Twistaplot
Story
Project
Summary
Students in two or more classrooms pass a story from class to class... each class
adding the next plot section... to see what unpredictable story results. This activity has
been enjoyed by students across town from one another, across the United States, and
across the ocean. It is an excellent way to discuss the importance of continuity,
character development, mood and setting in fictional writing. The first time this activity
was tried in 1984, it took place between two junior highs in the same school district. The
students at the two schools had always felt that they were rivals of one another, and they
were very different. After participating in this project and producing a great story
together, their opinions changed, and the students begged to be allowed to participate in
more collaborative projects.
Suggested Grade Level and Audience
3rd through 12th
Estimated Time Required
1-6 weeks
Student Learning Objectives
- To introduce the concepts of plot, setting, character development and
continuity
- To provide a creative writing experience
- To practice writing, editing and revising
- To reinforce word processing skills
- To communicate with a distant audience
- To engage in electronic transfer of information
Writing Prompt
Writing Situation
This projects lets you join your creative ideas with students in other places to write an
original, unpredictable and spell binding story.
The first paragraph is written for you. Your task is to
write the next section and pass it on to the next group.
The more participants that we have, the more twists the
story might take.
As this story will be read by many others, PLEASE edit
your spelling and punctuation.
Try to keep the story flowing. Make the events that you
write about, fit in with what was written previously. If you introduce new characters...
describe them to the readers. Remember, you need to give the reader as much information as
possible.
In several weeks, we will announce that it is time to
end the story. At that time, we will solicit endings... and the best one submitted will be
chosen as the official ending.
TEACHER HINT: The Twistaplot experience works best when
you guide students in a discussion of how the story should proceed. Conduct a brain
storming session and help students state their original suggestions in a way that will
make sense to the next reader.
Directions for Writing
Here is the starter paragraph
One day the students of Jefferson Junior High were sitting in the
computer learning center, when all of a sudden they heard a strange whirring sound coming
from behind them. The teacher stopped giving instructions and the entire class turned and
stared at the computers. No one had turned them on, yet they were buzzing and beeping and
all the monitors were lit up. Suddenly across one of the screens a message popped up which
said...TURN ME ON...TURN ME ON! What kind of joke is this? thought the teacher. So, she
went over and turned the power on, and what happened next was really amazing! The
computers...
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