Inspired Historical Fiction Project

After browsing through some old photos, you’ve become ​inspired to write your own historical fiction
book!​ You have a great idea and now you just need to start writing your masterpiece…
Visualize the entire project with this ​PREZI​.

Due 2/14-2/15. Annotated Bibliography Prompt (​EAS Website​)

Historical fiction readers know their history and they won’t tolerate too much inaccuracy. Your first
step will be to research your chosen topic in order to provide a plausible and detailed setting & context for
your work of fiction. You will show evidence of your research process by creating an annotated bibliography/
Works Cited. (see pg. 2)

Due 3/5, 3/6. Historical Fiction Plot Rollercoaster & Excerpt 

Now, you’re both inspired AND truly knowledgeable about your historical fiction topic. Time to
begin imagining, planning, and writing.
Step 1​: ​Create a plan for your new novel’s plot. Use pen & paper, or a tech tool of your choice to
create a plot roller coaster​ (structure of story) for your new novel​. You will be referring back to this when you
pitch/ sell your book at the historical fiction convention in March.

Step 2​: ​With your draft of a plot roller coaster, you must now schedule a brief meeting with your
publisher (​East Asian or English teacher​). In that meeting, you will explain your book’s storyline and talk
through your plan for your short writing. Make sure to highlight the “selling points” of your proposed book.
➢ SIGN UP for meeting with:
○ Mr. Beaucham here: Sign up on ​Google Calendar
○ Mr. Jay here:
○ Ms. Clarke here: ​Google Calendar Appointments
○ Ms. Verick ​here
○ Mr. Larson here: Sign up on​ Google Calendar
○ Mr. Parker here: Sign up on ​Google Calendar

Step 3:​ ​Intrigued by your initial book idea, your publishing company is asking you to submit a ​500-800
word sample from your new novel​ before they say yes and give an advance. To win them over, you will need
to immerse your reader in a single excerpt (piece) of your story and make them feel as if they are they are
sitting alongside the diplomats & emissaries in King Gojong’s court, like the character in your book (​*example
from a different unit- can’t write about this)​ . ​ ​For English, formatting & content should look like this:
Formatting Example​.

Remember! Great stories don’t necessarily come from following a specific, famous person. ​Take inspiration
from your favorite moments of East Asian Studies and from your fiction novels being discussed in English.
Use your own unique characters and your own plot details. Be creative, look for intriguing facts or lingering
questions you came to in your research.
English Class: ​Historical Fiction Sample​ ​East Asian Studies: Annotated Bibliography Sample 
 
Due 3/12 (block 6) & 3/13 (block 2) . Historical Fiction Convention! 
You have been offered the opportunity to present your new novel excerpt & work at a historical fiction
convention, where investors will be able to fund your book. You need to prepare a presentation display to set
on your table during the convention.    
 Project Calendar 
January 

Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday 

14- E 2143  15- F 6587  16- A 1234  17- B 5678  18- 4321 
Getting to know your Lit    HF Workshop #1:     HF Workshop #2:  
Circle  -“discover” your HF photo   

21- D 8765  22- E 2143  23- F 6587  24- A 1234  25- B 5678 
LC 1  HF Workshop #3:  EAS Project Day 
  EAS Project Day  AISA 
*could begin Eng/ EAS  AISA 
conference 

28- C 4321  29- D 8765  30- E 2143  31- F 6587  1- A 1234 

*HF conference required    HF Workshop #4:    HF Workshop #5: 
this week         EAS Project Day 
LC 2   
KAIAC 
 
February 

Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday 

4-  5-   6-   7- B 5678  8- C 4321 

LNY  LNY  LNY     
No School  No School  No School  LC 3  LC 3 
EAS Project Day   
 

11- D 8765  12- E 2143  13- F 6587  14- A 1234  15- B 5678 
HF Workshop #5:  HF Workshop #6:  HF Workshop #6:  LC 4  LC 4 
     
HF Drafts Due 

18- C 4321   19- D 8765  20- E 2143  21- F 6587  22- A 1234 
HF Workshop #7:  HF Workshop #7:  LC 5 (Summ)  LC 5 (Summ)  HF Workshop #8: 
Printed Drafts due  Printed Drafts due   

25- B 5678  26- C 4321  27- D 8765  28- E 2143  1- 

HF Workshop #8:  AF Day 2    AF Day 3  PD DAY 
  No School 

 
March 

Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday 

4- F 6587  5- A 1234  6- B 5678  7- C 4321  8- D 8765 

  HF Summ due  HF Summ due  AF Day 5   
  AF Day 4     
      

11- E 2143  12- F 6587  13- A 1234  14- B 5678  15- C 4321 
AF Day 6  HF Convention (6 Block)  HF Convention (2 Block)     
  Conf Hall: 8-9:30  Conf Hall: 9:30-10:50   
   
   
 HISTORICAL FICTION EXCERPT- RUBRIC 2019  Name:   
Score E S P D I
10 9.3 8.3 7.3 5

Historical Content​ *​ take into account full story structure (pg. 1)​ - 10 pts

- The author naturally embeds researched, accurate historical facts into the story.
- Story adds engaging human interest to historical content, while considering audience
for novel’s content (appropriate for readers).
-There are emotions or situations powerfully depicted in the story that we can relate
to as humans.

Comments:

​ onflict​ *take into account full story structure (pg. 1) ​- 20 pts

Exposition & Novel’s Setting/ Plot/​ C ​(20) ​ ​ (18.6) (16.6) (14.6) (10)

-Novel’s Plot Roller coaster features developed setting, conflict, & plot.
-The excerpt creatively engages and orients the reader by using some elements of:
● setting
● conflict
● elements of plot
that are vibrant, connected.
-Uses a clear point of view & introduces a narrator and/ or vivid, unique characters.

Comments:

Organization/ Cohesion- 10 pts

-Events of chapter flow logically, naturally

-Successfully uses a structure technique (chronology, flashback, foreshadowing,
suspense, etc).
-Builds to coherent whole.

Comments:

Narrative Techniques/ Development- 10 pts

The text demonstrates writer’s choice of sophisticated narrative techniques:

-Dialogue is effective, believable
-Symbolism or subtext is used to reveal a theme/ message
-Text has an ending that is effective and fitting for excerpt.
Techniques develop insightful experiences, events, and/or characters.

Comments:

Style- 10 pts

-Uses eloquent and precise words & phrases (inventive, accurate)

-Descriptive language uses vivid & rich sensory details that create a mood for story
-Conveys a realistic picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters
through showing, golden details

Comments:

​ rammar & Usage- 10 pts

Format & Conventions: ​ G

-MLA format is used correctly & plot roller coaster is polished/ easy to read
-Sentence structure is consistently varied and complex (including punctuation use)
-Good attention to revision, has made effective changes from early drafts

Comments:

Total: ______/ 70 = % (35 pt Summative)

 HISTORICAL FICTION EXCERPT- (Full Scale Rubric)  Name:   
NARRATIVE Exceptional 20 Skilled 18 Proficient 16 Developing 13 Inadequate 10

Historical - The author naturally - Historical facts are - Historical facts are - Little or no historical - No historical facts are
Content embeds researched, researched, accurate and researched and facts are presented. presented in any way.
accurate historical facts author attempts to embed somewhat accurate, but
into the story. them within the story. mentioned as - Contains forced element
*take into - Simply lists historical
afterthoughts. of human interest in the
account full content, no human
story - Story adds engaging - Story adds human interest historical content. interest within story.
structure human interest to historical to historical content. - Contains vague human
document content. interest within historical
-Story depicts emotions or -Story doesn’t include
(the plot -There is an emotion/ content. situations in a manner any reference to
roller coaster -There are emotions or situation depicted in the that others can not really human emotion or
on pg. 1) situations powerfully story that we can relate to -Attempts using emotion relate to. situations.
depicted in the story that as human beings. or situation depicted in
we can relate to as humans. story that we can relate
to as human.

Exposition: -The text creatively -The text orients the -The text uses setting, -The text uses some -The text does not use
Setting/ engages and orients the reader by using setting, conflict, (elements of element of setting, setting, conflict,
Plot/ reader by using some conflict, (elements of plot) plot) that are conflict, (elements of (elements of plot) and
Conflict elements of: that are connected. connected. plot) but may not be is vague or unclear.
● setting effective.
● conflict
● elements of plot -Uses point of view & -Uses point of view & -Does not use point of
that are vibrant, introduces a narrator &/or introduces a narrator -Lacking point of view view or introduce a
connected. clear, interesting and/or characters. unclear narrator, cliched narrator and/or
characters. characters. characters.
-Uses a clear point of view
& introduces a narrator or
vivid, unique characters.

Organization -Experiences/ events flow
/ Cohesion logically, naturally
-Successfully uses a
structure technique
(chronology, flashback,
foreshadowing, suspense,
etc).
-Builds to coherent whole.
-Experiences/ events are
logical or fluid.
-Uses a structure
technique (chronology,
flashback, foreshadowing,
suspense, etc)
-Story is coherent.
-Experiences/ events -Experiences/ events -Experiences/ events
have inconsistencies don’t flow logically or leave reader confused
naturally
-Partial success with a -Does not employ any
structure technique -Brief/ confusing attempt structure techniques.
(chronology, flashback, at structure technique
suspense, -Story is confusing &
foreshadowing, etc) -Story has large lapses in nonsensical.
cohesion.
-Story is fairly coherent.

Narrative The text demonstrates
Techniques/ writer’s choice of
Developmen sophisticated narrative
t techniques:
-Dialogue is effective,
believable
-Symbolism or subtext
is used to reveal a
theme/ message
-Text has an ending
that is effective and
fitting for flash fiction
and leaves the reader
with some insight.
Techniques develop
insightful experiences,
events, and/or
characters.
The text demonstrates The text demonstrates The text demonstrates The text demonstrates
writer’s choice of writer’s choice of minimal use narrative little to no narrative
narrative techniques: average narrative techniques: techniques:
techniques:
-Dialogue is apparent, -Narration is not -No/little
believable -Dialogue is apparent believable/may be flat narration/flat/under
-Symbolism or subtext - Theme/ message is or underdeveloped developed
attempts to reveal a apparent -Theme/message may -Symbolism, subtext
theme/ message -Text has an ending or may not be and theme is not
-Text has an ending that works for flash apparent/lacking apparent
that works for flash fiction. -Text has an ending -Text has no ending
fiction and leaves the that is with and lacks
reader thinking. Techniques partially underdeveloped/ purpose.
develop some rushed.
Techniques may develop experiences, events, Techniques do not
experiences, events, and/or characters. Techniques may not develop experiences,
and/or characters. develop experiences, events, and/or
events, and/or characters.
characters.
Style -Uses eloquent and
precise words & phrases
(inventive, accurate)
-Descriptive language uses
vivid & rich sensory details
that create a mood for
story
-Conveys a realistic picture
of the experiences,
events, setting, and/or
characters.
-Showing, Golden details
Format & -MLA format is used
Conventions correctly & plot roller
: coaster is polished/ easy
Grammar & to read
Usage
-Good attention to
revision, has made
effective changes from
early drafts
-Uses advanced
punctuation (like dashes,
semicolons, dialogue/
quotation)
-Sentence structure is
consistently varied and
complex
-Writer correctly labeled
3 out of 5 different
grammar structures
(OAdj, DAdj, OAdv, DAdv,
AbsP)
Total: _________/ 120 =
-Uses appropriate words
& phrases (inventive or
accurate)
-Descriptive language uses
useful sensory details that
create a mood for story
-Conveys a picture of the
experiences, events,
setting, and/or characters.
-Showing, useful details
-MLA format is used
correctly & plot roller
coaster is polished/ easy
to read
- Attention to revision, has
made some effective
changes from early drafts
-Uses punctuation (like
dashes, semicolons,
dialogue/ quotation)
-Sentence structure is
varied and/ or complex
-Writer correctly labeled
2 out of 5 different
grammar structures
(OAdj, DAdj, OAdv, DAdv,
AbsP)
% (100 pt Summative)
-Uses words & phrases -Some inaccuracy or lack -Words & phrases are
correctly, attempting of unique word/phrase used inaccurately;
some inventive word choice create confusion
choice
-Wording may create -Complete lapses in
-Descriptive language confusion. accurate use of
uses some useful language &/or lack of
details that attempt to -Straight-forward description
create mood language w/ little
attempt at detail or fig. -No attempt to convey
-Conveys a picture of language. a realistic picture of
the experiences, the experiences,
events, setting, and/or -Little evidence of a events, setting, &/or
characters but some realistic picture of the characters; cliche, not
may be flat or lacking experiences, events, believable
believability. setting, &/or characters;
cliche/ not believable -Merely tells
-Some telling and some straightforward
useful detail -Telling, some attempts information
at useful details
-MLA format is used -MLA format has 3+ -Does not follow basics
with 1-2 errors & plot errors & plot roller of MLA format & plot
roller coaster is coaster is not polished/ roller coaster is
polished/ easy to read hard to see incomplete/ illegible
-Some attention to -Little attention to -Little or no attention
revision, has made revision, has made few to revision, has made
purposeful changes changes from early changes from early
from early drafts drafts drafts
-Uses punctuation (like -Inaccuracies in -Many inaccuracies/
dashes, semicolons, punctuation ( dashes, errors in punctuation
dialogue/ quotation) semicolons, dialogue/ (dashes, semicolons,
quotation) dialogue/ quotation)
-Sentence structure
uses some complex -Sentence structure is -Sentence structure is
sentences, but at times not varied or complex confusing. Lapses in
predictable/ repetitive structure and syntax.
-​Sentences are
-Writer correctly repetitive; contain some -​Sentences are
labeled 1 out of 5 fragments/ run-ons repetitive; full of
different grammar fragments/ run-ons
structures (OAdj, DAdj, -Writer labeled some
OAdv, DAdv, AbsP) grammar structures -Writer did not label
(OAdj, DAdj, OAdv, any of the new
DAdv, AbsP), but they grammar structures
are incorrect