Reading homework help. ENG 520 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of a detailed story plan. The final product represents an authentic demonstration of competency because all
creative writers face the challenge of disciplining their imaginations, turning their unbridled creativity into a structured format that welcomes the participation
of readers. Often, professional writers are called upon to produce short stories or even novels at short notice, on a strict deadline, and perhaps even a
predetermined subject. Even the lucky minority of creative writers who have the luxury of writing solely from the heart benefit from knowing how to shape their
creative ideas for their desired market in an efficient manner.
In this final assessment, you will produce a detailed story plan that consists of a number of polished artifacts, each demonstrating mastery of course topics,
including plot outlines, setting and character building, theme, structure, and setting. You will also use brainstorming techniques and incorporate peer feedback
to improve your final product. Finally, your story plan will include a goals statement that is essentially a variation on a statement of intent; it includes what you
intend to accomplish creatively in the story on a thematic and a craft level, and where you see this story fitting in your development as a creative writer.
The project is divided into four milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, Five and Six. The final product will be submitted in Module Nine.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
Outline key elements of plot and story structure in devising original story concepts for creative works
Generate defining traits of characters and settings in building an authentic literary framework
Employ generative brainstorming methods for developing themes that interact with story concepts
Integrate constructive peer feedback into drafted story elements for ensuring a marketable concept
Devise achievable goals for original literary works by efficiently preparing for the personal writing process
Prompt
You will produce a detailed story plan that will include the following components:
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Story Structure:
A. Describe the unique structure of your story. This structure, in whatever form it takes, should include such elements as use of flashbacks,
narrative profluence, rising tension, reversals, and characters. Be sure to specify a working title, genre, and point of view for your story.
B. Justify the choices you have made for story structure. Why did you make these choices as a writer?
II. Plot Outline: Outline the comprehensive plot, including a logical beat-by-beat scene breakdown, that illustrates all significant points of narrative,
avoiding weaknesses such as clichés, telegraphing, and deus ex machina.
III. Setting Details: Create a cohesive place and time for your story and explain the rationale behind your choice of details. In other words, why is your
story set in this particular place at this particular time? What specific details will you use to provide internal consistency to your setting? How will
this setting or world set the stage for story development, including conflict? Consider including world-building backstory elements.
IV. Character Sketches: Introduce your main character(s).
A. Provide in-depth sketches of your main character(s), detailing the defining traits and function(s) of each character. For example, is a particular
character a protagonist? Narrator? Secondary character? An antagonist?
B. Develop unique and defining character details and backstories that are consistent with world-building and plot. Do your characters fit naturally
in your world? Are they believable actors in your plot? Be sure to avoid generalizations such as clichés and stereotyping.
V. Theme Development
A. Analyze your story concept for how it expresses particular theme(s). How have you seeded theme into your story concept?
B. Analyze your characters for how they embody specific theme(s). What qualities or actions of your character speak to specific themes?
C. Generate scenario(s) based on the details of your plot where the theme could be expressed. Are specific parts of your story better suited to
address thematic concerns than others? How will you tie in the theme in terms of plot, character, structure, and/or setting?
VI. Revisions: You may draw upon your character sketches, your world-building/setting details, or your plot outline.
A. Assess aspects of the feedback you received for each artifact for their constructiveness in ensuring a marketable story concept. Be sure to use
specific examples.
B. Defend your choices in incorporating peer feedback into your revisions of each artifact for the final versions. Why did you accept this feedback?
Be sure to use specific examples.
C. Defend your choices in not incorporating peer feedback into your revisions of each artifact for the final versions. Why did you reject this
feedback? Be sure to use specific examples.
VII. Goals Statement
A. Defend your methods of plot outline and story structure in terms of their relevance and efficiency. In other words, how did your process inform
the expression of your story concept? Is your process repeatable? Support your defense with examples.
B. What methods and techniques in this course have helped you to progress as a writer? Be sure to address how your experience of peer feedback
and brainstorming has impacted your approach to story planning.
C. Create goals for your story that are achievable based on your progress in story development and as a writer. What are the next steps you will
need to take to further develop your story?
Milestones
Milestone One: Story Concept Paper
In Module Two, 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. You will specify a working title, genre, and point of view for your story. You will explain the plot and scenes of the story and provide examples. You will
discuss how writing techniques such as flashbacks, narrative profluence, rising tension, and reversals might be used in the story. You will consider the theme and
meaning of your story and identify the characters. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Scene Breakdown and Analysis of Story Parts
In Module Four, you will submit a draft of your scene breakdown and analyze parts of your story. You will identify the protagonist and identify his or her
objective or goal. You will write a scene breakdown that includes as much detail as possible and identify which scenes contribute to the following five significant
points that occur within your story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Lastly, you will describe the conflict that occurs within the
story between your established characters and how this conflict impacts the characters in your story. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two
Rubric.
Milestone Three: Character Sketches and Profiles
In Module Five, you will submit draft character sketches and profiles and introduce your main character(s). These character sketches will include who these
characters are individually and how they connect to one another in the story. The draft will provide in-depth sketches of your main character(s), detailing the
defining traits and function(s) of each character. Characters will also be defined by the archetypal role they will play within the story. The draft for this
assignment will focus on unique and defining character details and backstories that will be significant or will be revealed within your proposed story. This
milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Milestone Four: World-Building/Setting Details
In Module Six, you will submit a draft of the world-building/setting details. The draft will create a clear view of the place and time your story is set and will
explain the rationale behind your choice of details. This world-building/setting assignment will also explore the setting archetypes that you have chosen to use
within your story. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Four Rubric.
Final Submission: Story Plan
In Module Nine, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should
reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric (below).
Deliverables
Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading
One Story Concept Paper Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two Scene Breakdown and Analysis of Story Parts Four Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three Character Sketches and Profiles Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
Four World-Building/Setting Details Six Graded separately; Milestone Four Rubric
Final Submission: Story Plan Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your story plan should adhere to the following formatting requirements: 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and the
most recent guidelines for MLA formatting. The length of your submission will vary.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Story Structure: Unique
Structure
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
story structure demonstrates
exceptional creativity, rigor, and
sophistication
Comprehensively describes the
unique structure of story
Describes the unique structure of
story, but with gaps in relevant
detail or logic
Does not describe the unique
structure of story
6.4
Story Structure: Justify
the Choices
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
choices demonstrate nuanced
understanding of story structure
Justifies choices made for story
structure
Justifies choices made for story
structure, but with gaps in logic
or detail
Does not justify choices made for
story structure
6.4
Plot Outline Meets “Proficient” criteria and
plot outline demonstrates
exceptional creativity, rigor, and
sophistication
Outlines a comprehensive plot of
story concept, including logical
beat-by-beat scene breakdown,
that illustrates significant points
of narrative and avoiding
weaknesses
Outlines a plot of story concept,
but significant points of narrative
illustrated are lacking or exhibit
narrative weaknesses, or plot or
scene breakdown contains gaps
in detail or logic
Does not outline a plot of story
concept
6.4
Setting Details Meets “Proficient” criteria and
setting and rationale
demonstrate exceptional
creativity, rigor, and
sophistication
Creates a cohesive place and
time for story based on story
concept, logically explaining
rationale behind choice of details
Creates a place and time for
story and explains rationale
behind choice of details, but with
gaps in logic or relevance to story
concept
Does not create a place and time
for story and explain rationale
behind choice of details
6.4
Character Sketches:
Main Character(s)
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
character details demonstrate
exceptional creativity, rigor, and
sophistication
Provides in-depth sketches of
main character(s), detailing the
defining traits and function of
each character
Provides sketches of main
character(s), but one or more
sketches is missing character
function(s) or is lacking in detail
Does not provide sketches of
main character(s)
6.4
Character Sketches:
Details and Backstories
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
character details and backstories
demonstrate exceptional
creativity, rigor, and
sophistication
Develops unique and defining
character details and backstories
that are consistent with world
building and plot and avoid
generalizations
Develops character details and
backstories, but are not
consistent with world building
and plot, do not avoid
generalizations, or lack relevant
detail
Does not develop character
details and backstories
6.4
Theme Development:
Story Concept
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
thematic analysis shows keen
insight into the relationship
between story concept and
theme
Accurately analyzes story
concept for its expression of
particular theme(s)
Analyzes story concept for its
expression of particular
theme(s), but with gaps in
accuracy or detail
Does not analyze story concept
for its expression of particular
theme(s)
6.4
Theme Development:
Characters
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
thematic analysis shows keen
insight into the relationship
between character and theme
Accurately analyzes characters
for how they embody specific
theme(s)
Analyzes characters for how they
embody specific theme(s), but
with gaps in accuracy or detail
Does not analyze characters for
how they embody specific
theme(s)
6.4
Theme Development:
Scenario(s)
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
generated scenario(s)
demonstrate a nuanced
understanding of expressing
theme through plot
Generates detailed scenario(s)
where theme could be expressed
based on the details of the plot
Generates scenario(s) where
theme could be expressed, but
scenario(s) are not based on the
details of the plot or lack
sufficient detail
Does not generate scenario(s)
where theme could be expressed
6.4
Revisions:
Constructiveness
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows keen insight into
enhancing the marketability of
story concepts
Logically assesses feedback for
artifact(s) for its constructiveness
in ensuring a marketable story
concept
Assesses feedback for artifact(s)
for its constructiveness in
ensuring a marketable story
concept, but assessment is
illogical or cursory
Does not assess feedback for
artifact(s) for its constructiveness
in ensuring a marketable story
concept
6.4
Revisions:
Incorporating Peer
Feedback
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a sophisticated
understanding of the relationship
between peer feedback and
personal vision
Logically defends choices in
incorporating peer feedback into
revisions of artifact(s) for the
final versions, citing specific
examples
Defends choices in incorporating
peer feedback into revisions of
artifact(s) for the final versions,
but does not cite specific
examples or has gaps in logic
Does not defend choices in
incorporating peer feedback into
revisions of artifact(s) for the
final versions
6.4
Revisions: Not
Incorporating Peer
Feedback
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a sophisticated
understanding of the relationship
between peer feedback and
personal vision
Logically defends choices in not
incorporating peer feedback into
revisions of each artifact for the
final versions, citing specific
examples
Defends choices in not
incorporating peer feedback into
revisions of each artifact for the
final versions, but does not cite
specific examples or has gaps in
logic
Does not defend choices in not
incorporating peer feedback into
revisions of each artifact for the
final versions
6.4
Goals Statement:
Defend Methods
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates exceptional
sophistication in defending
methods of plot outline and story
structure
Logically defends methods of
plot outline and story structure
in terms of their relevance and
efficiency, providing examples
Defends methods of plot outline
and story structure in terms of
their relevance and efficiency,
but with gaps in logic or support
Does not defend methods of plot
outline and story structure in
terms of their relevance and
efficiency
6.4
Goals Statement:
Progress
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
discussion demonstrates
exceptional sophistication and
insight into discussion of
methods and techniques
Discusses methods and
techniques that have helped
progress in writing, including
impact of peer feedback and
brainstorming on story planning
approach
Discusses methods and
techniques that have helped
progress in writing, but with gaps
in detail or logic
Does not discuss methods and
techniques that have helped
progress in writing
6.4
Goals Statement: Goals Meets “Proficient” criteria and
goals show exceptional insight
into next steps in the personal
writing process
Creates achievable goals for
story based on progress in story
development and as a writer
Creates goals for story, but goals
are not achievable based on
progress in story development
and as a writer
Does not create goals for story 6.4
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and organization
and is presented in a professional
and easy-to-read format
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
4
Total 100%