middle school short stories

The characters in these stories are often relatable. In 'The Lottery', the townspeople seem like ordinary people at first, which makes the shocking ending more impactful. And the settings are diverse. Some are set in small towns like in 'A Sound of Thunder', while others can be in a more fantastical place like Venus in 'All Summer in a Day'.

One interesting middle school short story could be about a shy student who overcomes his fear of public speaking during a school debate. He practices hard in secret and finally surprises everyone with his confident performance.

Good middle school short stories often have relatable characters. For example, characters who are going through typical middle - school experiences like making friends or dealing with schoolwork. This makes it easy for middle school students to connect with the story.

Another good one is 'Thank You, Ma'am' by Langston Hughes. This story is about a boy who tries to steal a woman's purse but instead she shows him kindness and understanding. It's a simple yet powerful story that teaches about empathy and second chances. It's short enough for middle school students to understand easily and the characters are vividly drawn.

They often have a sense of mystery. For example, the settings are usually in some isolated or old - fashioned places like an abandoned house or a spooky forest. This creates an immediate atmosphere of unease. Also, they might involve some sort of supernatural element, such as ghosts or strange curses.

Most of them have a clear moral or lesson. Like in 'The Tortoise and the Hare', it teaches about the value of perseverance. Also, they usually have a relatively straightforward plot to keep the young readers engaged without getting them too confused.

One of the best middle school short stories is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a thought - provoking story that shows how blindly following tradition can lead to cruel outcomes. The plot is set in a small town where an annual lottery is held, but the 'prize' is not what one would expect.

One story could be: A middle - schooler found a lost dog on his way to school. He took it to the school office, and they managed to find the owner. It was a simple act of kindness.

One characteristic is the presence of mystery. There are often things that are not immediately clear, like a missing object or a strange event. For example, in a typical middle school inference short story, a student might find a strange note in the library and has to infer who left it and why. Another characteristic is the use of clues. The author will plant little hints throughout the story that the reader has to pick up on to solve the mystery. Also, the characters usually have to think critically. They can't just accept things at face value but have to analyze and infer what's really going on.

Characteristics of great middle school short stories include having a clear theme. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the theme of love and sacrifice is very clear. They are also usually short enough to hold a middle schooler's attention but long enough to tell a complete story. In terms of characters, they are often well - developed despite the short length. In 'The Lottery', each character's reaction to the lottery process reveals a lot about them. And these stories usually have some sort of conflict, whether it's internal like in 'A Sound of Thunder' with the character's guilt, or external like in 'The Most Dangerous Game' with the man - hunting situation.