Ref: Pages 10 and 11 from the subject text by Robert Olmstead.

What makes an experience worth retelling? List ten subtle cues.

Funny

Dangerous

Exciting

Unexpected

Unbelievable

Heartwarming

Courageous

Sad

Warning

Encouraging

1.Fill in the following frame (based on the lesson.)

(Season, temperature)

The ( ) for ( ) sits ( ) and ( ) in the (heat, cold, wind?)

I (ring the bell, knock on the door, let myself in?) and a ( ) answers. 

“I am here to see ( ).” I say, glancing down at the ( ). The ( ) ( ) at me. I can tell, from ( ), that (he/she) is a ( ). (He/she) ( ) and ( ) my ( ) . I ( )

(Summer, humid)

The (pen) for (the cattle) sits (open) in the (heat of the day.)

I (rattle the latch on the fence) and (a woman’s voice from inside the barn) answers.

“I am here to see (about work.)” I say, glancing down at the (piled dung around the barn.)

The (hermit woman) (takes one look and barks out a laugh) at me. I can tell, from (the look in her eyes), that (she is half-crazed.) (She) (flicks a hunk of silver at me) and (points to the rake.) I (worked for her all summer and she scarcely spoke a word.)

The pen for the cattle sits open in the heat of the day. I rattle the latch on the fence, and a woman’s voice answers. “I’m here to see about work,” I say, glancing down at the piles of dung around the barn. The hermit woman takes one look and barks out a laugh at me. I can tell, from the look in her eyes she is half-crazed. She flicks a hunk of silver at me and points to the rake. I worked for her all summer, and she scarcely spoke a word.

2.Begin again and imagine you are talking your reader into a place of delight.

(Autumn, cool and damp)

The (menu) for (pub) sits (open on the table) in the (cool of the morning.)

I (holler from my seat at the bar) and (a pretty barmaid) answers.

“I am here to see (about the world’s hottest chili.”) I say, glancing up at the (sign on the wall.)

The (barmaid) (smiles and winks) at me. I can tell, from (the way she holds her mouth) that (she doesn’t think I can handle it.) (She) (ladled something reddish-brown into a bowl) and (slid it toward me, steaming.) I (took one bite and knew I made a mistake but, I knew I’d be back for more.)

3. Draw it (the story) further away from its original construction.

It was last year, one cool Autumn morning. When I sat at the bar in a tiny pub on the shore of the sea and asked the pretty barmaid about the sign over her that read, “World’s Hottest Chilli.” She smiled and winked at me and I could tell from the way she held her mouth, she didn’t think I could handle it. She was right. She ladled something reddish-brown into a bowl and slid it over to me, steaming. I took one bite and knew I made a mistake but, I knew I’d be back.