The document provides guidance for writing assignments that challenge gifted students, emphasizing depth, complexity, and universal themes. It discusses developing depth by exploring concepts, principles, and theories rather than just facts. Teachers are encouraged to provide appropriately differentiated material that stretches students' knowledge and thinking and is complex, abstract, and open-ended enough.

1. Writing
For Gifted Students

2. ★ Depth and complexity
★ Content imperatives
★ Universal themes

3. Definition of Depth
“…exploring the discipline by
going past facts and
concepts into generalizations,
principles, theories, laws…”
Texas State Plan For The
Education Of Gifted Students

4. “appropriately
differentiated
classroom

5. material, activities,
projects, products,
homework, and
assessments

6. complex
enough

7. abstract
enough

8. open-ended
enough

9. multifaceted
enough

10. stretch in
knowledge,
thinking, and
production.”
Carol Ann Tomlinson

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/

13. Principles/Theories/Laws
★Plot Structure.
★Themes.
★Character Archetypes.
★Types of Conflict.

14. Think like an
author.

15. Think like an
author.

16. Analyzing Literature
Creating Literature

17. Analyzing Literature
Creating Literature

18. Initial Lesson
Establishing a

19. Deductive Lesson

21. Structure increases
creativity.

22. Structure increases
creativity.

23. Structure increases
creativity.

24. Structure increases
creativity.

25. Structure increases
creativity.

26. Structure increases
creativity.

27. Structure increases
creativity.

28. Structure increases
creativity.

29. Music
Film
Visual Art
Structure
increases
creativity.
Technology

30. Music
Film
Visual Art
Structure
increases
creativity.
Technology

31. Groups
Investigate the

33. Lesson II
Plot Structure
Pattern that frames
the dramatic structure!

34. Definition Characteristics
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Exposition
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Examples Non-Examples

35. Structure increases creativity.

36. ACT I
Exposition

37. Definition
In the exposition, the reader meets
the protagonist and sees life
before the conflict starts

38. Essential Characteristics
★Introduces protagonist’s
character traits
★Introduces general setting
★Shows life before conflict.

39. Examples

40. Examples

46. Non-Examples
★The real conflict does not begin in
the exposition.
★Nemo’s capture and Marlin’s
attempts to find him are not part
of the exposition.

47. Non-Examples
★The real conflict does not begin in
the exposition.
★Nemo’s capture and Marlin’s
attempts to find him are not part
of the exposition.

49. Judge how the author uses
the exposition to show the
characters’ traits.

50. Judge how the author uses
the exposition to show the
characters’ traits.
What actions, thoughts &
dialog in the exposition
contribute to character traits?

51. ACT II
Rising Action

52. Definition
The series of adventures the
characters go, moving towards the
climax. The action gets
increasingly tense as the climax
approaches. This action begins
with an event known as the
“inciting incident.”

53. Essential Characteristics
★Several mini-adventures within
the main plot
★Longest act of the story
★Builds tension, excitement, and
suspense over time

54. Examples
Inciting Incident

55. Examples
Inciting Incident

65. Judge how the author uses
the rising action to show the
characters’ traits.

66. Judge how the author uses
the rising action to show the
characters’ traits.
What actions, thoughts &
dialog in the exposition show
a character changing?

67. ACT III
Climax

68. Definition
The climax is the peak of the
action. It could be a huge battle or
an exciting action scene.

69. Essential Characteristics
★Most intense, exciting moment of
the story.
★All storylines come together.
★Uses character’s changes to
solve conflict.

74. Judge how the author uses
the climax to show how
characters have changed.

75. Judge how the author uses
the climax to show how
characters have changed.
How did the rising action
equip the characters to
handle the climax?

76. ACT IV
Falling Action

77. Definition
The falling action is a short but vital
part of the story that resolves the
climax.

78. Essential Characteristics
★Shows the outcome of the climax
★Tells the reader the status of the
main characters

79. Examples

80. Examples

83. ACT V
Dénouemont

84. Definition
The dénouement reveals how the
characters have “changed over
time.”

85. Essential Characteristics
★The characters are back in a
similar setting as the exposition
★The protagonist’s actions show
the effect of the story’s conflict.
★Shows how the characters have
changed.

86. Examples

87. Examples

92. Non-Examples
★“And they lived happily ever
after.”
★“And he never made the same
mistake again.”

93. Non-Examples
★“And they lived happily ever
after.”
★“And he never made the same
mistake again.”

95. Judge how the author uses
the dénouement to contrast
with the exposition.

96. Judge how the author uses
the dénouement to contrast
with the exposition.
What actions, thoughts &
dialog in the dénouement
contribute to the characters’
change over time?

98. Lesson III
ThemesBig ideas that frame
the story’s meaning.

99. Do you know that story where the
character goes from good to bad?

100. Structure increases creativity.

101. Fall From
Grace

102. Definition
A character begins a “good”
person but becomes “bad” or
“falls from grace.” The character
then achieves redemption and
becomes “good” again.

103. Essential Characteristics
★The protagonist begins heroically.
★A selfish act destroys the
protagonist’s reputation.
★The protagonist returns to the
hero status through selfless acts.

104. Examples

105. Examples

106. The Quest

107. Definition
The protagonist is on a mission to
find a place, a person, or an item.
During the journey, the main
character experiences a change
over time.

108. Essential Characteristics
★Character begins humbly
★Character acquires comrades
★Quest changes the character
★The quest is less important than
the final growth

109. Examples

110. Examples

111. Coming Of Age

112. Definition
A character grows up and loses
their childish ways. This may mean
taking on new responsibilities or
realizing that something isn’t
important.

113. Essential Characteristics
★Character is young
★Character clashes with authority
(teacher, parent, older sibling)
★Character goes through a conflict
which changes their point of view
★Character understands the point
of view of the authority

114. Examples

115. Examples

116. Alienation

117. Definition
Protagonist is alone and out of
place. During this time, the
character learns about himself and
grows. He may also help those
around him grow as well.

118. Essential Characteristics
★Strange setting and characters.
★Character learns these
surroundings.
★The other characters may learn
from the main character.

119. Examples

120. Examples

122. It’s A
The Lion King The Giver
Wonderful Life
The Little To Kill A
Spiderman
Mermaid Mockingbird
Island Of The
Up Wall•E
Blue Dolphins

123. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lincolnian/

124. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mundolaura/

125. http://www.flickr.com/photos/frielp/

126. http://www.flickr.com/photos/villes/

128. Lesson IV
Archetypes
The beginning of
interesting characters.

129. Lesson IV
Archetypes
The beginning of
interesting characters.

130. Inductive Lesson

134. An archetype is an original
model of a person, ideal
example, or a prototype upon
which others are copied,
patterned, or emulated;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetype

135. An archetype is an original
model of a person, ideal
example, or a prototype upon
which others are copied,
patterned, or emulated;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetype

136. An archetype is an original
model of a person, ideal
example, or a prototype upon
which others are copied,
patterned, or emulated;
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetype

137. Structure increases creativity.

138. Analyze Within An Archetype

139. Analyze Within An Archetype

140. Definition: Hero
The hero is a protagonist who
begins as a humble, non-heroic
protagonist.

141. Examples
★Luke Skywalker
★Neo, from The Matrix
★Jake Sully, from Avatar
★Frodo Baggins
★King Arthur

142. Examples
★Luke Skywalker
★Neo, from The Matrix
★Jake Sully, from Avatar
★Frodo Baggins
★King Arthur

143. Definition: Mentor
The mentor guides the hero,
teaching them skills and character
traits, perhaps gifting them an
important item

144. Essential Characteristics
★Experienced protagonist's
conflict
★Older than protagonist
★Tests & challenges protagonist
★Gives protagonist helpful gifts

145. Examples
★Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars
★Charles Xavier, X-Men
★Merlin
★Glinda

146. Examples
★Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars
★Charles Xavier, X-Men
★Merlin
★Glinda

148. Character Unique
Archetype Character

149. Base Off Existing Characters
Your Hero

150. Base Off Existing Characters
Your Hero

151. Character Growth

152. Character Growth
Exposition Dénouemont

153. What actions, thoughts, and
dialog show this growth?
Exposition Dénouemont

154. How does this character
contribute to the theme?

155. Guide To
Developing A
Unique
Character

156. Lesson V
Conflict
The cause of the
protagonist’s change.

157. Types Of Conflict
★ Character vs Character
★ Character vs Nature
★ Character vs Society
★ Character vs Self

158. Conflict causes the character
to change...

159. Analyzing Literature
Creating Literature

160. Analyzing Literature
Creating Literature

161. Author

162. Theme
Character Setting
Plot
Conflict
Author

163. Theme
Character Setting
Plot
Conflict
Author

164. Think like an author.
Identify the theme of
this story.

165. Think like an author.
Identify the theme of
this story.

166. Identify three events in
the rising action that
support this theme.

167. Identify three events in
the rising action that
support this theme.

168. Evaluate how the
character has changed
from the exposition to
the dénouement. How
does this change
support the theme?

169. Evaluate how the
character has changed
from the exposition to
the dénouement. How
does this change
support the theme?

170. In what way does this
character parallel an
archetype? In what
ways is the character
unique? How does this
support the theme?

171. In what way does this
character parallel an
archetype? In what
ways is the character
unique? How does this
support the theme?

172. Judge your evidence
and pick the three that
most clearly support
the theme.

173. Elaborate on each
piece of evidence,
explaining how it
demonstrates the
theme.

174. Body ¶ 1
Body ¶ 2
Body ¶ 3

175. Body ¶ 1
One way the author demonstrates the message of
‘letting go’ is through Marlin’s change from the
exposition to the dénouement. In the exposition, Marlin
is timid, shown by his poor joke. This trait is also shown
in his fear of leaving home. In the dénouement, Marlin
has let go and is shown to be a humorous risk-taker,
shown by his race with Nemo and his successful joke.