterization
How the author develops the characters, especially the main character.
This is done through:
what the character does or says
what others say of and to the character
author’s word choice in descriptive passages

9. Characterization Direct characterization Indirect characterization
The author directly states what the character’s personality is like. Example: cruel, kind
Indirect characterization
Showing a character’s personality through his/her actions, thoughts, feelings, words, appearance or other character’s observations or reactions

10. PROTAGONIST Usually the “good guy” or hero in the story
The main character that we follow
The character that strives to solve the conflict

11. ANTAGONIST Types of antagonists: people nature society
The “bad guy” or villain in the story
Usually creates conflict for the main character
Types of antagonists:
people
nature
society

12. Setting The time and place of the story’s action
includes the following:
The geographical location
For example: London, Cairo, Vancouver
The time period
For example: 1865, during WWII, today
The socio-economic characteristics of the location
For example: wealthy suburbs
The specific building, room etc.
For example: a log cabin, a bus, a military base

13. Let’s play a game. 
Imagine a room.  Take a moment to form a mental picture of this room.
Okay, now what if I tell you that the room is a restaurant kitchen?  Did your mental picture just change?
What if I tell you that the restaurant’s closed for the night, and the kitchen is dark except for the streetlamp shining in the back window.  Did your mental picture just change again?
Using specific details in your writing will guide the reader’s imagination, helping the reader to imagine a scene the way you have imagined it yourself.

14. [1] A nurse guided us to a room where my best friend, my grandpa, was lying on a bed. My father was sitting sadly beside grandpa’s bed.
[2] A nurse guided us to a room. After a long week gap I saw my grandpa — my best friend. Grandpa was sleeping peacefully on hospital bed. There were many small TV and radio alike boxes with tiny lights. Few boxes were making “beep-beep” sound in rhythm. I knew that the sound was fading heart beats of my best friend — my grandpa. Then I saw my father, with red and swollen eyes, sitting closure to grandpa’s bed.

15. What is the Plot?
Plot is how the author arranges events to develop his/her basic idea. It is the sequence of events in a story or play. The plot is a planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle and end.

16. Introduction Introduces the reader to: Setting Characters involved
Narrative Hook: question or statement that grabs the reader’s attention

17. Inciting Incident
The first major action in the story that sets the story in motion (gets the ball rolling).

18. Rising Action Incidents which carry the plot along. It often
includes the following:
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Conflict
Suspense
倒叙 埋下伏笔

19. FORESHADOWING
A technique for hinting at events that may occur later in the plot.
music

20. FLASHBACK
The insertion of an earlier event into the time order of a narrative.

21. Conflict
It is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she wants
The plot is driven by climax and it is THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE STORY
There are two types of conflicts: Internal and External

22. Plot: Types of Conflict
Interpersonal Conflict
Human vs. Human
Human vs. Nature
Human vs. Society
Internal Conflict
Human vs. Self

23. SUSPENSE
The feeling of excitement and curiosity that keeps the reader turning the pages; created by making the readers wonder how the conflict will be resolved

24. Climax
The turning point in the story: the high point of interest and suspense
Climax
Rising Action or Complications
Falling Action

25. Falling Action
All events following the climax or turning point in the story. These events are a result of the action taken at the climax.

26. Resolution
The end of the central conflict: it shows how the situation turns out and ties up loose ends

27. Point of View Vantage point from which the writer tells the story.
First person- One of the characters is actually telling the story using the pronoun “I”
Third person- Centers on one character’s thoughts and actions.
Omniscient- All knowing narrator. Can center on the thoughts any actions of any and all characters.

28. Theme
Theme is the “main idea” or central message of the story. It usually contains some insight into the human condition – telling something about humans and life.
The theme can be stated directly or implied by the events and actions in the story.

29. Summary
Character (flat, round, static, dynamic) Setting Plot (Introduction/Exposition, Inciting incident, Rising action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution) Rising action (foreshadowing, flashback, conflict, suspense) Theme