And Then It Happened

A Choose-Your-Own-Story PowerPoint Kiosk

By Melissa DoonanRDG 5410

Madonna University

Our story begins…

I woke up early this morning eager to begin the new day. Today was the first day of our school vacation, and I was going to spend it doing what I have been looking forward to doing all week: spending the entire day at my friend’s house. I eagerly jumped out of bed, looked out the window and saw a beautiful, sunny _________ day.

summer winter

It wasn’t too hot like yesterday, where it was 99 degrees. Living in Arizona, some summer days can be as hot as 115 degrees. But lucky for us, today was supposed to be only 90 degrees, a perfect day to enjoy the summer season outside, just like we planned. After I finished eating my breakfast, I did one last check to make sure I had everything I needed packed into my mom’s car. Finally, I tip-toed upstairs and woke my mom up, trying desperately not to wake my dad or little sister. “Are you sure you want to leave this early?” my mom asked.“Yes, mom. You know we’ve been planning this for weeks!” I exclaimed. “All right, just keep your voice down,” she said.“Sorry,” I replied, “I’m just really excited.”So in her pajamas, she drove me over to my best friend _________’s house.

Start over Megan Chad

It wasn’t too cold like yesterday, where it was only two degrees. Living in Michigan, some winter days can be as cold as ten below. But lucky for us, today was supposed to be 25 degrees, a perfect day to enjoy the winter season outside, just like we planned. After I finished eating my breakfast, I did one last check to make sure I had everything I needed packed into my mom’s car. Finally, I tip-toed upstairs and woke my mom up, trying desperately not to wake my dad or little sister. Mom said, “Are you sure you want to leave this early?” “Yes, mom. You know we’ve been planning this for weeks!” I exclaimed. “Alright, just keep your voice down,” she said.“Sorry ,” I replied. “I’m just really excited.”So in her pajamas, she drove me over to my best friend _________’s house.

Start over Ann Josh

When we arrived, Chad was outside waiting for me. I waved good-bye to my mom as she left. “Are you ready to go?” Chad asked me.“Yep!” I said. “My backpack is packed with snacks, lunch, two 24 ounce water bottles and sunscreen.”“Cool! I have that too. LET’S GO!” he said, grinning from cheek to cheek.As we began walking down Chad’s street to get to the start of the trail, he stopped and asked, “Hey, how ‘bout we mountain bike it?”When I told him I didn’t bring my bike, he said not to worry and that I could borrow his older brother Brad’s bike. “Isn’t he gonna be mad?” I asked.“Nah,” he shrugged. “Besides, he won’t be home from football camp for another 3 days.” So, back to Chad’s house we went to get the bikes.Two hours into our treacherous, exhausting ride uphill, I could feel myself getting tired and weak. Without saying anything to Chad, I tried my hardest to keep up. Chad turn around and teasingly yelled, “Come on slow poke! Can’t you keep up?” Just then it happened.

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Back

When we arrived Megan was outside waiting for me. I waved good-bye to my mom as she left. Megan asked, “Are you ready to go?”I said, “Yep, my backpack is packed with snacks, lunch, two 24 oz water bottles and sunscreen.”“Cool! I have that too. LET’S GO!” She said grinning from cheek to cheek.As we began walking I told Megan how lucky she was to have the Saguaro Trail start right at the end of her street. A lot of kids from school always talked about how it was the best trail. It had awesome views of the city, but it wasn’t for the weak. She laughed and agreed that it was pretty awesome. After our treacherous two hour climb up the trail, we found a good place with a large flat boulder to stop, rest ,and eat our lunch. While we ate, Megan was telling me about how her annoying little brother kept trying to hide in their house just so he could jump out and scare her when she least expected it. Just then, at that moment, I saw something over her shoulder that terrified me. Whispering, I said, “Megan, very slowly look behind you.”

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Back

When we arrived, Ann was outside waiting for me. My mom helped me unload my cross-country skis, then I waved good-bye to her as she left. Ann said, “Are you ready to go?”“Yep!” I said, “my backpack is packed with snacks, lunch and two 24 oz water bottles.”“Cool! I have that too. LET’S GO!” she said grinning from cheek to cheek .As we began skiing, I told Ann how lucky she was to have the her house’s property back right up to a huge state park with so many trees and so much privacy. Our house is in town and we always hear cars and our neighbors when they are outside. She laughed and agreed that it was pretty awesome. After following the ski trail for about ten minutes or so, Ann said “Hey, what do you say we head off the trail for a little while. Nervous, I replied, “I don’t know Ann. I don’t want to get lost.” She said, “Nah, there are lots of trails in this park that we can pick up, and besides, I’ve lived next to this park my whole life. I know it better than the back of my own hand.” I laughed and said, “Okay, okay. You sound like your dad now.” So off we went, over snow that had never been touched, creating our own path as we went. As the morning went on, overcast clouds filled the sky, which helped make the snow less blinding. I was happy because I had forgotten my sunglasses.After about an hour of laughing and talking, Ann started to get very quiet and her pace slowed down. I noticed that she kept looking all around her. “What’s wrong Ann?” I asked. “You’re not lost are you?”

Start over Next

Back

When we arrived, Josh was outside waiting for me. I unloaded my hockey stick and skates, and waved good-bye to my mom as she left. Josh said, “Are you ready to go?”I said, “Yep, my backpack is packed with snacks, a water bottle and a couple pucks in case we lose some.”“Cool, I have that too. LET’S GO!” He said grinning from cheek to cheek. “I can feel it. This will be the year that our team wins the state championship” “Oooooh yeah! You know it!” I yelled, excited to get on the lake and start practicing.As we began hitting the puck around on the ice, I told Josh how lucky he was that he had a lake right in his backyard. He laughed and agreed that it was pretty awesome. “You need to come over this summer,” he said. “We can take the boat out and fish or just jump off and swim!” “I’m there! “ I said. Josh used to be my neighbor, but he and his family just moved into this house a few months ago. While I missed having him right next door, the thought of us hanging out at the lake this summer sounded really cool.After practicing for more than an hour, we took a quick break. I noticed that the lake bent around behind some trees and asked him how far the lake went. “Pretty far,” he replied. “Wanna check it out?” “Sure,” I said. As we were skating over to the other side of the lake I thought I heard a few cracking sounds. Josh said it was nothing major. The lake always makes funny sounds. But I was not convinced. I said, “Let’s turn back. I’m getting bored.” Secretly, I was afraid. So we turned back. No more than five minutes after we turned around did it happen.

Start over Next

Back

Now it’s up to you to finish the story you’ve chosen. Your job is to describe what actually does happen and how you and your friend are going to solve the problem. However, don’t let your story just drop off. Make sure your story flows to an appropriate ending. It can be a happy, sad, or even a cliff-hanger/to-be-continued ending. To write your ending, you may use Microsoft Word. When you are finished please print out a copy of your ending to hand into me by __________. Thank you and I can’t wait to read what happens to our characters and how the story concludes.

Mrs. Doonan

Use the following rubric to guide your writing:

Start over

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1Creativity The story contains many creative

details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his imagination.

The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his imagination.

The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his imagination.

There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.

Problem/Conflict It is very easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.

It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.

It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face but it is not clear why it is a problem.

It is not clear what problem the main characters face.

Solution/Resolution The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is logical. There are no loose ends.

The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is somewhat logical.

The solution to the character's problem is a little hard to understand.

No solution is attempted or it is impossible to understand.

Spelling and Punctuation

There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft.

There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.

There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.

The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.