Narrative profluence techniques

ENG 520 Final Project Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: In this first milestone, you will submit a paper that discusses the story ideas you are interested in writing, along with any potential themes you may cover along the way. In The Art of Fiction, John Gardner suggests that the ways writers work out plots can be broken down into a trio of methods. Gardner says, “The writer works out plot in one of three ways: by borrowing some traditional plot or action from real life (the method of the Greek tragedians, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and many other writers, ancient and modern); by working his way back from his story climax; or by groping his way forward from an initial situation” (56–57). The purpose of this milestone is to discuss what you will write about and how. What you compose here should be thought of as being written in “pencil,” and will become sharper as you study storytelling elements in the course. During your brainstorming process, consider the following questions: Do you have a particular character in mind? If so, imagine the different scenarios that might test his or her will, or change him or her fundamentally. Do you know that you would like to write about a specific event, such as a battle during a particular hero’s quest in a dystopian world? Two characters finding love? An earthquake? What subjects or themes are you drawn to reading, and how would you implement them in your writing? As such, you might wish to work from a single point of conflict, or an inciting incident, and see where the story will lead you. In this instance, you will move your way forward, as Gardner suggests. Or, if you see similarities between your story and a classic work, you might choose to model your work after the works of the masters. This has been the mark of success for many modern films and novels. Finally, if you have no beginning but you have a climax planned that will floor your audience, then you can work backward to see how your characters may have come to that particular point in time, and look forward to see how it might affect your characters.

Work Cited

Gardner, John. The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers. Vintage Books. New York: Vintage, 1991. Print.

Prompt: The following critical elements must be addressed in your milestone:

● Story Stats: In this section, you will develop a working title, genre, and point of view and define the structure and form for your story. In your opening paragraph, specify a working title, genre, and point of view for your story. Next, define its structure and form. Is this a novel, a short story, a screenplay or play, a personal essay, a narrative poem, or something else? Will you use chapters or any particular formats? Remember that as you progress through the course, this can change.

● Plot Points: Explain the plot of your story and offer examples of scenes or main events. To address the plot points of the story, write two to three paragraphs brainstorming your plot, where you explain what you generally want the story to be about. What incites the plot of your story, or how does it climax or resolve itself? Offer three to five examples of scenes or main events you will include in your story. How might this fit into a three-act plot structure, identified in How and Why Dramatica Is Different From Six Other Story Paradigms and other course resources?

● Writing Techniques: Discuss how writing techniques such as flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising tension, and reversals might be used in your story. How much time do you envision your story will cover? A week? A year? A thousand years?

http://dramatica.com/articles/how-and-why-dramatica-is-different-from-six-other-story-paradigms

● Theme: Describe the theme and meaning of your story. Once you have established as much of your plot as you can, discuss what theme(s) you would

like to present in your story. What kind of meaning do you want your reader to take away from it? How do the scenes or plot points you mentioned help portray this theme? This section should be two to three paragraphs.

● Characters: Identify the characters of story, paying attention to their goal, traits, and changes they might undergo. Write one to two paragraphs that briefly depict the character(s) you imagine traveling through these scenes or this plot. Identify a protagonist and/or an antagonist, a potential narrator (who could also be the protagonist/antagonist), and what these characters’ goals in the story might be. Can you think of any character traits that would symbolize the themes you are developing? Next, explain how these characters will undergo change throughout your story. What points in the plot affect your characters physically, emotionally, or both?

Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your submission should be divided into five subheadings: Story Stats, Plot, Writing Techniques, Theme, and Characters. The entire submission should be a 3- to 5-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins. Any outside references should be cited using MLA format.

Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value Story Stats Develops a working title, genre, and

point-of-view and defines the structure and form for the story

Develops a working title, genre, and point of view and defines the structure and form for the story, but development is unclear, lacks details, or is ill-defined

Does not develop a working title, genre, and point of view and define the structure and form for the story

18

Plot Points Explains the plot of the story and offers examples of scenes or main events

Explains the plot of the story and offers examples of scenes or main events, but does not offer examples

Does not explain the plot of the story and offers examples of scenes or main events

18

Writing Techniques

Discusses how writing techniques such as flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising tension, and reversals might be used in the story

Discusses how writing techniques such as flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising tension, and reversals might be used in the story, but discussion is unclear or lacks details

Does not discuss how writing techniques such as flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising tension, and reversals might be used in the story

18

Theme Describes the theme and meaning of the story

Describes the theme and meaning of the story, but consideration is unclear or lacks details

Does not describe the theme and meaning of the story

18

Characters Identifies the characters of story with attention to their goal, traits, and changes they might undergo

Identifies the characters of story with attention to their goal, traits, and changes they might undergo, but identification is unclear or lacks details

Does not identify the characters of story with attention to their goal, traits, and changes they might undergo

18

Articulation of Response

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

10

Total 100%

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