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English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 1:28 am
by the_autopilot
Rebecca and Gary
English 44A
Creative Writing
Prof Miller


In-class Assignment for Wednesday


Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right. One of you will then write the first paragraph of a short story. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back and forth. Remember to reread what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached.


* * * * * *


At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The camomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked camomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So camomile was out of the question.

Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17," he said into his transgalactic communicator. "Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.

He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. "Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 3:12 am
by ChuckMajik
Yeah? Well, you're a self-centered tedious neurotic whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium.

The best line in the whole story.
Too funny!

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 3:31 am
by IcedFoxtrotter
Bwah ha ha!

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:46 am
by ozzy72
Well speaking as an English teacher I will of course be conducting this experiment in class on Thursday, and I'll publish any of the amusing results. Watch this forum ;) ;D

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:53 am
by IcedFoxtrotter
Sweet.

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:07 am
by Jared
lol..alirghty we will be awaiting the funny results! :-)

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 7:07 pm
by Squeek
this will be good! and where u get the rolling laughing smilly guy?

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:40 pm
by ReverseThrust
Great story!

You know what else is fun, along those lines:
get a group of people, maybe 4-5, it doesnt really matter. then go around in a circle or (any other shape) and each person gets to add one word.  people should be as creative as possible but things must go fast, so no thinking for 5 minutes to come up with the perfect word.

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:18 am
by Polynomial
We did it at school with our friends and we ended up to a orgy filled pseudo lord of the RING (note singular) and star wars type end of the world story. very erotic, disturbing and funny.

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:04 pm
by Squeek
ive done that befor, YEARS ago, so we didnt come up with anything as funny as I think that one would have been

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 8:03 am
by Squeek
Well speaking as an English teacher I will of course be conducting this experiment in class on Thursday, and I'll publish any of the amusing results. Watch this forum ;) ;D

Wait, i thought you where an ex RAF guy over in turkey somewhere... maybe i am getting a few ppl confused

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:25 pm
by FLYING_TRUCKER
Hmmm...prior to Television, VCRs and Computers many many different word games were played around the old kitchen table.

They were fun, entertaining and educational and also brought family and friends closer together.

It would seem some of the past is finding it's place in the future.

Wonderful :)

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 8:38 pm
by BFMF
almost identical to the stories we've started here ;D

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:21 pm
by IcedFoxtrotter
You know, we should try writing one of these here in the cafe.

Re: English Homework

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:42 pm
by Sock
You know, we should try writing one of these here in the cafe.


We did, It was funny as hell!  We should start another one.