CYOA Assignment

Choose Your Own Adventure is a series of children's “game books” where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome. The series was based on a concept created by Edward Packard and originally published by Constance Cappel's and R.A. Montgomery's Vermont Crossroads Press as the "Adventures of You" series, starting with Packard's Sugarcane Island in 1976. Choose Your Own Adventure was one of the most popular children's series during the 1980s and 1990s, selling over 250 million copies between 1979 and 1998. (information via Wikipedia.com)

In this assignment you will be required to model a story that you write, fashioning your narrative in the model of the Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) series of “game books.” Many people assume that electronic literature (interactive fiction, hypertext, what-have-you) is simply a modified version of CYOA (and, it can be argued, a precursor to how the internet works!). The purpose of this assignment is to take a closer look at cyber-texts, allowing you to participate in the making of one AND to flex your creative writing and technological skills.

This assignment may be challenging, but do give it your best shot – don’t let technology scare you in terms of this project, we will be devoting a great deal of in-class time on that aspect of the assignment. Also, we’ll be breaking the assignment into four different pieces, which will allow you ample time with and away from the project. Furthermore, you are welcome and encouraged to use your imagination when composing your story – write what you want, just make it good☺

YOUR FOUR STEP “CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE” PLAN:

First:
You will need to set up a BLOGGER.COM address, which is where your CYOA story will be posted. We will complete this exercise on Monday, June 13th in class.

Second:
You will receive a CYOA packet on Monday, June 13th. In this packet are several different handouts that are designed to help you begin the composition of your story. You can, for example, model your project after a fairy-tale, introducing unique plot twists of your own design. You could also, for example, write your own short story about whatever you want. Examples of both may be found at: http://eng102summer2011.blogspot.com. You will need to complete at least one of the handouts (Flow Chart and/or Outline), due in class on Monday, June 18th.

Third:
Once you’ve gotten your outline for your story, you need to type up a rough draft of it in a Word document. It is recommended that you utilize the “Page Break” function in Word and clearly label the segments of your story within your rough draft. We’ll work on that in class on June 27th, and you’re free to work on it at home (the syllabus notes that this is an on-going project). The rough draft is due in-class on Monday, June 27th.

Fourth:
Now you’ve gotten a rough draft back, we’ll go back into the computer lab on July 13th and July 20th to put your story on Blogger.com. Take your time tweaking and modifying your story – remember, writing is a process! – and add pictures and videos to your CYOA if you’d like. Double-check your links and spellings, and make sure you like how it looks. The project is due in its finished form on Wednesday, July 20th by 5:00 PM EST. Be 100% sure I have the address for your project (in the http://yourcyoaproject.blogspot.com format) and that I am allowed access to read your blog (only applicable to those who made theirs private). You may remove the project from the internet after final grades have been posted to the Registrar, but please do not take it down prior to your receiving your final grade!

DUE DATES BOX:

Date Assignment Due
Monday, June 13 Blogger.com address
Monday, June 18 CYOA Handout(s)
Monday, June 27 Rough Draft of CYOA
Wednesday, July 13 Computer Lab
Wednesday, July 20 Computer Lab
Wednesday, July 20th: Complete assignment in-class, due by 5:00 PM.