Historical
Fiction
Short Story Project
Historical
Fiction
Short Story Project
STEP 1: Define Task
What is historical fiction? Historical fiction may include real places, real events, and real people. What makes history into fiction is that the writer uses his or her imagination to create thoughts, feelings, new characters, and possible situations based on real facts.
Your task is to create a historical fiction short story. Last week we generated some excellent questions about details you will need to complete a historical fiction story. Here were the most important:
What is the time period?
What is my point of view?
Who were the important (possibly famous) people during my time period?
What is the occupation of my main character(s)?
What is the setting? (Climate? Landscape? City/country? Animals? Plant life?)
What was the culture? (Language, traditions, ethnic background)
Faith/religion? View of life?
How much money does my character have? What kind of material possessions?
Does my character live in dangerous times? How does he/she defend self/family?
What social level is my character? (Example: noble? serf? warrior?)
Character’s education? Literate? Learned?
Costuming? What did character look like?
Food? Nourishment? Farming?
Medical care?
Transportation and technology?
What was daily life like for my character?
Use your five senses: what does your character see, smell, hear, touch, and taste?
Remember--once you start researching, you may need to ask several other important questions before you write your story!
STEP 2 and 3: Information Seeking and Locating
Where do we find answers to these questions? Before you begin searching, think about which would be best for your time period. Think of important keywords to help you skim and scan your sources. Also remember that primary sources (diaries, letters, interviews) give you incredible details to use in your story!
Three categories:
Print (non-fiction, biographies, encyclopedias)
Use OPAC to locate books on specific people, places, or events
Search the Index to the Encyclopedia (last volume)
Check out books on your topic to skim for illustrations. Pictures can help you brainstorm!
Internet
Search engine: www.google.com Remember to use keywords and keyword combinations to improve your hits. Do NOT type your questions!
Be careful! Don't use a website created by...um...your little sister! Remember quality: who made the site--and are they experts?
Some recommended websites:
Best History Sites (choose your time period for recommended sites on your time period)
Library of Congress Digital collections (great primary sources!)
Hyperhistory Online (want to see what events were happening during your time period?
Databases (GALILEO magazines and newspaper articles).
Annals of American History (U.S. history only!)
History Reference
Center
At home researching? Make sure to have the GALILEO password and
go through the main GALILEO page.
STEP 4: Using information
How do we carefully record the answers to the above questions?
Use this note page to record your information.
Type the source (the book, website, or database article) you used to answer the question in the column on the left. Remember--if you needed to ask special questions for your story, you may add these at the end.
STEP 5: Synthesis
Read over your notes before you begin your freewrite. More instructions to come!
STEP 6: Evaluate
Checklist (coming)
Peer Editing Guidelines (coming)
RUBRIC
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Rubric for the Historical Fiction Short Story |
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Ideas and Content |
My paper brings the time & place my character lived alive; vividly describes her/his experiences and values; refers to relevant, historically accurate details.
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My paper reveals the time and place my character lived; describes a day in her/his life; most or all details are historically accurate.
44-40 pts |
The time & place my character lived is clear, but his/her experiences are more like a list than a story or journal entry; some details may be historically inaccurate. 39-35 |
I tell the reader when and where my story is set but make no attempt to include historically accurate facts or details.
34-24 |
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Organization |
My story/journal has a strong lead, a developed middle, and a satisfying ending, all in an order that makes sense, flows, and hangs together. 10-9 pts |
I have either a strong lead, developed middle or satisfying ending but not all three.
8 pts |
I have a beginning, middle and end in logical order but without flair.
7 pts |
.My writing is aimless and disorganized; it is probably confusing to a reader.
Below 7 pts |
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Voice and Tone |
I chose a point of view and stuck with it. My paper has personality & shows how my character thinks and feels.
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I sound like I care about the topic. My writing voice is engaging but may fade in and out.
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My tone is OK but my paper could have been written by anyone. I need to reveal more about how I think and feel about the topic. 7 pts |
My writing is bland, mechanical. It may sound like I don’t like the topic.
Below 7 pts |
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Word choice |
The words I use are striking but natural, I use powerful verbs & historically accurate words, phrases and slang from the period. 10-9 pts |
My paper has some fine word choices and generally good language. Some parts may be routine.
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The words I use are acceptable but ordinary. I should try to use more expressive words.
7 pts |
My word choice is uninspired, colorless and dull, or sounds like I am trying too hard to impress. Some words may be used incorrectly. Below 7 pts |
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Sentence Fluency & Paragraphs |
My sentences are clear; they begin in different ways; some are longer than others; no fragments; my paper is a delight to read out loud. My paragraphs are indented with one topic per paragraph. 10-9 pts |
My sentences are mostly well-constructed, some minor errors. My essay marches along but doesn’t dance. My paragraphs are indented with one topic per paragraph.
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I have a few problems with fragments or awkward sentences that I should fix. My paragraphs are not correctly formatted.
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My sentences are often awkward or mechanical; little variety in length; may have many sentences that begin with the same word. My paragraphs are not correctly formatted.
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Conventions |
I use the correct grammar, capitals, spelling, and punctuation. 10-9 pts |
I made some errors, perhaps by taking risks and using interesting words or sentences. 8 pts |
My spelling is correct on common words. Some errors in grammar and punctuation. 7 pts |
Frequent errors are distracting.
Below 7 pts |