English 2204 - Summer 2007 - Creative Rewrite

English 2204 / Summer 2007

Creative Rewrite Paper

Assignment:

Pick a story that we've read (one that I assigned) that piques your interest for some reason. Maybe it's an unusual character. Maybe it's a unique place or time. Maybe it's the interesting plot. Maybe it's because of the way the story begins, a specific scene in the middle, or the way the story ends.

But also, maybe something feels wrong. Maybe it feels like there's something missing. Maybe it feels like more needs to be told. Maybe the "back story" (before or including the introduction) needs to be developed. Maybe the conclusion needs to be extended or shortened. Maybe a new character or a new scene needs to be added. Maybe an existing character or scene needs to be modified. Maybe the point of view needs to be changed to a different character (or to no character at all). Maybe the setting (time and/or place) needs to be different. This is where your creativity and imagination come into play.

Once you've done some thinking about your story and about all the possible options you have for "changing it" in some way to suit your desires, you have another decision to make:

1.) Do I "re-imagine" the story? If you choose this option, your paper will be more speculative, or theoretical, or hypothetical. You won't be rewriting the story so much as a writer might. Instead, you are going to imagine what would happen to the story if the changes you want to make are implemented -- "what if?" Think of it, then, as an "analysis" of what the story might be like if it was rewritten in the way that you will describe it.

2.) Do I actually "re-write" the story? If you choose this option, your paper will look more like an actual short story, with you standing in for (or substituting for, or taking the place of) the original writer. You will actually rewrite the story and implement the changes you want to make. Obviously, due to the compressed nature of our summer session class, you might only get the rewritten story started, but hopefully three pages is enough to give us a feel for what it might (or will) be if you were to fully complete it.

Sample Paper

Evaluation Criteria: Your paper will be evaluated based on (1) the thoughtfulness, creativity, and originality of the changes to be made to the story, (2) the success to which the re-imagination or the rewriting is carried out, (3) . . . well, we are going to need to discuss other ideas . . . and (4) the use of language -- reasonable “correctness” in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics. In other words, your ideas and how you present and explain them are most important; “grammar” is only taken into account to the degree that it detracts from your presentation. A final word of warning: you are able to use the anthology and your notes as you write your essay, so be careful that you are accurate with your use of names, places, dates, quotations, and factual details from the text.

Formatting Requirements: Your paper should be at least two (2) full pages long but no longer than three (3) full pages -- double-spaced and word-processed -- with 1.0” margins, and a 12-point “normal” font (e.g. Times New Roman or Arial). No title page is needed: simply put your name, the course, my name, and the date in the upper-left-hand corner of the first page; put a page number on all subsequent pages.

Final Draft Due Date: ______________________________