Speaking and Listening Lesson Plan of the Day: How to Introduce a Short Story

The lesson itself is simple and takes anywhere from 5-50 minutes.

1. Make a questionnaire. The questionnaire should elicit responses that can be discussed. Factual questions are not ideal.
2. Discuss answers to the questionnaire. Your discussion can last anywhere from 5-50 minutes.
3. Options include holding a debate or small group discussions.

Here are some sample questionnaires I have used to introduce short stories and fulfill the standards for a speaking and listening lesson plan.

I’m not seeing a whole lot of positive communication here. I think these two could use a speaking and listening lesson plan.

The first one is from “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, a common short story taught in high school. I like to call the contest between Zaroff and Rainsford one of the greatest conflicts in literature. Your students will call it fantastic, once you engage them with the survey below.

Write A if you agree. Write D if you disagree.

1. ___ Hunting is a sport.
2. ___ Animals have no feelings.
3. ___ Hunting is evil.
4. ___ Hunting is unfair.
5. ___ Animals have emotions.
6. ___ Strength is more important than intelligence.

I used this survey on Tuesday of this week. It led to a 25-minute intelligent discussion, which we alluded to as we read the story.

(More lesson plans and activities for “The Most Dangerous Game”)

Loisel’s love of material things enslaves her in “The Necklace.”

Here’s another one I’ve used for “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, a much anthologized short story for high school and even middle school.

1. ___ Money brings happiness.
2. ___ Being popular is important.
3. ___ Using credit cards for buying what you want is OK.
4. ___ I care what other people think.
5. ___ Husbands have a responsibility to help their wives be happy.
6. ___ It’s ok to be a high maintenance girl/boy in relationships.

(More lesson plans and activities for “The Necklace”)

Check out this unit for teaching “The Black Cat.”

Here’s a good one for “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe.

1. ____ Pets make wonderful companions.
2. ____ Black cats are bad luck.
3. ____ It’s ok to beat a dog or cat.
4. ____ Animals prefer being pets over being in the wild.
5. ____ Animals do not have feelings.
6. ____ A guilty conscience is worse than getting caught.

(More lessons and activities for “The Black Cat” )

And let’s not forget about another Poe classic, “The Cask of Amontillado”

1. ____ There are few things in life sweeter than revenge.
2. ____ Pride comes before the fall.
3. ____ Consuming alcohol (legally) causes tragedy.
4. ____ It is possible to get away with crimes.
5. ____ Revenge is only successful if I don’t get caught.

(More lessons and activities for “The Cask of Amontillado”)