Storyform for "Akeelah and the Bee"

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

• MC RESOLVE: Steadfast
• MC GROWTH: Stop
• MC APPROACH: Do-er
• MC PROBLEM-SOLVING STYLE: Logical
• IC RESOLVE: Change

PLOT DYNAMICS:

• DRIVER: Decision
• LIMIT: Optionlock
• OUTCOME: Success
• JUDGMENT: Good

MAIN CHARACTER (Akeelah Anderson)

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: The Future
• ISSUE: Choice vs. Delay
• PROBLEM: Feeling
• SOLUTION: Logic
• SYMPTOM: Temptation
• RESPONSE: Conscience
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Delay
• CRITICAL FLAW: Approach
• BENCHMARK: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 1: The Past
• SIGNPOST 2: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 3: The Future
• SIGNPOST 4: The Present

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Breaking Down Preconceptions)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Changing One's Nature
• ISSUE: Responsibility vs. Commitment
• PROBLEM: Uncontrolled
• SOLUTION: Control
• SYMPTOM: Temptation
• RESPONSE: Conscience
• CATALYST: Commitment
• INHIBITOR: Closure
• BENCHMARK: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 1: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 2: Developing a Plan
• SIGNPOST 3: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 4: Conceiving an Idea

OVERALL STORY (Wiining the National Spelling Bee)

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Obtaining
• ISSUE: Morality vs. Self Interest
• PROBLEM: Disbelief
• SOLUTION: Faith
• SYMPTOM: Temptation
• RESPONSE: Conscience
• CATALYST: Self Interest
• INHIBITOR: Openness
• BENCHMARK: Doing
• SIGNPOST 1: Understanding
• SIGNPOST 2: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 3: Doing
• SIGNPOST 4: Gathering Information

IMPACT CHARACTER (Dr. Larabee and Others)

• THROUGHLINE: Fixed Attitude
• CONCERN: Innermost Desires
• ISSUE: Dream vs. Hope
• PROBLEM: Disbelief
• SOLUTION: Faith
• SYMPTOM: Oppose
• RESPONSE: Support
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Hope
• CRITICAL FLAW: Rationalization
• BENCHMARK: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 1: Memories
• SIGNPOST 2: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 3: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 4: Contemplation

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

• GOAL: Obtaining
• CONSEQUENCE: Changing One's Nature
• COST: Innermost Desires
• DIVIDEND: The Future
• REQUIREMENT: Doing
• PREREQUISITE: Playing a Role
• PRECONDITION: Impulsive Responses
• FOREWARNINGS: How Things are Changing

VOCABULARY:

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Approach: one's methodology of doing or being

Change: Akeelah Anderson changes her essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Choice: making a decision

Closure: bringing something to an end or to completion

Commitment: a decision to stick with something regardless of the consequences

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Conscience: forgoing an immediate pleasure or benefit because of future consequences

Contemplation: present considerations

Control: directed, constrained

Decision: in the plot, decisions force actions

Delay: putting off until later

Developing a Plan: visualizing how an existing idea might be implemented

Disbelief: the belief that something is untrue

Do-er: Akeelah Anderson looks for a physical solution to her problem

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

Dream: a desired future that does not fall within reasonable expectations

Faith: accepting something as certain without proof

Feeling: an emotional sense of how things are going

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Gathering Information: gathering information or experience

Good: Akeelah Anderson ultimately succeeds in resolving her personal problems

Hope: a desired future that falls within reasonable expectations

How Things are Changing: the way things are going

Impulsive Responses: innate responses

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Logic: a rational sense of how things are related

Logical: Akeelah Anderson uses inherently logical (linear) problem solving techniques

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Memories: recollections

Morality: doing or being based on what is best for others

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

Openness: willingness to reevaluate

Oppose: an indirect detraction from another's effort

Optionlock: the story climax occurs because all options have been exhausted

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

Rationalization: an alternative explanation used to mask the real reason

Responsibility: taking, accepting, or assuming control to the exclusion of others

Self Interest: doing or being based on what is best for oneself

Situation: a situation or environment

Steadfast: Akeelah Anderson ultimately retains her essential nature

Stop: regarding Akeelah Anderson, the audience is waiting for something to end

Success: the original goal is achieved

Support: indirect assistance given to another's efforts

Temptation: the urge to embrace immediate benefits despite possible consequences

The Future: what will happen or what will be

The Past: what has already happened

The Present: the current situation and circumstances

Uncontrolled: directionless, unconstrained

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something