Writing in Different Viewpoints

Students will choose a classic short story and read it. Then, they will write the story from a different viewpoint.

First, students will choose a classic short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Faulkner, Edgar Allan Poe, Kate Chopin, Edith Wharton, or any other classic short story writer. These short stories can also be by classic mystery authors such as Jacques Futrelle, G.K. Chesterton, or others.

Then, the student will read the short story and take notes.

They need to know the viewpoint of the story they are reading and then decide what character they would like to use as their viewpoint.

The purpose of this lesson is to show students how stories can change by using a different viewpoint.

A good example of a short story to use would be The Minister’s Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne. What would this story be like if the author wrote it from another viewpoint?

You can also have the students read the short story for homework and take notes. Then, you can have them write their short story in class using their notes.

You can grade on how well they wrote their story from another viewpoint. You can also check on correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence and paragraph structure.