Describe your experience of city streets after a snowstorm.
Author: D. Sader
Debate: Ireland
Although Ireland has gained independence since the the events of the O’Flaherty’s story “The Sniper” or Jordan’s film “Michael Collins,” Northern Ireland continues to be a place of conflict, which can be viewed in at least two ways:
- Northern Ireland should remain separate from Ireland.
- Ireland should become one country without a north and south division
Work in a group to debate these two opposing viewpoints. First, use print and electronic sources to research this conflict. Then decide on a statement to debate; for example, Northern Ireland should remain a separate country. Divide into two groups, one for and one against, and then prepare to debate with your classmates. Use the following guidelines as your prepare:
- review the facts in your research
- think about your opinion or the position you’ll be taking
- prepare a persuasive argument about two minutes in length
- work co-operatively with others on your team to develop three arguments that, but don’t repeat, each other
- revise your argument
- memorize and practice delivering your argument
- during the debate listen carefully to the opposing team’s arguments
- prepare your rebuttal (your response to the argument of an opposing team member)
The Sniper
Read “The Sniper,” by Liam O’Flaherty.
Respond to the Story
- Reread the first paragraph. What details in the author’s description of the setting establish the tone or atmosphere of the story?
- What message about this civil war is Liam O’Flaherty trying to convey? How does his message compare to the theme in “War,” by Timothy Findley?
- List words and phrases the author uses to describe the sniper and what he is doing. Write your own descriptions of him, using some or all of these words.
- The sniper is the only character the author describes in great detail. Why do you think the author chose to do that?
- Were you surprised by the ending? Why or why not? Did you find it a powerful ending?
- Do you think such a story could occur in Canada? Give reasons for your opinion.
Write a Factual Report
Imagine you are the main character in “The Sniper.” You’ve just returned to your company and have been asked to write a report about what happened. List the events in the story in the order they occurred. Use a complete sentence for each event. Because this is an official report, leave out how you feel or what you thought–just include the facts as you saw them.
Essay Topics
- After researching the life of Liam O’Flaherty, write an informative essay explaining the extent to which he based “The Sniper” on his own experiences.
- Does urban warfare, like that in “The Sniper,” affect the outlook and mental stability of combatants differently than battlefield fighting?
- Is modern Ireland still influenced by the outcome of the violence in the early 1920s?
- In an informative essay, write a short psychological profile the IRA sniper.
- Can the tactics of urban guerrillas–sniping, sabotage, terrorist bombings–be morally justified?
Unclaimed Bank Balance
Write a short story that features the discovery of an unclaimed balance.
War
Read “War,” by Timothy Findley.
Do you think you really understand why adults do the things they do?
Respond to the Story
- Whose war does the author refer to in the title? Support your view with examples from the story.
- With a small group, discuss whether you think the way Neil reacts to his father leaving is typical of a ten-year-old boy. Why do you think he throws the stones?
- Like most stories, the action builds up to an event that’s the high point or climax. What is the climax of “War”?
- Reread the story focusing specifically on the way Findley has captured the thoughts and feelings of a twelve-year-old boy who is looking back on events that happened when he was ten years old. Focus particularly on the explanations and interpretations that the narrator at the age of twelve offers for the things he said and did at age ten. In what ways does the older version of the narrator understand more fully the significance of the events described in the story?
- Find examples of vocabulary, expressions, and syntax in the story that are typical of a young person. What are some features of language that are used unconventionally to imitate the direct speech of a young person whose use of language is still developing?
Explore Personal Feelings
Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you lost control of your emotions or the way you acted? What event or situation in your life made you lose control? Jot down in note form what happened, how you felt at the time, how you felt afterward, and how the situation was resolved.
Use your notes to write a story about that incident. You might use a structure similar to “War.” The beginning could introduce the main characters and the problem or situation. The middle section could explore how everyone had to deal with this problem. The climax could occur when you (or your character) lose control. The end could briefly describe how everything was resolved.
When you write your story, how do you write conversations between characters? Could your style be improved? How?
Create a Script
- At one point in his story, the narrator switches from normal narrative conventions to a dramatic version of a conversation held by the three boys. This part of the selection is set up more as a play than as a story. Explain how effectively this scene works as a piece of drama. Pick another episode in the story that would work well as a dramatic scene and rewrite it using the example provided by Findley as a model. Remember to make the dialogue specific to each character’s personality. Prepare a recording of your scene.
Another Viewpoint: Society
With a group of 5 or 6 students plan a Symposium(or Symposium?) on the subject of war. Have each student select and read or view a work that focuses on war, such as the novel All Quiet on the Western Front(1929) by German author Eric Maria Remarque, paintings by Canadian designated “war artists” Frederick Varley or Molly Lamb Bobak, the non-ficiton book The Guns of August (1962) by American author Barbara Tuchman, poetry by the British writer Wilfred Owen, or the American film The Thin Red Line(1998). During your symposium, have each student articulate the impressions of and ideas about war evident in each text. Then explore some of the following questions: What characteristics are common to all wars, regardless of the era or location? How has war changed over the centuries? Is war today more dangerous than wars of previous eras? How does war affect the daily life of civil society? Can war ever be eradicated?
A Sunrise on the Veld
Read “A Sunrise on the Veld,” by Doris Lessing
Respond to the Story
- Describe the boy’s feelings and state of mind before he comes upon the buck. Describe a time in your life when you experienced a similar emotion.
- Why does the boy not shoot the buck?
- How does the boy feel at the end of the story? What has caused his mood to change so dramatically?
Poetic Language
The author, Doris Lessing, expresses the boy’s thoughts and feelings very poetically in the two paragraphs before the boy hears the buck’s cries. With a partner, discuss some of these phrases and the images they create. What emotions do the images raise? Is the use of poetic language effective? What types of writing techniques are used?
Using phrases from these two paragraphs, write a poem that expresses the character’s joy at being young and alive. You could draw or find an illustration that captures the spirit of your poem.
(Extra: use any Walt Whitman poem as a model)
Thank You Ma’am
Read “Thank You Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes.
Respond to the Story
- The first sentence of the story suggests that the tone will be humorous. What other details in the story add to the humorous effect?
- Despite the light tone, the story deals with a serious subject. Which details in the story tell you that the purpose of the story is more serious?
- Do you think that meeting Mrs. Jones will turn out to be a turning point in Roger’s life? Explain.
- What is the kindest thing that a stranger has ever done for you or someone you know?
Create a Thank-You Letter
Write a thank-you letter to Mrs. Jones using the point of view or voice of Roger after several years have passed. In the letter, you should review the events and the effect her kindness had on Roger. Tell her about what has happened since. Remember the course focus, “The Human Condition – In Search of Self.” Try to include some comments about how Mrs. Jones changed Roger’s life.
Tips:
Use the following address information for your letter:
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones lives in the city of Joplin, Missouri. She lives on the first floor of a rooming house, Unit 4, at 123 5th Street. Her United States postal code is 64802.
Roger Hughes now works in Columbia, Missouri in an office at 230 Jesse Hall. The United States postal code there is 65211.
I Have A Dream
Read “I Have A Dream,” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Respond to the Reading
Discuss these words from Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“I have a dream that four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Do you think the community in which you live has reached this goal? Explain. What can you do to achieve King’s “dream”?
Write a Research Report
Work with a partner or small group to research an incident of ethnic or religious intolerance in Canada. What were the events leading up to the incident? What were the issues, and how did the people involved feel about them? What, if anything, did the people involved learn from the incident? What did you learn from your research? Decide on how you will present your report: as a scripted recorded podcast, or a written post in your blog. Hint: use the speech as a model.
Write an Opinion Essay
Choose a type of prejudice or bias about which you feel strongly. It could be bias against an ethnic or religious group, a group of students in your school, or any other group. Write an opinion essay that expresses why people have a negative view of that group, and presents arguments that might change their minds. Your essay should begin with a clear statement of your point of view, give your arguments and supporting evidence, and end with a strong and persuasive conclusion.
Suggested Topics:
Canadian Residential School System
Chinese Immigration to Canada: A Tale of Perseverance
Africville: Expropriating Black Nova Scotians
Hippie Society: The Youth Rebellion
The Michelle I Know
Read “The Michelle I Know,” by Alison Lohans.
Respond to the Story
- Who is the hero in this story? Explain why you think so.
- What is the turning point? In what way does Michelle change?
- What is the overall message and mood?
- Why is humour an important part of this story?
- Why do you think Alison Lohans calls her story “The Michelle I Know”?
Story Craft
Investigate drawing a plot diagram for this story. Use an online tool or draw your own chart. Complete it by adding story details under each of the following: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Have you read other stories like “The Michelle I know”? Discuss these stories. How were their plots similar or different? How could you use a plot diagram the next time you write your own short story?
Write a Short Story
In most good stories the characters undergo a significant change, just as Michelle does. Think about, and jot down, some ideas for a short story about an ordinary person who undergoes a significant change. Which idea would make an entertaining story for an audience of your peers?
Story Writing Tips from STJ Forums
Write an outline for your short story, including notes on the following: main character and personality, setting, conflict, initial incident, rising action, changes, climax, and conclusion/denouement/resolution. Use this outline to write a first draft. Ask a partner to give you feedback about improving your story. Revise your draft using this feedback.
Create a Sequel
Read “Kath and Mouse,” by Janet McNaughton.
Responding to the Story
- What does it mean to play “cat and mouse”? Give an example from a personal experience or from a movie, book, or TV show you have seen.
- In what way does Kath play a “cat and mouse” game with Helen?
- What pun has the author used in the title?
- Explain the significance of the character Christine. Why did the author bring her into the story?
- Revisit the definition of narrative conflict. Discuss how the author used the conflict between characters to create tension. Why is conflict an important element of a story? How does conflict create a tense, fast-paced story? Discuss the types of conflict that exist in other stories(novels) you have read recently.
Create a Sequel
What happens to Kath, Helen, and Kevin after the story ends? Continue the story. Be sure that the details and events you relate are consistent with the original story.
Here are a few suggestions to help you write your own short story sequel:
Developing an Idea
- Think about “Kath and Mouse.” What do you think the characters have learned in the story? Try to predict what they will do next.
- Develop a plot idea. Does Kath continue to bully others around her?
- List the characters that you want to include
Drafting
- Write an outline that describes the plot, setting, point of view, and main conflict. Will you tell the story from Kath’s or Helen’s point of view, or as an outsider looking in on the situation?
- Using your outline as a guide, write your story. Think about an exciting way to start. Grab your reader’s interest right at the start.
- What will the mood or tone of your story be – funny, serious, or realistic?
- Use dialogue between characters to move the plot along and to reveal character
Revising
Read your story, and ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the plot make sense? Is it interesting to the reader?
- Have you remained true to the original story?
- Are the characters’ actions believable?
Oh, and one more thing…
First, … look up the word “eclectic”. If you think you know what it means, identify example from the story of something “eclectic.” Include something eclectic in your sequel.
Second, … look through several quotes from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War.” Include a direct or indirect reference to at least one quote from “The Art of War.”