As our book club comes to an end (next Thursday/Saturday is our last day!), I’d like you to reflect on the books we’ve read and the characters we’ve met by choosing one of those characters and inserting him or her into a story of your very own. And, since we’ll be reading True Grit next week, I’d like you to write that story from within the True Grit universe. Here is how you should write your story:
1) Choose a character and complete a “Getting to Know You” worksheet (below) for him or her. You may also choose the author of one of the non-fiction books we read.
2) After completing the worksheet, choose one of the following scenarios to frame your story:
· Your character joins the Lucky Ned Pepper gang and holds up a train! How does he or she interact with the gang? Is he or she helpful in the robbery, or does he or she get in the way? Imagine how your character would fit (or not fit) into this scenario.
· Your character spends a night camping out in the woods with Rooster Cogburn and the two must decide who gets to eat the last hard-tack biscuit. How would your character persuade Rooster to let him or her have the food? Would your character use trickery, debate, brute force, or some other mode of persuasion? How would Rooster respond?
· Your character attempts to negotiate a sale with Mattie Ross. What is he or she attempting to buy or sell? How does he or she contend with Mattie’s quick wit and logic? Is he or she able to finagle a good deal, or does Mattie come out on top?
· Create a scenario of your own. My only stipulations are that your story take place in the True Grit universe and involve at least one True Grit character.
3) Write your story. The story should be 1-2 pages typed, single-spaced, and should reflect your creative thought and careful proofreading. Each student (including you) will share excerpts of his or her story with the group on our last day of class.
