Fariy Tale Blurbs

Now that you've written your original fairy tale, write a four to five sentence "blurb" that would be suitable for the back cover of a dust jacket for your fairy tale. Submit your blurbs as comments on this post.

Two Resources

• a four-element formula with an example  (the last is for Shades of Grey if you'd rather not read it)
• multiple strategies / approaches

Book Blurb
Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounters.

Parables Response

Imagine you are one of your parents. Select a parable you (as the parent) want to share with your child (you). Write a three-sentence response that explains your choice.

Image Credit: http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-the-empty-pot-a-chinese-folk-story-about-honesty/

Fables & the Modern World

Review the list of Aesop fable morals and select one moral that interests you because it relates in a substantial way to the modern world. Read the accompanying fable, and write a 3-sentence response about WHY you selected that moral, using evidence from the story to connect to contemporary society.

Names and Story

What one idea from Mr. Allard's chapter on the significance of names and their relationship to story struck you and why? Post a 3-sentence comment to this post.

Tsunami Story

What one idea from Mr. Allard's chapter on the tsunami struck you and why? Post a 3-sentence comment to this post.

Fire Symbolism

What one idea from Mr. Allard's chapter on the connection between fire and storytelling struck you and why? Post a 3-sentence comment to this post.

Society's Views on Intelligence and Talent

“Our society worships talent, and many people assume that possessing superior intelligence or ability-along with confidence in that ability-is a recipe for success."

"In fact, however, more than 30 years of scientific investigation suggests that an overemphasis on intellect or talent leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unwilling to remedy their shortcomings”(Carol S. Dweck, Scientific American Mind - November 28, 2007).

This passage is significant to the paper because it describes the main problem which is going to be addressed and discussed. It also tells an almost sad yet true statement that society warships talent, and many people who are talented may never realize it because they don’t feel that they possess intelligence or ability.

The passage then states that the people who who put an overemphasis on talent and being smart are more susceptible to fail, fear challenges, and not wanting to try to fix their mistakes.