HISTORICAL SHORT STORY ASSIGNMENT
Background Information:
In 1869, the Hudson’s Bay Company sold Rupert’s Land to the government of Canada for $1 500 000. The problem? This vast area (including northern Ontario and Québec, all of Manitoba, most of Saskatchewan, southern Alberta and parts of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) was already being lived in by three different groups of people. The First Nations, the Métis and the country-born British were already settled, and no one asked them about their wishes or goals for the land.
The Métis people living in Red River (in what is now Manitoba) were concerned that John A. MacDonald was sending the lieutenant-governor William McDougall to establish a new government. The Métis were worried that:
• the surveyors would divide the land into individual lots and sell the lots to the settlers
• the settlers would start farms on their lots, and build fences to keep livestock in and wild animals out
• the fences would disrupt the bison hunt, and the traditional Métis way of life would be destroyed
• the settlers would be English and the French language would be lost
The Métis people living in Red River (in what is now Manitoba) were concerned that John A. MacDonald was sending the lieutenant-governor William McDougall to establish a new government. The Métis were worried that:
• the surveyors would divide the land into individual lots and sell the lots to the settlers
• the settlers would start farms on their lots, and build fences to keep livestock in and wild animals out
• the fences would disrupt the bison hunt, and the traditional Métis way of life would be destroyed
• the settlers would be English and the French language would be lost
Your task:
You have been hired as a historical fiction writer by a Canadian publishing firm. Your task: to write a historically-accurate short story set during the Red River Resistance (Rupert's Land, 1869-1870). As an author, you will research the Red River Resistance, create a main character that embodies one of the perspectives of the Rebellion, and write a historically-accurate fictional narrative (around 5 pages, typed). This project will be both a history and a literacy assignment.
You must hand in to your publisher:
• a research organizer and short story proposal
• a rough copy with revisions
• a final good copy, and an “author’s note” detailing the historical background (12 point font, double-spaced, typed, around 5 pages)
• a cover page with an appropriate illustration and title of your story
Your short story must reflect the theme of all of the unit’s activities: the events, decisions, personalities, and vocabulary relevant to the Red River Rebellion. Your story should also fit the success criteria for a narrative that we have been discussing in class (descriptive, includes all narrative elements, engaging plot...)
• a research organizer and short story proposal
• a rough copy with revisions
• a final good copy, and an “author’s note” detailing the historical background (12 point font, double-spaced, typed, around 5 pages)
• a cover page with an appropriate illustration and title of your story
Your short story must reflect the theme of all of the unit’s activities: the events, decisions, personalities, and vocabulary relevant to the Red River Rebellion. Your story should also fit the success criteria for a narrative that we have been discussing in class (descriptive, includes all narrative elements, engaging plot...)
Resources
http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1870/1870-05-rr-rebellion.html
http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPCONTENTSE1EP9CH2PA4LE.html
http://www.canadiana.ca/citm/specifique/rielreb_e.html
http://redriverrebellion.webs.com/theredriverrebellion.htm
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/louis-riel
http://www.dlc-ubc.ca/wordpress_dlc_mu/jeff1/files/2010/07/9-Red-River-Rebellion1.pdf
http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/29/redriverresistance.shtml
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cin/001065-2020-e.html
http://manitobia.ca/content/en/themes/bom/4
http://hallnjean.wordpress.com/sailors-worlds/the-red-river-resistance-and-the-creation-of-manitoba/
http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPCONTENTSE1EP9CH2PA4LE.html
http://www.canadiana.ca/citm/specifique/rielreb_e.html
http://redriverrebellion.webs.com/theredriverrebellion.htm
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/louis-riel
http://www.dlc-ubc.ca/wordpress_dlc_mu/jeff1/files/2010/07/9-Red-River-Rebellion1.pdf
http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/29/redriverresistance.shtml
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cin/001065-2020-e.html
http://manitobia.ca/content/en/themes/bom/4
http://hallnjean.wordpress.com/sailors-worlds/the-red-river-resistance-and-the-creation-of-manitoba/
Writing Historical Fiction Tutorial:
Author's Preface
An author's preface goes before the story and is used to share the author's ideas on the inspiration and personal ideas behind the narrative.
In your historical author's note/ preface, you may choose to talk about:
1. A little description of the book in general, without unveiling the plot, the characters, or the conclusions. Rather than revealing too much, always leave room for a little bit of mystery. Make your readers curious enough to want to read the book. Intrigue them.
2. The reason why you wrote the story - Explain how you got the idea of writing the story and which were the decisive factors that made you commit yourself to that topic, setting, character, etc. Discuss your inspiration! Do NOT state that you wrote the story for class credit!
3. The purpose of your story - Point out what your potential readers would gain if they read your story and all the benefits they would get from it. Explain how it would help them, entertain them or enrich them (either materially or spiritually).
4. Resources and sources of inspiration. Talk about what inspired you in writing the story, the resources you have used in your work (e.g. bibliography, websites, etc), and your experience and knowledge accumulated through journeys, study or research.
5. Historical details. What did you change to fit your story, and why? What was accurate?
6. Experiences you had or incidents that occurred during the writing period.
7. Acknowledgements – express your gratitude by thanking the people who helped you and encouraged you in the process of writing your book.
Source: http://historicalfictionstory.weebly.com/
In your historical author's note/ preface, you may choose to talk about:
1. A little description of the book in general, without unveiling the plot, the characters, or the conclusions. Rather than revealing too much, always leave room for a little bit of mystery. Make your readers curious enough to want to read the book. Intrigue them.
2. The reason why you wrote the story - Explain how you got the idea of writing the story and which were the decisive factors that made you commit yourself to that topic, setting, character, etc. Discuss your inspiration! Do NOT state that you wrote the story for class credit!
3. The purpose of your story - Point out what your potential readers would gain if they read your story and all the benefits they would get from it. Explain how it would help them, entertain them or enrich them (either materially or spiritually).
4. Resources and sources of inspiration. Talk about what inspired you in writing the story, the resources you have used in your work (e.g. bibliography, websites, etc), and your experience and knowledge accumulated through journeys, study or research.
5. Historical details. What did you change to fit your story, and why? What was accurate?
6. Experiences you had or incidents that occurred during the writing period.
7. Acknowledgements – express your gratitude by thanking the people who helped you and encouraged you in the process of writing your book.
Source: http://historicalfictionstory.weebly.com/