Digital Learning Instructions for New Fiction Friday 

______________________ 
 
This semester, we are excited to use the Flipgrid digital platform to engage in New Fiction Friday
presentations. This assignment serves as an opportunity to sharpen your literary analysis skills by
exploring the techniques employed by modern and contemporary writers. Please read all of the
instructions, and review the rubric carefully.

Presenter: ​Complete the New Fiction Friday annotations and analysis (​instructions located below​).
Add a photo of your annotated short story to the end of your analysis document. Submit as one
document to Turnitin.com. Record your presentation. Go to your teacher’s Flipgrid.com page and
add your video to the “New Fiction Friday” topic. Upload the video to Flipgrid a​ nd​ submit your
document to TurnItIn.com by 11:59 p.m. the day ​before​ your presentation date.

Audience: ​Go to your teacher’s Flipgrid.com page. Watch all of the videos submitted for the
presentation date. Choose ​one​ video to reply to. ​Record your response ​(yes, a video) and submit.
You will receive a participation grade for your response. Please leave your comments by 11:59 p.m.
each Monday following the New Fiction Friday virtual presentations.

Presentation Sign-Up Forms

Sign up here to choose your presentation date.
➔ Mrs. Crandall’s Sign-Up Form: ​https://forms.gle/UAeuhoiQ987m9nuA6
➔ Mrs. Zahn’s Sign-Up Form: ​https://forms.gle/fUiGvDdZjSYhUD726

Flipgrid Directions
1. Go to your teacher’s Flipgrid page. *See teacher page URL and password below.
2. Click the down arrow at the word Topics to find “New Fiction Friday.”
3. Click the giant plus sign to add a Friday Forum presentation, ​OR ​click on a presentation to
view and reply.

Crandall’s 3rd Period Flipgrid URL: ​https://flipgrid.com/hhshal3

​Crandall’s 4th Period Flipgrid URL: ​https://flipgrid.com/hhshal4

Zahn Flipgrid URL: ​https://flipgrid.com/e2876c81

Need more Flipgrid help? Click ​HERE​. 

 
   
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New Fiction Friday Instructions 
Honors American Literature 
 
Each Friday, two or three students will present their New Fiction Friday projects. Please refer to the attached
schedule for your due date.

Each presentation should be 5-7 minutes long. Before your presentation date, you will find a contemporary
(preferably published in the last 30 years, but must be more recent than WWI ~ published after 1918) short
story (fiction, no more than 30,000 words) by an American author to read and analyze. You will read,
annotate, summarize, and write a report on your chosen short story. There is a template to follow.

For your presentation, you will use the website ​Storyboard That​ to present the following information:
● Title of your story, author’s name, genre, and year published
● Main characters and setting (cite direct textual evidence)
● Exposition, rising action, climax (​DO NOT​ include the falling action or resolution of your short story.)
One slide for each. Must include summary on each slide.
● Three vocabulary words (cite direct textual evidence)
● Tone (cite direct textual evidence)
● Theme (cite direct textual evidence)
● One literary device (cite direct textual evidence)

All students will be required to view ALL presentations and comment or ask questions regarding at least ONE
analysis. Comments provide SPECIFIC feedback about the analysis or ask SPECIFIC questions about the story.
Your teacher will evaluate your report and analysis on the New Fiction Friday Rubric, and the audience will
receive a participation check for their involvement. Student feedback must be provided to FlipGrid by 11:59
PM on the Monday after the New Fiction Friday presentations.

*Keep in mind, you will have to create an account on ​Storyboard That ​that gives you a ​free two-week trial​ to
create ​and​ present your New Fiction Friday presentation. Be cognizant of your due date when activating the
free trial. Your free trial running out prior to your presentation date will not be considered a legitimate
reason for not having your presentation on time.*

 
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New Fiction Friday Report Template 

In addition to your Storyboard That Presentation, use the following template to type a report for
your short story. Your report must be typed using MLA formatting. Include your heading and
pagination. Follow the template below; you do not need to double space.

Your Name

Mrs. Teacher

Honors American Literature, ____ period

4 May 2019 (date you are presenting)

1. [AUTHOR]:
2. [AUTHOR’S BIO (MINIMUM 50 WORDS)]:
3. [TITLE OF SHORT STORY]:
4. [PUBLICATION DATE]:
5. [FULL MLA CITATION]:
6. [SUMMARY (MINIMUM 250 WORDS)]:
7. [GENRE]:
8. [VOCABULARY]:
A. word (part of speech, p. #): definition
B. word (part of speech, p. #): definition
C. word (part of speech, p. #): definition
[FULL MLA CITATION FOR SOURCE(S) OF DEFINITIONS]
9. [LITERARY ELEMENTS]:
A. Tone: Define the element and quote/describe in detail its occurrence in the text (and cite with parenthetical
notation)
B. Theme: Define the element and quote/describe in detail its occurrence in the text (and cite with parenthetical
notation)
C. Literary device of choice: Define the element and quote/describe in detail its occurrence in the text (and cite
with parenthetical notation)
10. [ANALYSIS OF LITERARY ELEMENTS]: Maintain the same order of literary elements established
above. Analyze the literary elements. Remember that authors make specific choices for particular
reasons. Your analysis should point out the author’s choices and attempt to explain their significance.
A. Tone analysis - write at least 75 words for this response.
B. Theme analysis - write at least 75 words for this response.
C. Literary device of choice analysis - write at least 75 words for this response.
11. [RECOMMENDATION]: To whom would you recommend this short story? Be specific. Write in
complete sentences.
12. [FINAL ANALYSIS]: Consider this piece of literature from your own perspective. Explain your
reaction to the text and the effect of the literary elements employed by the author. Write at least 250
words for your final analysis.
 

New Fiction Friday Rubric 

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Complete this section for your teacher:  

 
Student: __________________________________________  Date: ___________________ 
Story Title: _______________________________________________________________________ 
Author: _________________________ Date Published: _____________________________     
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For teacher use only: Did the student provide his/her own rubric?  Yes No 
If no, the student will be deducted 5 points. 
 
I. Time (5-7 minutes): ____ / 5 
 
Presentation start time: _________________________ End time: ______________________ 
 
 
II. Quality of Short Story: 
American author  ____ / 5 
Length (1,500-30,000 words) ____ / 5   
Date of Publication (considered contemporary) ____ / 5 
 
III. Quality of Presentation: 
Student utilizes ​Storyboard That​ effectively  ____/ 10 
Student provides short story information ____ / 5 
Student summarizes the short story effectively ____ / 5 
Student addresses literary elements/devices and ANALYZES  ____ / 5 
their effects 
Student introduces vocabulary to classmates ____ / 5 
Student’s presentation is organized and coherent ____ / 5 
 
IV. Written Report:  
All required elements are present ____ / 15 
Formatting is correct ____ / 5 
Grammar and spelling are accurate ____ / 5 
Student spent adequate time ensuring the report is thorough  
and well-presented ____ / 5 
 
V. Vocabulary  
(3 words with part of speech and page number): ____ / 15 
 

TOTAL: ______ / 100 

Teacher’s Notes: