Narration Guidelines

Middle Ages Ballad Creative Writing Assignment

Directions: The Creative Writing Ballad Assignment has two parts.

Part I: Using the ballad characteristics from the course, students will write their own ballads

following the plot, structure, and narration guidelines from the course.

Part II: Students will then analyze their original ballads using the color-coded key provided

below to indicate the evidence representing a particular characteristic. Students can make their own keys if they choose, but they must write out their keys on the assignment submission.

Analysis Key:

• Plot:
  • Color code in red: A single experience or incident occurs
  • Color code in blue: Elements of the supernatural might play a role
  • Color code in green: Incidents happen with common folk (not nobility)
  • Color code in purple: Themes of courage and love
  • Color code in brown: Often reveals tragic situations or disasters
• Structure:
  • Single Underline: Incremental repetition
  • Dashed Line: Abrupt transitions
  • Squiggly Line: Often ends with a summary
  • Double Underline: Second and fourth lines rhyme
• Narration:
  • Highlight in Yellow: Description of characters often occur
  • Highlight in Lime Green: Dialogue reveals the action
  • Highlight in Orange: Plain, simple language

Type original ballad and complete the analysis in the space below:t

Directions: The Creative Writing Ballad Assignment has two parts.

Part I: Using the ballad characteristics from the course, students will write their own ballads

following the plot, structure, and narration guidelines from the course.

Part II: Students will then analyze their original ballads using the color-coded key provided

below to indicate the evidence representing a particular characteristic. Students can make their own keys if they choose, but they must write out their keys on the assignment submission.

Analysis Key:

• Plot:
  • Color code in red: A single experience or incident occurs
  • Color code in blue: Elements of the supernatural might play a role
  • Color code in green: Incidents happen with common folk (not nobility)
  • Color code in purple: Themes of courage and love
  • Color code in brown: Often reveals tragic situations or disasters
• Structure:
  • Single Underline: Incremental repetition
  • Dashed Line: Abrupt transitions
  • Squiggly Line: Often ends with a summary
  • Double Underline: Second and fourth lines rhyme
• Narration:
  • Highlight in Yellow: Description of characters often occur
  • Highlight in Lime Green: Dialogue reveals the action
  • Highlight in Orange: Plain, simple language