Editorial
You can read about using Haikus for getting feedback in Haiku for Getting Feedback by the same author.

Minisagas for Getting Feedback

Hanna Kryszewska, Poland

Hanna Kryszewska teacher, teacher trainer, author and editor of HLT magazine. Lectures at the University of Gdansk, Poland.
E-mail: hania.kryszewska@pilgrims.co.uk

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The Mini Saga project
Sample Mini Sagas from the students
Conclusions

The Mini Saga project

After using Haikus for getting feedback from my university students, I ventured into Minisagas. The Haikus were very informative but I wanted more information and language. So next time I introduced my students to the concept of the Minisaga. We looked at the definition on Wikipedia.

Also we studied some examples. The students liked the idea and enjoyed the fact that this time they would be allowed to use more words. Still they liked having to work within the constraints of a word limit. Sometimes the word count was strictly followed. But, to be honest, I did not care. What counted was the attempt to be brief and informative. After all as Shakespeare said:

“ Brevity is the soul of wit”

The sagas below come with original grammar and spelling.

Sample Mini Sagas from the students

Minisaga No. 1

A happy life once had a girl.
She spent it on meeting friends.
Going shopping and doing nothing
She relaxed a lot, had time just for herself
And organized great parties.
The girl did not have to worry
about anything and had no duties…
And the she went to University.

50 words

Minisaga No. 2

She, Herself & Her

We are sitting in the room
Finding a way to escape.
She keeps asking questions
And never gives answers.
When you ask her for help
She says: “ It is not my problem”.
When you ask her for advice
She says: “ I really don’t know.”
So we don’t ask.

54 words

Minisaga No. 3

Our studies were like a mini saga
Easy to write, hard to understand.
You hoped it was right but it was
full of mistakes. Sometimes you needed
to waffle and added another ten words. And at the very end
the only thing that remains is a
shit* of paper.

planned mistake

49 words

Minisaga No. 4

In September we were pretending to be leaves.
In December we were playing snowballs.
In February for a change we had to sit and
create a 40 page masterpiece.
In April we were walking around our school
searching for teaching points.
And now we are ‘fully experienced’ Masters of Arts.

50 words

Minisaga No. 5

If you are searching for a solid
place to study,
If you want to learn about
the history of music, not just
to practise clapping your hands,
If you are looking for challenging
exams, and up-dated
knowledge...
don’t come here.

40 words

Minisaga No. 6

This is what our studies are like.
We wrote Haiku.
Now we are writing a Mini Saga.
Later we will probably be asked to write a short story.
And finally a novel about
our fabulous master pieces. Such as:
The Haiku, the Mini Saga and the short story.
But we preferred the Haiku!

53 words

Conclusions

The Minisagas reveal the following about the students and their studies:

• Going to university is the end of a carefree life.
• No communication and rapport between the tutor and the students. Frustration resulting from failure.
• To get an MA at this university you have to do a lot of useless assignments.
• The content of the courses is disappointing.
• Irony and mockery of the various unconventional methods of getting feedback.

I find this summary of the Minisagas very informative if overpowering. There is so much negativity, frustration and disappointment. I think Minisagas revealed much more than traditional forms of getting feedback would. Pity it was so negative.

Please check the Creative Methodology for the Classroom course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Teaching Advanced Students course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Building Positive Group Dynamics course at Pilgrims website.