Ray Bradburys A Sound of Thunder

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________

Day 6: The Simpsons Parody Collaborative Writing Project Period: ________


Collaborative Creative Writing Project:
Piecemeal Chaos Theory Blog Short Story

Directions: Inspired by The Simpsonss comical and creative spinoff of Bradburys A Sound of Thunder, you will be
working in groups of four (4) to create your own chaos theory short story. The following are several key points and
components of this week-long (five days) project:

You are not confined to the science fiction genre; however, you will be limited to the qualities and
characteristics of the genre you do choose (as well as to the features of the specific biome you select for your
storys setting).

In your stories, you must include a keystone species AND a human character from the short story read. A Sound
of Thunder. By inserting a premade character, you will demonstrate an understanding of his/her original
characterization because his/her attributes must be carried over and portrayed in your story (i.e. Madame
Loisel should somehow be cast as materialistic and self-conscious in your story, since she possessed those
attributes at the beginning of Maupassant The Necklace).

You will write your storys exposition together. This introductory section is foundational, as it will establish your
keystone species, accurately describe its niche in your storys setting (this may require a small amount of
research), and include a plot event that kills off a single member of your keystone species.

From there, your plotline prompt is very open-ended. It must be embrace chaos theory and occasionally link
the chain of events that is set in motion to the niche of the keystone species.
Ray Bradburys A Sound of Thunder



To write the body of your short story, you will each be assigned several homework nights to contribute a
paragraph. On your night, read your group members prior contributions to catch-up on how your groups story
is progressing. Then write a new paragraph that builds upon their direction in a logical but creative way. Be
sure to add your group numbers category to your post. Click on your category in the left column to view all your
storys paragraphs.

Be creative! Give your group members something enjoyable and interesting to read and add to. The online
format of this project also enables you to read the development of other groups stories, and anticipate the next
installment of their stories every night!

Writing Checklist:



Step 1: Pick a Biome, Genre, and Character

For your storys setting, pick one of the biomes you have discussed in science class. Keep in mind that all
of the animals, plants, and insects used in your story must adhere to the ecosystems of your chosen
biome. For assistance, refer back to the Day 3 science lesson in which groups designed Styrofoam
nesting cup food chains for given biomes. You also have to include a character from the short story, A
Sound of Thunder, read in English class. You may recast them as either a primary or secondary
character.

* Please Note: The provided choices are limited to the biomes you created food chains for in science
class and open to any literary genre (your story does not have to be science fiction).

OPTIONS: PICK A. . .
Biome Genre
Sound of Thunder
Character
- Rain Forest
- Dry Forest
- Savanna
- Desert
- Grassland
- Tundra
- Science Fiction
- Horror
- Realistic Fiction
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
- Fantasy
- Travis
- Eckels
- Man Behind the Counter
- Lesperance
- Billings
- Kramer
Ray Bradburys A Sound of Thunder



Step 2: Pick a Keystone Species

Pick an animal, insect, or plant from your chosen biomes various ecosystems and cast it as a keystone
species in your storys setting. Bear in mind that you will be required to kill off one of its members as
your storys inciting incident).

Please refer back to your science class notes and your Four-Square Vocabulary Card to refresh your
understanding of keystone species, but the following is a simplified definition: A keystone species is a
species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure and species diversity of an ecological
community and whose impact on the community is greater than would be expected based on its relative
abundance or total biomass.


Step 3: Writing Exposition: Describe Your Keystone Speciess Niche

After briefly establishing setting and introducing your keystone species, you will briefly but accurately
(so this may require slight research) your keystone species niche in its ecological community. You will
work together to produce your storys exposition.

Step 4: Writing Inciting Incident: Tragedy for your Keystone Species

To conclude your storys exposition and launch it into its rising action and body, think of a way to kill off
a member of your keystone species that aligns with the elements of your chosen genre. You will also
write this part together. Brainstorm some ideas and pick the ones that works best!

Step 5: Writing Body

The majority of your short story will not be written collaboratively in the traditional sense. You will
have five homework nights to complete this project. On the table below, assign everyone TWO different
nights that they must contribute to the story. Therefore, with the exception of one night, two new
paragraphs will be added every night. On your nights, you will read your group members prior
contributions to catch-up on how your groups story is progressing. Then you will write a new paragraph
that builds upon their direction and events in a logical but creative way. Some of the consequences
for your keystone speciess death must relate (loosely or directly) to its niche. When assigning nights,
keep in the mind that the students who must write on one of the first nights will have more flexibility in
their writing as they will only be working within the broad confines of the exposition. Similarly, the
students assigned for the last nights will be responsible for tying up the loose ends and bringing the
story to a logical conclusion.





Ray Bradburys A Sound of Thunder



HOMEWORK WRITING SIGN-UP:


DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 DAY 10 DAY 11
GROUP MEMBER
NAMES