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The girl who silenced the world at the UN for 5 minutes. Severn Suzuki, a 13-year-old Canadian who formed ECHO (Environmental Children’s Organization), speaks on behalf of the environment.
This has been considered a very impressive speech. Which techniques does she use to make an impact on the audience?
Love and horror are well-known, extremely popular literary genres. A talented writer would try to avoid the usual cliches. But first we have to figure out what those cliches could be! Please add your own ideas (2-3) to these two mind maps which are available online. But first you have to sign up for a Mindomo.com account (a free mind mapping tool) and accept our invite via e-mail:
Love and horror story cliches
After brainstorming together, please try to avoid these cliches when writing your own love/horror story. Make it unique!
Watch this review by Rotten Tomatoes for The Social Network 2010.
Watch this scene from The Social Network. What do you think? Please answer the poll.
Comment briefly on one of these photographs by James Mollison. Choose a favorite and then answer the following questions in your comment + add a link to the photograph.
- What got your attention? Why do you like/dislike this particular room?
- What does the room say about our society?
- How would you compare this room to the room you sleep in?
The canon of English literature is enormous. Here are some contemporary and classic American, British and Canadian short stories for you to choose from. Hopefully, you are an avid reader – let your imagination go wild!
When reading
- First enjoy the ride and let the story take you on a journey.
- Underline words you are unfamiliar with as you read.
- Go through the text again and try to guess the meaning of the words from context.
- Look up any unfamiliar vocabulary from the dictionary.
- Write down any questions or ideas that may have come up when you were reading the story. Underline parts that have made you feel something, whether it be disgust or delight. This is about your experience as a reader, there is no right or wrong!
Short Stories and Authors
- “The Last Question” (1956) by Isaac Asimov
- science-fiction, philosophy
- “Happy Endings” (1983) by Margaret Atwood
- modern, plotlines, storytelling
- “Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie” (1985) by Beryl Bainbridge
- family relationships, gender roles
- “Visiting Time” (2004) By Emma Brockes
- crime and punishment
- “The Colorful Life of Calum McCall” (2007) by Ron Butlin
- loss of innocence, the symbolism of colors, imagination vs. reality
- “So Much Water So Close to Home” (1981) by Raymond Carver
- crime, suspense, murder
- “The Story of an Hour” (1894) by Kate Chopin
- gender roles, women’s independence
- “The Curse” (1953) by Arthur C. Clarke
- science-fiction, apocalypse
- “The Babysitter” (1969) by Robert Coover
- postmodernism, media, modern American society
- “The Landlady” (1959) or “Lamb to the Slaughter” (1953)by Roald Dahl
- dark humor
- “Carapace” (1992) by Romesh Gunesekera
- colonialism, heritage, love
- “The Lottery” (1948) by Shirley Jackson
- human nature, shocking end
- “Premium Harmony” (2009) by Stephen King
- horror
- “The Hand That Feeds Me” (1998) by Michael Z. Lewin
- crime, loyalty, justice, animals
- “To Build A Fire” (1908) by Jack London
- the wilderness, survival
- Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe’s Short Stories
- classic horror
- “The Modest Proposal” (1729) by Jonathan Swift
- satire, Ireland and society
- “Lucky” (1996) by Jane Rogers (audio file)
- love and crushes
- “The Chrysanthemums” (1937) by John Steinbeck
- California, American classics
- “Harrison Bergeron” (1961) by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
- Science fiction, dystopia
- “Everyday Use” (1973) by Alice Walker
- roots, identity, culture
- “The Weekend” (1978) by Fay Weldon
- sexism, gender roles
- “A Haunted House” and other short stories by Virginia Woolf
- modern, British
Write a literary analysis on one short story according to the following instructions:
- Feel free to choose a character(s), a specific theme or a literary device to analyze. Read these instructions before starting your essay:
- Don’t forget to provide direct quotes to prove your theory+ a bibliography!
Crypt of Creativity 