Article writing homework help
Article writing homework help. ENG 520 Final Project Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric
Overview: In this first milestone, you will submit a paper that discusses the story ideas you are interested in writing, along with any potential themes you may
cover along the way.
In The Art of Fiction, John Gardner suggests that the ways writers work out plots can be broken down into a trio of methods. Gardner says, “The writer works out
plot in one of three ways: by borrowing some traditional plot or action from real life (the method of the Greek tragedians, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and many
other writers, ancient and modern); by working his way back from his story climax; or by groping his way forward from an initial situation” (56–57).
The purpose of this milestone is to discuss what you will write about and how. What you compose here should be thought of as being written in “pencil,” and
will become sharper as you study storytelling elements in the course. During your brainstorming process, consider the following questions: Do you have a
particular character in mind? If so, imagine the different scenarios that might test his or her will, or change him or her fundamentally. Do you know that you
would like to write about a specific event, such as a battle during a particular hero’s quest in a dystopian world? Two characters finding love? An earthquake?
What subjects or themes are you drawn to reading, and how would you implement them in your writing?
As such, you might wish to work from a single point of conflict, or an inciting incident, and see where the story will lead you. In this instance, you will move your
way forward, as Gardner suggests. Or, if you see similarities between your story and a classic work, you might choose to model your work after the works of the
masters. This has been the mark of success for many modern films and novels. Finally, if you have no beginning but you have a climax planned that will floor your
audience, then you can work backward to see how your characters may have come to that particular point in time, and look forward to see how it might affect
your characters.
Work Cited
Gardner, John. The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers. Vintage Books. New York: Vintage, 1991. Print.
Prompt: The following critical elements must be addressed in your milestone:
● Story Stats: In this section, you will develop a working title, genre, and point of view and define the structure and form for your story. In your opening
paragraph, specify a working title, genre, and point of view for your story. Next, define its structure and form. Is this a novel, a short story, a screenplay
or play, a personal essay, a narrative poem, or something else? Will you use chapters or any particular formats? Remember that as you progress through
the course, this can change.
● Plot Points: Explain the plot of your story and offer examples of scenes or main events. To address the plot points of the story, write two to three
paragraphs brainstorming your plot, where you explain what you generally want the story to be about. What incites the plot of your story, or how does it
climax or resolve itself? Offer three to five examples of scenes or main events you will include in your story. How might this fit into a three-act plot
structure, identified in How and Why Dramatica Is Different From Six Other Story Paradigms and other course resources?
● Writing Techniques: Discuss how writing techniques such as flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising tension, and reversals might be used in your story.
How much time do you envision your story will cover? A week? A year? A thousand years?
● Theme: Describe the theme and meaning of your story. Once you have established as much of your plot as you can, discuss what theme(s) you would
like to present in your story. What kind of meaning do you want your reader to take away from it? How do the scenes or plot points you mentioned help
portray this theme? This section should be two to three paragraphs.
● Characters: Identify the characters of story, paying attention to their goal, traits, and changes they might undergo. Write one to two paragraphs that
briefly depict the character(s) you imagine traveling through these scenes or this plot. Identify a protagonist and/or an antagonist, a potential narrator
(who could also be the protagonist/antagonist), and what these characters’ goals in the story might be. Can you think of any character traits that would
symbolize the themes you are developing? Next, explain how these characters will undergo change throughout your story. What points in the plot affect
your characters physically, emotionally, or both?
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your submission should be divided into five subheadings: Story Stats, Plot, Writing Techniques, Theme, and Characters. The entire
submission should be a 3- to 5-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins. Any outside references
should be cited using MLA format.
Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Story Stats Develops a working title, genre, and
point-of-view and defines the structure
and form for the story
Develops a working title, genre, and point
of view and defines the structure and
form for the story, but development is
unclear, lacks details, or is ill-defined
Does not develop a working title, genre,
and point of view and define the
structure and form for the story
18
Plot Points Explains the plot of the story and offers
examples of scenes or main events
Explains the plot of the story and offers
examples of scenes or main events, but
does not offer examples
Does not explain the plot of the story and
offers examples of scenes or main events
18
Writing
Techniques
Discusses how writing techniques such as
flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising
tension, and reversals might be used in
the story
Discusses how writing techniques such as
flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising
tension, and reversals might be used in
the story, but discussion is unclear or
lacks details
Does not discuss how writing techniques
such as flashbacks, narrative profluence,
rising tension, and reversals might be
used in the story
18
Theme Describes the theme and meaning of the
story
Describes the theme and meaning of the
story, but consideration is unclear or lacks
details
Does not describe the theme and
meaning of the story
18
Characters Identifies the characters of story with
attention to their goal, traits, and changes
they might undergo
Identifies the characters of story with
attention to their goal, traits, and changes
they might undergo, but identification is
unclear or lacks details
Does not identify the characters of story
with attention to their goal, traits, and
changes they might undergo
18
Articulation of
Response
Submission has no major errors related to
citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or
organization
Submission has major errors related to
citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or
organization that negatively impact
readability and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors related to
citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or
organization that prevent understanding
of ideas
10
Total 100%