GMail & Blogger...

Our assignment for today is to get set up with a Gmail account and a Blogger page.  We will be using our Blogger pages to post our story and possible future assignments as well.

• First of all, let's try Gmail:  Go to http://www.gmail.com/ and register for a new account.  
• Next we can go to http://www.blogger.com/ and sign in using our Gmail username and password.  It doesn't really matter which theme you pick because we can change that and customize them at any time, but for now let's avoid the "Dynamic" themes.
• Write down your Gmail username and password somewhere!  If you lose/forget it, you will have to start your project over.

I will walk you through all of the steps in class to complete these, but there are instructions available here if you would like to complete this at a later time.

After completing the Gmail and Blogger setup, please email me at my work email (griffithr2@k12tn.org) and include the following:

• Your first and last name.
• Your grade level (9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th).
• Your blog address (i.e. http://_______.blogspot.com).

Build Upon Your Story

Today you should continue to build upon your story.  All students should have their stories finished by tomorrow.

Assignment:

• Today you will brainstorm and outline your story [or build upon what you already have]
• Rework your story to incorporate actual historical events
  
• Make sure it fits a "Story Arc" -- a problem to be solved and a resolution
• When it's finished, have at least one classmate read your story and write some notes/suggestions on your paper -- then have them sign next to their suggestions.  
• These suggestions can include spelling/grammar corrections, ideas to make the story better, or just feedback about the story in general.
• Students who leave feedback on a classmates paper [if I can read their signature] will receive Extra Credit.  
• If you get feedback from TWO of your classmates [or more], then YOU will get extra credit as well.
• Neatly rewrite your story utilizing your classmates feedback.  
• Keep your originals with classmate feedback to turn in with your finished story.

Writing Historical Fiction

Think about a time in the past that interests you.  It could be Ancient Rome, Feudal Japan, Colonial America, The Aztec Empire, Medieval Scotland, World War I France, World War II Poland, the Civil Rights Era in the United States, the Civil War, etc.

Now, you are entering a time machine to go there and witness history. Close your eyes. Step into the time machine and listen to the machine's whirring hum as you are transported through space and time, back, back, to the most fascinating place you can imagine! This place and time has intrigued you...and there you are! You climb carefully out of the time machine. You look around. Whom and what do you see? What do you hear? What are people doing? What confuses you about your new surroundings? Remember as many details as you can, so that you can share your observations in a story about that time in history.

• Characters:All characters must behave in realistic ways.
• Problem:The characters are involved in a dilemma that is realistic for that period.
• Description:Places and events are vividly described.
• Setting:The setting is a definite time in history and a very real place.
• Plot:Real events are mixed with fictional happenings. The plot makes sense and ends with a logical solution.
• Dialogue:The characters' words reflect what people knew and thought about in those times.

Could you write a story about trying to change history?  A story about what it's like to be a child living during that time?  An alternative history where something changes the outcome [good or bad] such as Abraham Lincoln being saved, the South inventing better weapons to win the war, Germany developing the bomb first, etc.?  Maybe it's a love story or a drama about someone losing a family member?

Be creative and start with some brainstorming.

Then move on to coming up with a "story arc" if possible:

Another way of looking at it:

A common theme in science fiction or fantasy is revisiting the Holocaust, finding ways to go through time and kill Adolf Hitler, or showing what made Hitler become the villain he was.  Here are some interesting takes on that theme for you to watch in your own time.

One interesting article explains why you can't go back in time and kill Hitler: http://io9.com/why-you-can-t-travel-back-in-time-and-kill-hitler-1267520777

Another article is called, "Time Travellers: Please Don't Kill Hitler" and it makes some interesting points: http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/feb/21/time-travellers-kill-adolf-hitler

Twilight Zone
:more to come: