Folklore+Essay+Information

Folklore Unit Project (200 points) The Folklore Unit Project is a narrative essay that fulfills the MCPSS writing requirement for third quarter (100 point test grade). It is also a culminating activity that ties together everything students should have learned during our two week folklore unit (100 point test grade).

The project asks for the student to create an original folktale that fits our five question story map: Each section of the story map is worth 20 points each (for a total of 100 points). The story map will serve as a rubric demonstrating how the folklore grade will be assessed.
 * **Are the characters believable?** || Who is the main character? What is special (or magical) about the character? Who or what is the antagonist (bad guy)? ||
 * **What is the reason for the journey?** || Why does the main character go on the journey? ||
 * **What are the major events of the journey?** || What difficulties does the character face? ||
 * **What is the outcome of the journey?** || How does the main character overcome difficulties in the story? ||
 * **What life lesson (moral) was learned through the journey?** || What point, or lesson about life, do you want readers to get from your story? ||

4/5 of the story map deals with the idea of a “journey. “ All journeys are not trips or voyages just as each destination is not a physical location. The journey itself can be a metaphor for a change of thinking (mental), feeling (emotional), or belief (spiritual). With this in mind, the spectrum of possible stories broadens to allow students greater latitude in the story that he or she creates.

**Questions:** Do I have to write down these questions from the Folklore Story Map and answer them? No, just make sure the answers to these questions are obvious in your story … use them for a guide.

Do I have to type my essay? No, it can be handwritten, typed, or even typed and submitted via Edmodo. (I will give directions for Edmodo submission in the next day or so).

= Deadlines: (see Edmodo) = Rough Draft due on February 8, 2012 (100 point Homework Check) Final Draft due on February 10, 2012 (200 point Test Grade)

Folktales that we read in class:
"It Is Better to Die Forever" "Aunty Misery" (YouTube Class Project ... really) "Strawberries" (not quite the same story we read, but very similar) "The Tale of the Gentle Folk" (Not the full story ... the introduction is missing but the folktale itself is here) "Owl" (a YouTube video adaptation)