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For Shs Learners: Creative Nonfiction
For Shs Learners: Creative Nonfiction
Writer:
JANINA MICHELLE W. ARANETA
Francisco Ramos National High School (formerly Buayan NHS)
Kabasalan District
Zamboanga Sibugay Division
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DAY 1- Clouds by Kelly Givens
I. MINI-LESSON
Have you been into a really deep problem? What did you do to release the
burden?
Read the excerpt, entitled Clouds by Kelly Givens and find out how the author
coped with the tragedy that happened to her friend.
CLOUDS by Kelly Givens
An Excerpt
Walking into the tattoo shop was nerve wracking and exciting all at the same time. I
couldn’t believe this day had finally arrived and I was ecstatic. I sank into the leather couch as I
waited for the tattooist to call me to the back. I flipped through his portfolio and thought for the
millionth time if this was exactly what I wanted. A tattoo is forever. My stomach started to knot with
anticipation. Impatiently, I began bobbing my foot to the music playing over the speakers. The
electric guitar riffs combined with the drums and bass line created a rock and roll atmosphere. I
was having a hard time relaxing without singing along. Twisting my hair between my fingers while
humming softly to myself, he finally called me back. I took my T-shirt off and sat with my back to
the tattoo artist as the needle started up; it sounded like a swarm of angry wasps. The potent smell
of A+D ointment and rubbing alcohol filled my nostrils. The moment the needle touched my skin, I
started to remember why I was getting this tattoo, and I realized there were both tragic and joyous
memories that led me here.
Sara was a beautiful girl, a strong athlete, and an amazing straight-A student. It took us a
long time to realize she was sick. It started off slowly; she skipped meals and just insisted she
wasn’t hungry. Since it wasn’t every day we didn’t notice right away. She stopped bringing food to
school and she was gradually getting thinner and frailer. I don’t know how her parents found out.
Maybe they also realized she wasn’t eating. Maybe they caught her throwing up after the rare meal
she did happen to eat, but as soon as they recognized that she was anorexic they took her to the
best doctors they could find. It didn’t matter who they took her to see; she wasn’t getting any
better. If anything she was getting worse, she was 5’9 and around 100 pounds. The final hospital
they brought her to was her last hope. I remember the last time I saw her. She was lying in her
hospital bed, propped up by fluffy, cloud-like pillows. Her black curly hair limply hung in ringlets
around her gaunt face. I sat next to her and we gossiped about our friends and the boys we had
crushes on. All I wanted to do was cry and tell her that she’s beautiful; I didn’t understand why she
couldn’t see that. But I needed to be brave for her. I delicately touched her skeletal hand and asked
her how she was feeling. She told me, ―I feel strong for the first time in a long time. I’m
okay.‖ We must have talked for an hour or so after that comment before I left. I told her I loved her
and I’d be back later that week. She smiled sadly at me and told me she loved me too. The hairs
on the back of my neck stood up and I hesitated, just for a moment, before I walked down the hall.
A strange feeling washed over me, I felt like bugs had crawled under my skin. I thought something
was wrong, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. So I ignored it and walked out of the hospital.
Two days later, her parents called my house and talked to my mom. I was at school at the
time. When I got home, my mom’s face looked red and puffy, like she’d been crying .
She asked me to come sit next to her on the couch; cautiously I sat down. She
stroked my face and played with my hair for a moment, her brown eyes looking at me like
she was trying to keep my image in her mind forever. ―Mom, what’s wrong? What’s
going on?‖ She couldn’t speak for a few more seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
―Sara’s parents called today . . . Somehow she snuck out of her room and went to the roof
of the hospital . . . Honey, she jumped; she committed suicide.‖ She choked on her
words and
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started to cry. I sat in stunned silence for a moment before I stood up; I immediately fell to
the ground as painful sobs escaped from my throat. Suicide? How could she do this?
Why did she stop fighting? I couldn’t believe this had happened, especially to someone
who used to be so strong. One of my best friends died and I was exposed to my own
mortality. Death consumed my thoughts; my mind was sucked into a tunnel of pain and
fear. I didn’t understand, she said she was getting better; she said she was feeling better.
Was she just trying to give me hope so I wouldn’t suspect what she planned on doing?
Was she feeling better because she decided this was what she really wanted? Singing
was my coping mechanism so I didn’t drown in my sorrow. Day and night, I listened to
music and sang until my throat was raw, until I could no longer make a sound.
Evanescence music would play in my room, some songs on repeat. The haunting lyrics
and melodies echoed around the room and in my head. I knew her songs by heart; I
couldn’t stop singing. It was the only way I could think of to simultaneously ease my pain
and honor Sara’s memory.
Singing had always been a way for me to relieve tension, heal, and cope with
difficult situations. Everyday eventually got a little bit easier. I never would have gotten
through her death without my music. It allowed me to grieve without my misery
swallowing me whole.
The tattooist finished and I realized how much this would mean to me for the rest
of my life. My flesh was tender and I could feel the blood pounding into freshly inked skin.
I stood looking over my shoulder at the treble clef and bass clef that will forever be a part
of my life and permanently on my body. The ebony stood out against my pale skin in a
graceful heart with filigree delicately twisting and turning within the center. It was beautiful
and I could not put into words how happy I was with it. This magnificent piece of art was
now a part of me. It was something that I wanted, and needed, to get for myself; it will
always be mine. Singing is something beautiful that I will always treasure and rely on to
get me through the rough patches that will undoubtedly come up throughout my life. It’s
for Sara, for every time I perform on stage; this tattoo is an exquisite reminder that I will
always be able to overcome whatever the world throws at me.
c e
Activity 2. Problem Analysis
e y
sudden
Complete the sentences below. Write your answers in the space provided.
2. The character attempted to solve the problem (what was tried but did not work)
was/were _
III. Evaluation
Directions: Rewrite the story using your own words. Please be guided with the
rubric.
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Do the retelling…
Questions 5 4 3 2 1 Total
Exemp Excell Good Averag Needs
lary ent e Improve
ment
have a good beginning telling
when and where the story takes
place?
name the characters?
tell the main points of the story?
make sense to the reader?
sound organized?
keep the sequence of the story?
tell how the problem was solved in
the story?
IV. Reflection
1. If you were a friend of Sarah, what advice would you give her while she was
still alive?
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2. Singing is one way for the author to cope with difficult situation. How about
you? How do you relieve tension and pain when you encounter some
problems?
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DAY 2- Characterization
I. MINI-LESSON
Sara and the narrator are the main characters of the story, Clouds by Kelly Givens.
The readers are able to sympathize with the characters because the author effectively
develops the characters in the story. Readers will be more engaged with the narrative if
they can vividly imagine the characters as real people.
To write a great creative nonfiction, a writer must develop a skill in characterization,
a process by which the writer expresses the personality of the character. Characterization
can be revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.
Direct Characterization – The writer makes a direct statement about a character’s
personality. It tells the reader what the character is like.
Example: Ms. Anne, a patient and gorgeous woman, finally meets the man in her
dream.
Explanation: The author directly tells the reader about Ms. Anne, the character as
woman who is ―patient” and ―gorgeous”.
Example: Max was an eating machine. He had never met a meal he didn’t like.
Explanation: The author directly describes Max as an eating machine which the
reader can clearly understand that he always eat.
Indirect Characterization- The writer reveals the character’s personality through
his/her words, actions, looks and thoughts, along with other characters’ responses
toward the character (what others say and think about the character). The readers
look for clues and draw conclusions based from the statements. It does not tell the
reader, but it shows the reader what a character is like. There are five different
methods of indirect characterization which can be easily remembered with the
acronym L-STAR.
Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak?
1. When Cal saw his younger brother sniffling in a corner, he patted the
seat next to him. “Wanna play?”
Cal is: sheepish nervous lonely sympathetic
2. Once Mama had made up her mind about the dog, Emma knew that it’d
be a waste of time to ask again.
Mama is: stubborn brilliant shy brave
3. His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry. His cheeks were like
roses, his noses like a cherry.
He is: frightened perplexed mournful jolly
4. Too lazy to actually reach for it, Marty just stared wishfully at the TV
remote.
He is: confused excited eager inactive
5. Ariel peeked into the package and though she might explode. “An iPad!
You got me my own iPad!”
Ariel is: anxious excited sensitive meek
Activity 2.
Read some passages from the literary text, Clouds by Kelly Givens and write what
it reveals about the character. Then, identify its type of characterization.
1. He is a smart kid.
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IV. Reflection
If you are going to write a story about your life, what are you going to write
about? What personality would you want to show/tell the readers about yourself?
DAY 3- Setting
I. MINI-LESSON
Have you already tried telling a story to someone without giving idea where it takes
place? Although possible, it seems to be lacking.
Since we are writing a nonfiction, it will consist primarily of facts. We include facts not
only about the characters and events, but also about the setting- the ―where‖ and ―when‖
of the story.
In writing the setting, there are multiple aspects to consider. These include:
2. Time – Historical Period, time of day, year, etc.; When is the story taking
place? Example:
The first World Beard and Moustache Championships were held in
Germany in 1990. The Championships didn’t start garnering real
attention until the 2007 competition, held in England. Since then,
there has been a steady rise in popularity though the 2009
competition in Alaska and the 2011 competition in Norway.
--Facial Hair Club for
Men by Sam Klomhaus
4. Social Conditions- What is the daily life of the character’s like? Does the story
contain local color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs,
etc. of a particular place)?
Example:
The first primitive man trudges out of his cave to greet the new day.
Sunlight pours forth from the heavens like the most glorious pitcher
of orange juice. His wife’s nagging voice rings in his head as he
surveys his kingdom.
-Facial Hair Club for Men
by Sam Klomhaus
5. Mood or atmosphere- The tone and feeling of the story; What feeling is created at
the beginning of the story? Cheerful or eerie? Is there a tension?
Example:
The room was silent. As she walked to the oak podium, the carpet
muffled the sound of her footsteps. Beyond the windows, there was
only blue, and she remembered her own days as an undergraduate,
days when she sat, pen in hand, far at the back of a room, filled with
excitement.
To keep the readers interested, do not tell your reader directly where the story is set.
However, show the readers and let them experience what the characters experience in
the story. Describe the things that are seen and heard if you were there.
Activity 1
Read again the story, ―Clouds‖ by Kelly Givens. Then, using the Mind
Map write down the words/phrases that describe/relate to the tattoo shop.
TATTOO
SHOP
Activity 2
Read the story openings below. The setting of the story is not directly stated
but the things seen and heard if you where there are described. Then, try to
complete the following sentences.
The studio was oddly silent. She could see only the legs of the cameramen, hunched
over the cameras, with their empty glass camera eyes staring back at her like space
aliens. As she walked across the stage to the oak podium, the carpet muffled the sound
of her footsteps, and the spotlight blinded her for a moment. Beyond the false windows,
there was only a blue panel, meant to suggest the sky, and she remembered her own
days as an undergraduate. Her shoes hurt, and she wished she had chosen another pair
this morning. But of course she couldn’t say that. She put that to the back of her mind.
―Welcome to Writing Creative Nonfiction,‖ she said. ―I’m Tilar Mazzeo, and together
we’ll be exploring what it means to write a great story.‖
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Rubric
4 3 2 1
Sentence Wrote 5 or more Wrote only 3-4 Wrote only 1-2 Wrote no
complete sentences sentences sentences at all
sentences
Description All the details Most of the Some of the No detail at all;
described the details described details described Wrote directly
beach the beach the beach where the story
took place
Aspects in Used at least 3 Used at least 2 Used at least 1 Did not use any
Setting aspects in writing aspects in writing aspect in writing aspect in writing
the setting the setting the setting the setting
Mechanics No error found in Minimal error Maximum error Grammar,
grammar, found in found in spelling,
spelling, grammar, grammar, punctuations are
punctuations and spelling, spelling, all erroneous
etc. punctuations and punctuations and
etc. etc.
IV. Reflection
Each of us has a favorite place. If you are to write something about it, how would
you describe it? What are things you can see and hear in that place? What mood
would want to set to the readers?
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DAY 4- Metaphor
I. MINI-LESSON
Being able to describe emotions effectively is a very challenging part of being a
writer. It takes a practice to master this skill. However, there are some ways to do it.
One is the use of metaphor.
As a review, metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied or
hidden comparison between two things. In other words, a resemblance is made
between two different objects based on a single or common similarities.
It is different from simile because it does not use the words ―like‖ or ―as‖ in comparing.
Metaphors are usually used in literary writing. This is because metaphor can help
communicate images and feelings to readers most emotively. Here are some examples
of metaphors to describe emotions.
My brother was boiling with anger. (This compares anger as hot fluid in a
container)
He unleashed his anger. (This compares anger as a captive animal.)
I am starving for his love. (This compares love as a nutrient.)
He conquered her feelings for him. (This compares love as war.)
Guilt weighs me down. (This compares guilt as a burden or a heavy load.)
It made me feel great. (This compares happiness as health.)
Activity 2
Read the following metaphors in bold letters and choose the comparison made
in the given statements. Write your answers in the space provided.
III. Evaluation
The following sentences below need to be improved. Now, rewrite those
sentences using metaphors to effectively describe the emotion conveyed.
Write your answers on the line.
IV. Reflection
Every person is created special and unique. Unlike animals, plants, and
other living creatures, a person has feeling and emotions and has the ability to
express them. However, these emotions may sometime create
misunderstanding or conflict to other people. As a human person, how can you
be able to avoid it so that you can keep the relationship with other people?
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***COtfGRATULATIOtfS! Keep Safe…***
References
SPRING 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved September 4, 2020, from
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Mazzeo, T. (2012). Writing Creative Nonfiction Course Guidebook. The Great Courses.
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%20Fiction.pdf
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https://bit.ly/3lSWBC6
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of Emotion Metaphors Derived from Motion Verbs Linguistics in the Midnight Sun • Report
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portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1027700/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Metaphor and Emotion. (n.d.). ResearchGate.
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Feeling. Www.Academia.Edu. Retrieved September 4, 2020, from https://bit.ly/3gSHzZC
Metaphor and Emotion. (n.d.). ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299392688_Metaphor_and_Emotion
Estrelita Ampo-Pena,EdD
Education Program Supervisor Kindergarten & Senior HS Division Coordinator
Reviewed By:
Evelyn F. Importante
OIC- CID Chief EPS
Raymond M. Salvador
OIC- Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Jerry C. Bokingkito
OIC- Assistant Schools Division Superintendent