English

Year 8 English Term 4 2010 Assessment Task

Journey through Horror

Horror Narrative

Telling a Story – Truth or Fiction?

Task Description

You are to give an oral description of a scary event, pretending that it has actually happened to you.

“Scared” here can be anything from “TERRIFIED” to “REALLY CREEPED OUT”.

• Remember traumatic experiences are different to scary ones. Don’t tell a traumatic story and give yourself stress. The story
needs to be structured to re-tell a scary event, not a traumatic one – these two kinds of events are separate and not necessarily
related. The event does not have to have happened to you, but should sound like it did (realistic). It also should not be gory!

• Remember there are various ways to be scared. It is not just horror stories that are scary.

Specific Requirements:

• Your story is to be told as a First Person Narrative (use the pronoun ‘I’ and tell the story as though it is something that has
already happened to you.)

• As part of your challenge you must include ONE scary element which is true.

• The class will be asked to work out which scary part is true, so remember, when composing your story you have to keep all
details of it a secret.

• You should aim for the retelling of the story to be about 3 minutes in length.

• You can use notes in your presentation but you are not allowed to read word for a word a piece of writing.

• You will be assessed on your ability to make the story come to life with vivid description.

• You will also be assessed on your oral expression and your use of posture and body language including eye contact.

DUE DATE:

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 English

Criteria Low Medium High Excellent

Only focuses
Does not attempt to Occasionally looks
attention to one
look at audience at at someone or Constantly looks at someone or
Eye Contact particular part of
all, reads notes the some groups during some groups at all times
the class, does not
entire time story
scan audience

Inappropriate or
Some appropriate Appropriate
completely Highly appropriate expression,
expression but may expression,
Facial disengaged facial never notice a deadpan or
appear nervous or occasionally
Expressions expressions. May conflicting expression. Highly
disengaged with deadpan. Engaged
laugh or smile at engaged with subject matter.
subject matter. with subject matter.
the wrong moment.

Shows absolutely Shows some Occasionally shows Demonstrates a strong positive

Enthusiasm no interest in topic negativity toward positive feelings feeling about topic during entire
presented topic presented about topic presentation

Some pauses Pauses rarely; in

Many pauses; very
Vocalized Pauses noticed that control of the
hesitant. Does not No vocalized pauses noticed
(uh, well uh, um) interferes with the material and knows
know the material.
presentation. it well.
Largely tells a
Relies completely Relies heavily on Only briefly refers to notes; has
story, does not read
Use of Notes on notes. Does not notes. Presentation completely mastered the material
but uses notes
look up. is read not told. and tells the story confidently.
regularly.
Story is easy to
Story can be
Story is very follow and has a Story is gripping, convincing and
Story-telling followed but some
difficult to follow. clear beginning, effectively structured.
parts are not clear.
middle and ending.
Story is far too Story is far too Story is close to the Story falls within required time
Time frame
short. long. required time. frame.
Attempts to use
Use of language No techniques Wide variety of sophisticated
some techniques Many techniques
and story-telling noticed: story techniques used effectively and
such as description used well.
techniques. simply narrated. well.
and suspense.
Thoughts
Thoughts don’t
Mumbles, or articulated clearly, Story is organized and the interest
Enunciation of flow, not clear, does
audience has but only sometimes level of the audience is maintained
Presentation not engage
difficulty hearing. engages the through clear enunciation.
audience.
audience.
Needs frequent Generally listens Usually listens
reminders to listen; well but needs a attentively. May Always listens attentively and
Listening
often distracted couple of reminders sometimes appear courteously.
and distracting. to pay attention. distracted.
Teacher Comment: Mark out of /40

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