Then her eyes fell on the pillow at the foot of the bed. A group of high school friends cross paths 10 years after graduation to catch up, only to learn that one in their midst has developed special, superhuman powers. Why did they go so long without talking? Concentrate now, it will not come easily. A campfire, a scream, and a small lie that gets bigger and bigger. It was a boy, not too long ago, that taught me romance – real romance—isn't something hopeless, or unenergetic like stale poetry, or futile like canned compliments. Your antagonist has finally won, accomplishing their greatest feat. Which of the following statements about DNA synthesis is true? Their sum is 22. Your main character is granted a single wish, but must be careful, because the genie granting the wish will attempt to misinterpret any wish they make. "I've lost him," she screamed, but none of us knew what she'd lost. It happened again.". His eyes traced the inner workings of the machine to the place where the light shone. She wondered if she should turn back. He watched her leave, knowing that she only locked the flimsy doorknob behind her. Your main character is given an important heirloom, an item passed down for generations in their family. The night before an important social function, your main character is tasked with saving the world. You promised you'd wait for me.". Was it animal blood... or human? The paper tore once, twice, three times. For advanced readers, this story merits classroom discussion as a … Siblings struggle with their parents’ divorce. Smoke leaked from the exhaust pipes of the Mustang as the plane began to descend. When a pet passes away, the moment is strangely dense. Your character finds their best friend crying. Adapted from GAVL (printable pdf version of GAVL assignment) Option 1: Irony PowerPoint Create a PowerPoint explaining irony in at least 3 of the 4 short stories you've read. ‘Short stories’ is a mode that spans across all genres and has wide boundaries for what works with a given text. Your main character's dog goes missing in the night, and they aren't the only one missing a pet. Write a fictional story about a teen who creates a viral video. She looked out the window and saw moving shadows, as far as the eye could see, and was thankful at least for the light from the window on the house on the hill. Could he have erased her existence? "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Minority Report," and "Brokeback Mountain"—even Hollywood has taken a renewed interest in short stories. A man and his dog go to the dog park to play and the dog finds a bone with strange carvings on it that reacts to the environment in unexpected ways. What would your character do if they found out? One night while your character is camping in the woods with their family, there's a loud noise from inside the tent. Younger crewmen were wading through the water in search of bailing buckets. "Do you have experience with demons?" She didn't even blink when he resorted to the feather, or when he made a motion like he might poke her in the eye. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London: A foolish man foolishly starts his journey in foolishly cold weather, foolishly gets wet, and struggles to build a fire. He found he couldn't drag his stare away. Your character is a member of a family that has always feuded with their neighbors over trivial issues, and now must ask his/her neighbors for help in an emergency. Your main character or antagonist wins the lottery, a jackpot of 3.4 million dollars. For a moment, time slowed, and the sound of the approaching storm was all that we could hear. She laughed when he told her the news. "I'm falling for you," he said. Your main character wakes up on a rooftop, in their underwear. Write a story from the perspective of an animal at the local shelter. The antagonist dies, but the story doesn't end. Your main character wakes up, in high school again, and finds that they are late for an important test. When they wake up, each is in the other's body. Looking into the fire was the wrong thing to do. How do they find their way out? No one seemed to recognize her. Don't let your literature anthology dictate the short stories you read with your middle school and high school students. Your main character comes home to find that their family is missing. A writer's manuscript contains words he didn't write…ghostwriting in its truest form. The face in the mirror was not his own. He flicked the stub of his cigarette onto the pile and walked away without a second look. The first day of school, a love note, and a recipe with a significant mistake. Finkel panicked. How do the neighbors respond? I'd never last long in the slammer. "Girl". The night winds rustled as the door to the old woman's home slowly opened. When your character is hanging out at their favorite coffee shop, they notice someone loitering outside. Here are some short stories that deal with themes and subject matter appropriate for high school students. Death by poison seems worth the risk in case it's edible, doesn't it?". I shredded it and scattered it to the wind. Stars spin real slow. Love stories. He frowned, uncertain, but his reflection smiled. Nothing had grown in that patch of grass for 50 years. They pause for a minute before they answer him. You can use prompts below to help you harness your own life and background to come up with story ideas that are easy to develop. What does the message say and how did it get there? Write a story that clearly states what the surprise is, and how your character reacts to that surprise. 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