Fabled Narrative Assignment- 500 WORDS OR MORE

Fable Narrative

The first writing assignment is designed to familiarize yourself with college-level writing. While

you will not receive grade for this essay, you are required to submit it for feedback. This

feedback will help you learn more about the writing process.

Traditional fables and fairy tales typically have some kind of moral lesson that serves as the

main idea (or thesis).

For this assignment, you will write your own Fable Narrative with a thesis based on the main

idea from one of the traditional stories that you read.

You have two options for this assignment:

Option #1: Modern-Day Tale

Go to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/ to read one of the classic fairy tales

authored by the Grimm Brothers in the nineteenth century. Identify the main idea/thesis and

rewrite the fairy tale into a story that applies to today’s society, ensuring that the story idea

remains the same. Just as with an essay, there must be details that support the thesis. Organize

your tale into an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Consider introducing the story in the introduction and creating a thesis statement at the end of

the introduction that contains the story’s moral as well as an overview of the story’s main

events.

Sample Thesis Statement: “When Cinderella disobeyed her step-mother and went to her high

school prom, she was grounded and wasn’t allowed to even attend classes, which resulted in

Child Protective Services removing the step-mother from the home and showing how good

always prevails over evil.”

After you create the thesis statement, rewrite the fable in the body paragraphs using

chronological order. Be sure to sum up the story’s main points as well as the moral in the

conclusion.

Option #2: What Really Happened to Little Red?

Revisit the original childhood tale of "Little Red Riding Hood" at

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0333.html#grimm. Identify the thesis and the primary

supporting details. Keeping the main idea of the story, rewrite the ending, beginning with this

sentence:

“Meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother's house and knocked at the door.”

Consider creating an introduction that summarizes the beginning of the story and ends with the

thesis statement. A thesis statement for this essay should be an overview of the fable’s moral

and a brief preview of the main events in the remainder of the story that you are rewriting.

Thesis example: “Before Little Red Riding Hood leaves her house, her mother reminds her of

the dangers of talking to strangers, but Red doesn’t realize that evil can sometimes disguise

itself and hurt family members.”

After you create the thesis, begin rewriting the fable’s new ending in the first body paragraph

beginning with the suggested sentence: “Meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother's

house and knocked at the door.” Remember to sum up the story as well as the moral in the

conclusion.

Tip: In either option, please avoid copying and pasting any portions of the original fable.

Header: Include a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the

following information:

• Your first and last name

• Course Title (Composition I)

• Assignment name (Fable Narrative)

• Current Date

Length: This assignment should be at least 500 words.

Format:

• Double-spacing throughout

• Title, centered after heading

• Standard 12-point font (Arial, TimesNewRoman, Calibri)

• 1” margins on all sides

• Save the file using one of the following extensions: .docx, .doc, .rtf, or .txt

Underline your thesis statement.