ENG 321  Feb 22

• Note on Peer Responses and Small Group Workshop

• Angus Wilson:  "Short stories start when all but the action is finished."

• Discuss Smiley, Revision and Helping

• Distribute Drafts for Thursday's Workshop

For Thursday 2/24

• Read Peer Stories
• Write Peer Responses for :  Jennifer H, Brad, and Arelis
• Kristen, Maria, Austin, Ninja, Fawn, Amy to distribute revised story drafts to class.  Bring 18 copies.  (the English department will make these copies for you if you turn the story in by noon on Monday.)

The Peer Response for Workshop 2--the Revision of Story #1

1. What is the story about?
2. What's the unstable, but static ground situation?
3. What comes along and changes this static situation and makes it dynamic? 
4. What does the main character want?
5. (a) What's in the way?  (b) Are the obstacles formidable?  (c) Does the conflict grow more complicated as the story progresses? (rising action)
6. What is the protagonist's problem rooted in character, not in the situation?
7. Does the protagonist change?  How?  What is their reversal or recognition?
8. (a) How is the story a record of choices? (b) Are these choices difficult?
9. Are important details "definite" and "concrete" and "significant?  Do details appeal to the senses?  Do they relate to the story's deeper concerns?  Do these details contain "an idea or a judgment or both?" (Burroway 76).  Name some of these and talk about how and why they are definite, concrete, and significant. 
10. What detail or object might become more significant (do more work in the story)?
11. THE IMPORTANCE OF SCENES:   (a) Does the story show its significant action, rather than summarize?  (Does the story "reproduce the emotional impact of experience" (Burroway 74).  Which scenes are crucial to the story?   Why?  (b)  What is the ratio scene to summary or exposition, in terms of percentages?  (for example, 60% scene, 40% exposition or summary). 
12. What might be expressed in scene which isn't yet?
13. What questions do you have that the story doesn't yet answer?  What suggestions can you make that would move the story closer to what it wants to be about? 

Note:  Questions 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and especially 10 and 11, are all different ways of talking about DRAMA.  These are more specific, particular ways of asking the simple question:  Is the story dramatic?

The Peer Response should be 1-2 pages double spaced, typed.  Make sure to be bring TWO COPIES of your peer response.  One to give to me and one to give to the author.

REMINDER:  Margin notes are the place where you say to the author:  Nice image, or Great dialogue, or Good description, or Funny, or make a checkmark, or Great transition, Good characterization.  In your margin notes, you can heap on the praise and good will and fellowship.  So read the story with a pen in your hand, making margin notes along the way.  Should you point out spelling errors, typos, individual sentences which confused you?  Sure, that would help the author clean up their draft, but the real work you have before you is in the answers to the "big picture" questions up above.

Good Luck!