Instructions
Drawing inspiration from the theme of the poem, “the lesson of the moth,” create a short story.
Your story must include a clear risk (danger, humiliation, death, etc.) and a clear positive goal or result (joy, beauty, friendship, knowledge, etc.).
The theme of “the lesson of the moth” and “Standing Outside the Fire” is:
Some risks in life are worth taking.
Make that the theme (message) of your story, too.
You don’t need to say what the risk is in the story, as long as your character takes a risk (danger) and aims for a positive result (payoff). Do not use the word, “risk,” in your title, and avoid using the word, “risk,” in your paper. Instead, show the character taking a risk. Include specific details, the five senses, inner thoughts, and dialogue.
Rough Draft – Due (beginning of class) Wednesday
“I can’t think of what to write. What are some risks I could write about?” (here’s a list)
- Answering a question in class
- Asking someone out
- Becoming a celebrity
- Breaking a rule
- Bungee jumping
- Cliff diving (into a river, lake, or ocean)
- Climbing a tree
- Confessing to a crush
- Cop
- Deep sea diving
- Disobey parents
- Diving for a volleyball
- Drama
- Driving a car
- Exploring the wilderness
- Facing your fears
- Firefighter
- Going hunting
- Hunting
- Investing in the stock market
- Invite a new student to eat lunch with your friends
- IRS agent
- Lie to a friend, so you don’t hurt their feelings, saying you like their outfit when it’s really terrible
- Lighting fireworks
- Lumberjack
- Mountain climbing
- Parasailing
- Playing poker
- Police officer (undercover)
- Protesting
- Reading out loud
- Riding a roller coaster
- Rock climbing
- Running for president
- Saying hi
- Secret service
- Serving in the military
- Singing
- Skating on a giant half pipe
- Skydiving
- Speaking up
- Standing up against a wrong
- Storm chaser
- Surgeon
- Swimming with sharks
- Tackle someone in football
- Taking a dare
- Telling on a friend who is going to try drugs or alcohol
- Telling someone a secret
- Trampoline
- Traveling abroad
- Trying out for a team/group
- Trying out for a play
- Trying something new
- Trying to escape from danger