Write vocabulary words on the chalkboard or white board.
Ask students to call out words they associate with the vocabulary words. For example, if the vocabulary word is voyage, associative words might include ocean, ship, journey, travel, and adventure. This will give the students context to draw upon.
Tell students to copy the words from the board.
Separate students into groups.
Divide the total number of vocabulary words equally among the groups.
Set a timer to 10 minutes; ask students to brainstorm ideas for their narratives based on their assigned words in that time.
Write the outline format on the chalkboard or white board. The outline should include the five elements of the story and include transitions and plot points.
Explain the importance of transitional phrases, rising tension, and resolution.
Designate an amount of time for groups to write outlines for their narratives. Writing an outline will help students smooth out plot holes and maintain consistency.
Assign one student in each group to act as scribe to write or type the first draft of the narrative.
Assign one student in each group to follow their outline so the narrative stays on track.
Remind students that the assignment is a joint effort and should be written together. Each student might write a part of the narrative, such as the introduction, the middle, and the ending, or students may choose the scenes together as they write.
Hand out red pencils to each group to mark their first drafts for revision. Edits may be made within the group or students may swap narratives with other groups as you lead a classroom editing exercise.
Write superfluous words on the chalkboard or white board that students should eliminate from their narratives. For example, unnecessary words that add nothing clutter prose. Include that, the, suddenly, just and -ly adverbs.
Remind students to make sure they included all assigned vocabulary words in their narratives and make certain the words complement the storyline.
Tell students to check for poor grammar, passive and redundant sentences, and spelling errors.
Ask students to write or type a final draft incorporating the edits marked on their first drafts. They should underline or boldface their vocabulary words.
Call on groups to read their narratives aloud to the class. Either one student from each group reads while teammates stand nearby or they take turns reading different sections of their narratives.
Ask listening students to write down the vocabulary words that stand out to them.
Discuss how each group utilized the vocabulary in their narratives.