Plan and develop an outline for a short story Developing the story: In preparation for writing your short story, you will need to think about the issues which the following questions ask you to consider. Be sure to follow all instructions and answer each question carefully.

Write in one sentence the theme that you wish to convey to your readers.

Determine who the main character in your story will be. Give the main character, the protagonist, a name. List details about that character that you want to include in your story.
The protagonist's name:
Age:

What are some outstanding physical characteristics of the character?
Background information about this character includes
Strong points of his or her character are:
Weaknesses in his or her character are:
How do you expect the reader to feel about this character?
Provide information about the second most important character.
Name:.
Age:

Outstanding physical characteristics of the character:
Strong points of character:
Important facts about his or her background:
Character's weaknesses:
How do you want the reader to feel about this character?
Decide which point of view you will use in your story.
I plan to tell my story from the point of view of:

Establish the conflict in your story as well as the characters to be involved in that conflict.
The conflict in my story will be between a. and b. about c.

Summarize the plot of your story. You may use either the elements of the plot-line diagram shown in the lesson, "Short Story Elements," or a simple outline like the one used for the children's story about the mine.

List three times in your story when important conversations will take place.
a.
b.
c.

Choose the setting for the most important event in your story and make a list of details you might use in describing it.
a. sight:

b. sound:

c. smell:

d. taste and/or feel:

Read the incomplete quatrain. the snowy hill calls to the sleeping child come play! it's time to run, and jump, and slide! my slope is steep, and every ride is wild! which line completes the quatrain's "abab" rhyme scheme? wake up! it's time to come enjoy the snow! wake up! i long for kids to come and play! awake, sweet child! embrace the winter thrills! awake, sweet child! it's time to come outside!

Which excerpt from "hills like white elephants" provides the most details about the main characters' lives outside the railway station? click here to read an excerpt.

Ajourney with my father adapted from my reminiscences by sir rabindranath tagore probably in order to teach me to be careful, my father placed a little small change in my charge and required me to keep an account of it. he also entrusted me with the duty of winding his valuable gold watch for him. he overlooked the risk of damage in his desire to train me to a sense of responsibility. when we went out together for our morning walk, he would ask me to give alms to any beggars we came across. but i never could render him a proper account at the end of it. one day, my balance was larger than the account warranted. "i really must make you my cashier," observed my father. "money seems to have a way of growing in your hands! " that watch of his i wound up with such indefatigable1 zeal that it had very soon to be sent to the watchmaker's in calcutta. i am reminded of the time when, later in life, i was appointed to manage the estate and had to lay before my father, owing to his failing eyesight, a statement of accounts on the second or third of every month. i had first to read out the totals under each head, and if he had any doubts on any point, he would ask for the details. if i made any attempt to slur over or keep out of sight any item which i feared he would not like, it was sure to come out. so, these first few days of the month were very anxious ones for me. as i have said, my father had the habit of keeping everything clearly before his mind—whether figures of accounts, or ceremonial arrangements, or additions or alterations to property. he had never seen the new assembly hall built at bolpur, and yet, he was familiar with every detail of it from questioning those who came to see him after a visit to bolpur. he had an extraordinary memory, and when once he got hold of a fact, it never escaped him. my father asked me to copy the favourite verses, with their translation, from the book he liked reading every day. at home, i had been a boy of no account. here, when these important functions were entrusted to me, i felt the glory of the situation. 1. tireless 7 how does the narrator support the idea that his father keeps everything clearly before his mind? a. by giving the example of his father's response when his account did not tally with the money that he had in hand b. by mentioning that his father was interested in everything that happened around him c. by giving the example of his father knowing every detail of the new assembly hall at bolpur d. by mentioning that his father had marked his favorite verses from his favorite book