WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Solomon P. Lozada National High School

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
2nd Quarter – Week 8

Competency:
 Do self – and/or peer assessment of the creative adaptation of literary text, based
on a rationalized criteria, prior to presentation. (EN12Lit-IIij-31.3)

Objectives: At the end of the week, students are expected to:

 Describe a flash fiction and plot of the story;

 Create a digital picture story; and
 Reflect the importance of evaluating one’s work by explaining the problem/situation.

Key Concepts:

Flash Fiction and Story Plot

This lesson focuses on flash fiction and story plot. A flash fiction, one of the genres
of fiction, is a short story with much lesser words. Typically, a flash fiction story has no
longer than 1000 words in length. Some literary writers find writing a flash fiction extremely
difficult because they have to cover the beginning, rising action, climax, and conclusion of
the story with very few words. Despite this challenge, many flash fiction stories still possess
those elements, all within the strict word count. The word limit provides a very creative
challenge.

Story plot, an important element of a story, is also present in flash fiction. Plot tells
the reader how the story goes. It is basically the sequence of the events in the story. It is
important to remember that the plot is what carries the readers though out the story.
Therefore, the plot should be related in sequence and every event must be connected to the
previous or the next one.

FLASH FICTION
The story you read is an example of a flash fiction. A flash fiction, also known as
short-short story, typically contains less than 1000 words which is most often used to
describe short casual written works. Although a flash fiction may be written in any genre, the
most famous ones are in romance, thriller, horror and sci-fi. Even with only a number of
words, a flash fiction also bears the essential elements of a short story. The paramount of
all the elements for this type of literature is the plot.
A flash fiction is similar to a short story is some ways. Both tell a complete story with
a beginning, middle and end with the elements of storytelling in place. However, they, too,
have differences.
Flash Fiction Vs. Short Story

Short Story Flash Fiction

is significantly shorter than a novel is a much shorter version of a short story

consists of 1000-10, 000 words in length composed of 100-1000 words in length

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has a fleshed-out plot, well-rounded
characters, and a developed setting and
theme.
has one or a few characters and one or a
few settings (limited in place and time, such
as a day or a couple of weeks) and
expresses a single theme, or message.
has a well thought out plot and great
characters, but they don’t necessarily need
to be fully developed
shouldn’t be more than one plot and one
theme.

generally is more flexible. There is more
space to develop ideas, plot, character and
theme; there is at most, one plot and a
small subplot or a plot and a half.
is punchy and to the point, a story of
extreme brevity with the plot pared down to
the core of the story. Every detail, every
character gesture, every description
counts; each word has its place. Take one
word away and the meaning is lost.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FLASH FICTION

When writing a flash fiction story, it is important to know how they are similar and
different to longer stories. Flash fiction is shorter, but it should not feel too short. Here are
some traits of strong flash fiction stories.
1. Story Structure: A flash fiction story is not the shortened version of a longer story; it
still follows the elements of plot, including a beginning, middle and end, as well as a conflict
and satisfying resolution.
2. Setting: Most flash fiction stories take place in one setting, as moving between
locations uses up too much space. It allows the writer and reader to focus on the plot.
3. Characters and Backstory: Flash fiction pieces are plot-driven and include no
more than three or four characters. They may include some character development, but too
much backstory can use valuable space.
4. Description: One may think that flash fiction stories are short on description to save
space. However, a strong piece can balance vivid descriptions with a quickmoving plot.
Stories that lack description are not satisfying to read, and a flash fiction piece should feel
complete.

The PLOT
Every written story has a plot- the series of events and characters’ actions that
includes a beginning, a middle and an end. Also, every written story has a plot structure or a
narrative arc. Although it is important for a story to have all its essential elements, the plot is
the major element of all as it is what the story is all about. The plot is the actual story.
Without it, a writer has not penned anything.

Two types of plot

A writer can create a story using one of the two types of plot- a unified plot or an
episodic plot. A unified plot has a story that is realistic with a central character and action
and the story happens in one place during a short span of time- a day, several hours or
even just for an hour. An episodic plot, on the other hand, has a story that happens in a
much extended period of time. A writer who employs the episodic plot frequently uses the

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technique of ‘flashback’ to lay out background details of the story. But similar to the unified
plot, an episodic plot also has a central character, setting and action.
There are three other ways to write a plot. A plot may be written as a movement in
casualty, a movement in time and a movement in dramatic tension.
PLOT – a movement in time
The plot is a movement in time when the story transpires on a particular period of time such
as an hour, a day, a week, a month or even a year.
PLOT - movement in casualty
The plot is a movement in casualty when the story is established on a series of casual
events that happen one after another. Here, the writer is to create a story based on the
principle of cause and effect that is, the first event sets off the second and the second event
sets off the third and so on. Hence, every new event has a casual relationship to the old
ones.
PLOT - a movement in dramatic tension

The plot is a movement in dramatic tension when the story has dialogue, action, details,
descriptions and scenes that amplify the tension and persuade the reader to turn the page
and continue reading. The techniques of foreshadowing, flashback and epiphany are
oftentimes employed in this type of plot.
The following are the components of a plot structure or parts of the narrative.

a. Exposition – This is the beginning of the story, also known as the inciting
incident. This is where the author introduces the characters, identifies where the story is
happening, and establishes the main conflict. This includes events, actions or even
decisions that build conflict, pressure or disturbance to the main character.

b. Rising Action – This is also known as the plot complication where the writer
fully introduces the conflict or the obstacle that will prevent the main character, the
protagonist, to achieve his goal.

c. Climax – This part is considered as the most exciting part of a story. This
part has the most tension or most exciting event compared to all other events in the story.
Also, this is where important decisions are made or important things are discovered.

d. Falling Action – This point occurs after the climax as the problems in the
story start to work themselves out. The excitement becomes less and less as the conflict is
resolved.

e. Resolution/End – This is the solution to the problem in a story. When a

writer brings resolution to end the story, he can end the story with either an open or closed
ending. When a writer uses a closed ending, the resolution is done by answering all
unanswered questions that were implied or explicitly stated. A death is an example of a
closed ending. When a writer uses an open ending, he leaves the readers to think, wonder
or speculate what happens after the story has ended.

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 JAKE
by Jim Bartlett

Jake’s eyes snap open, and he quickly turns to the side. But like his aching heart, the
spot where Max always sat on the couch remains empty. He takes in a long, deep breath –
really more of a sigh – and squeezes his eyes closed, hoping that by slipping into the
darkness of a nap, he will temporarily mask his sorrow.

For fifteen years they were inseparable.

Always side by side. The walks on the
beach with the gentle waves calling, the
seagulls cawing. All those hikes on the trail
where the trees canopied over like arches,
wrapping them in a soft cool shade on a hot
sunny day. Even just a ride to the grocery
store for something Martha may have
forgotten, they always went together.

Though he knows that in some ways he

should be thankful for just having their time
together – those moments forever
etched in his heart – and that the sickness took Max quickly rather than dragging out the
pain for weeks, maybe even months, he still feels cheated. That somehow he is missing
years that could have been.

Unable to sleep, he looks around the all too empty room, letting his gaze fall upon the leash,
which still hangs from the peg by the door. It seems to wait patiently, ever ready for that next
big adventure. As his eyes well up, he realizes for the first time how much his grief weighs,
how hard it is to even rise with such a heaviness
inside.

It is then he hears a shuffle from behind and turns to see Martha standing in the doorway,
her shoulder resting against the frame.

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“I thought you might be in here,” she says. She looks down at him for only a moment before
her stare drifts to the couch. “I miss
him, too, Jake. More than you’ll ever know.”

There’s a faraway melancholy tone to her voice, but he knows that her heart, like his, has a
hole too big to fill. His head drops and he gives off another long sigh, which seems to prompt
her to come over and kneel down onto
the carpet beside him. She slides a hand under his chin and lifts it up, then tucks back his
long, floppy ears, such that their teary eyes can meet.

“I guess you do know, don’t you, Jake.”

ACTIVITY 1:
Directions: Fill out the story grammar below. Base your answer from the story
that you have just read.
Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Character/s: ______________________________________________________________
Setting: ___________________________________________________________________ Plot:

Exposition

Rising Action

Falling Action

Resolution

ACTIVITY 2:
Directions: Make a digital picture story of Jake. Follow the steps in creating a digital
picture story. Then, assess your work using the rubric below.

Steps in Creating a Digital Picture Story

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1. Go back to the story, “Jake”.

2. Identify the sequence of the story that you will use in your digital picture story.

3. Import images and music.

4. Apply appropriate lighting.

5. Record a voice-over.

6. Add transitions.

7. Adjust the timeline.

8. Assess your digital picture story.

DIGITAL PICTURE STORY ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Needs Needs Needs Needs

Total Major Minor No
Revision Revision Revision Revision

1. VIDEO CLARITY AND LIGHTING

A. Camera movements are smooth
and of appropriate speed.
B. All shots have appropriate
lighting.
2. AUDIO
A. Audio is balanced between
music and voice-over.
B. Audio is clear all throughout the
video.
3. PACING
A. Clip durations are appropriate;
with elements of excitements
and surprise.
B. The sequence of the story is
easy to comprehend.

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ACTIVITY 3:
Directions: Reflect on and answer the questions below. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. What did you feel after reading the story? Expound your answer.
2. Based on the story, who is Jake and why is he in a state of loneliness?
3. What words were used to help you figure out Jake’s identity?
4. Who was Max and what happened to him?
5. Do you believe in the adage, ‘A dog is man’s best friend’? Elaborate on your answer.

RUBRICS

Point
Quality of Writing
s
4 Piece was written in an extraordinary
style
Very informative and well organize
3 Piece was written in an interesting style
Somewhat informative and organized
2 Piece had little style
Gives some new information but poorly
organized
1 Piece had no style
Gives no new information and very
poorly organized
Grammar, usage and mechanics
Virtually no spelling, punctuation mark
or grammatical errors
Few spelling and punctuation errors,
minor grammatical errors
A number of spelling, punctuation
or grammatical errors
So many spelling, punctuation
or grammatical errors that it interferes
with the meaning

REFERENCES

A. Book

Ma. Letecia Jose Cabana-Basilan, Ph.D. Letra 21st Century Literature in the Philippines
and the world. Intramuros Unlimited books Liberary Services & Publishing Inc.

B. Online sources

Tip: press “shifht and enter: to break URLs without breaking the link.

Answer key

Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3

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Answers may Vary Answers may Vary Answers may
Vary
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