[LIT] lit Digest, Vol 8, Issue 24

[Chris Knoblaugh]

The rule of thumb for abridgment:

- retain intent
- retain tone
- simplify sentence structure
- simplify vocabulary
- retain dialogue (if possible) [this may require
footnotes]

A sentence like:

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I
best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed
revenge.

Becomes something like this:

The pain I suffered from Fortunato's treatment of me
was something I kept to myself.  When he started to
insult me directly, I decided to take revenge.

You can abridge the text yourself.  I had a class in
how to do it back in the 1970's in college, but it
wasn't rocket science.

You lose the flow and syntax of the original work, but
if you study them side by side it works.  You can also
be sneaky.  When you read the original, use your best
reading voice.  When you read the abridged version,
let your voice sound flat.  The kids will start to
gravitate toward the original, which is what you want.

--- Englishteach8 at aol.com wrote:

> I'm doing the Cask of Amontillado this year, with my
> 8th graders.  I have 
> some basic skills kids and Inclusion.  I would love
> to see how you abridged it.  
> I did Tell Tale Heart and Black Cat with them last
> year and they loved it.
> 
> Caryn Gilbert
> Bloomfield M.S.
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