The Literary 3x3 is a simple and ultra brief writing activity to prompt students to think outside the plot.

The task: students summarize the novel/story they have read without using specific names or events
The catch: they must create this summary using only 3 lines of 3 words each.

Consider these examples of “3x3”s for these popular animated movies – can you guess what they are?

Arrogance transforms handsomeness
Mistake creates captivity
Inner beauty conquers

Untitled Slide

Innocence craves recognition
Guilt prompts desertion
Duty calls home

The 3x3 exercise forces students to think outside the “main character does this…then this…the end” type of formula.

3x3's WILL use:

• Complete sentences.
• Effective word order.
• Strong words, especially verbs and adjectives.

3x3's MAY use:

3x3's will NOT use:

• Proper nouns/names
• Repeated words
• “to be” verbs
• Pronouns
• Cliches: "a, an, the"

Visual Element

• Include a theme based image that is not directly tied to the plot.
• Combine all the elements using a Web 2.0 tool such as: Animoto, Powtoon, Haiku Deck, Screen-Cast-o-matic.
• Here is an example from "A Rose for Emily" using Haiku deck https://animoto.com/play/F9y1lnhbEjqpcl01DuoJcA