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Activity: Roundrobin Scriptwriting
Procedure:
1. Show students an example of a script, and explain that a script contains the dialogue of a story. Students sit in a circle and they each begin writing their own script. This means that they write a dialogue with characters they choose. They are given a time limit (1-2 minutes) and then must pass their paper to the right.
2. Students read the beginning of the script in front of them, and add to it within a certain amount of time (1-2 minutes).
3. Students then pass in the same direction.
4. This continues until the scripts are complete (the time is variable).
5. Students get their original texts back. They may revise their texts, editing them until they are complete.
Optional:
Prewriting, such as brainstorming, can even be done in a round robin. To do this, students simply give a topic as a title, and write ideas in a list or cluster form, and continue to pass the papers around.
The focus of this activity can be fluency, group connectedness, narrative writing, writing process, editing, revising, or performing. Transforming a story into a script form is a great way to get students writing for different purposes. Upon converting the story to a play, teachers may have students perform it for an audience.