Future TenseFuture TenseWritten by: Robert LipsyteWritten by: Robert Lipsyte

By: A.J. Ross, Elena Cleghorn, Elizabeth Nelson, Louis Joerissen, and Molly Smith

3rd hour

SummarySummary

This story is about Gary, a high school student who loves writing and imagination. Two new teachers Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones are hired by the principle, Dr. Proctor. Then Gary has to write about a typical day at school. He decides to write about a typical day at school through the point of view of a teacher with no imagination. Gary soon suspects that Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones are aliens!

He ends up going to Ms. Jones office and getting in trouble for using his imagination. Then Gary goes to Dr. Proctor’s office and finds out that Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones aren’t the aliens… its Dr. Proctor! Dr. Proctor then tells Gary that his story is correct about him. Then he freezes him in place and sends him to his home planet to tell his story.

Focus QuestionFocus Question

How difficult is it to spot an alien in your environment?

ExpositionExposition

Initial Characters:GaryMr. SmithMs. JonesDoctor Proctor

ExpositionExposition

Initial Setting:The school and Gary’s house.

ExpositionExposition

Initiating Action:Gary thinks that the new “boring”

teachers Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones are aliens.

Rising ActionRising Action

Gary continues to rewrite his paper using science fiction. Mr. Smith keeps pushing Gary to do better and better. Gary realizes that Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones are not aliens, but Doctor Proctor is.

ClimaxClimax

Gary thought Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones were aliens. Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones are not aliens. Gary realizes Doctor Proctor is the alien.

Falling ActionFalling Action

Doctor Proctor talks to Gary in his office, freezes Gary, and Gary dissolves into the air to be taken to Doctor Proctor’s planet.

Science Fiction Science Fiction ElementsElements

Imaginary settingsTime travelTeleportationStopping timeAlien invasion

Story ResponsesStory Responses

Our group thought that the story “Future Tense” was a very interesting and a bit confusing story. The ending was very shocking, and surprising. We thought that the story was very well written and well told. We really enjoyed the story!