Introduction
ICT literacy means using digital technology, communications tools, and networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information in order to function in a knowledge society.
Creative writing allows students to write on their own terms, freeing them from the pressures of accurate content and proper form. Academic writing among the various disciplines abides by formal rules designed to streamline the communication of information.
Task
Think creatively: Making a Short Story
Instruction: Using any of the four forms of creative writing (Expository, Descriptive, Convincing and Narrative) create a short story that deals with the usage of ICT and how important it is in education.
Process
Process in Writing Short Stories
Step 1: Gather all information about the given topic. Read articles about ICT Literacy to fully understand the topic and to ensure that it will be correlated with the short story.
Step 2: Keep the number of character small. It’s difficult to properly develop a larger number of characters in a short story, and it's hard for a reader to keep track of them. A short story only needs three characters – a protagonist, antagonist, and what is referred to as a wrench or relationship character. The reader needs someone to cheer on, someone to hate, and, occasionally, someone who serves to advance the character arc for either the protagonist or antagonist.
Step 3: Keep up the pace. A fast pace is essential for short stories. Normally, the pace increases as the hero approaches the final conflict. Since a short story starts close to the final conflict, it needs to hit the ground running and catapult the reader headlong into the action from page one.
Step 4: Give the reader someone to root for.
Again, every story needs a protagonist. The trick is to make the reader care about that character. There are a few techniques to strengthen the connection between your protagonist and the reader. Give your main character a passion, hopefully one that will be shared by the reader. Give your character determination that brings them out of their comfort zone. Give your character a weakness, one that is only shared with the reader.
Step 5: Create a conflict. Every short story needs to have a single point of conflict. As a rule, no more than one is required for a short story. The character should have either a dilemma, a revelation, or be faced with a decision of some kind. Surrounding that conflict should be a good dose of tension. Conflict and tension keep readers engaged and invested in your story.
Step 6: Appeal to the five senses. Don't restrict your readers to only the visual experience of your story. Transport them into your world by letting them touch, smell, taste and hear it. This is what we mean when we say, "Show, don't tell." Invite your readers to explore the full breadth of what your world has to offer, as if they were really there.
Step 7: Dialogue should bring your story to life.
Don’t spend too much time setting scenes because a short story needs to come to a relatively quick conclusion. Good dialogue can make the characters, and therefore the story, come to life. When putting characters in a scene, give them something to do, like washing dishes. But then focus on the dialogue to advance the story and set up conflict.
Evaluation
- Beginning: Shows the Intent – How does the story start? What is the central event?
- Middle: Growth/Conflict – What is the subtext? What events happened in the past/backstory? Does it influence the central event?
- End: Resolution/Surprise – What kind of ending does the story have?
- Is it connected with the ICT Literacy topic?
Conclusion
Students are able to show:
a. Imagination/Creativity
b. Self-expression
c. Self-confidence
d. Communication and Persuasion Skills
e. Accurate correlation to the given topic