Manual for Coding Achievement Imagery in PSE/TAT Stories

by Virginia Blankenship, Katherine Romero, Christopher M. Vega, Kathleen Keenan, and Erica Ramos

Graduation Story 1

1.  Amanda is graduating from high school.  Her family is there and also her friends.

2.  She has been working hard all through high school to get a 4.0 GPA.  Her parents are so proud of her.

3.  She is thinking about what college she is going to go to and what she is going to major in.  She wants to major in business but isn’t sure.

4.  She graduates with a 4.0 GPA and moves to California to attend >San Diego State University .  She gets an MBA and is very successful.

Graduation Story 2

1.  The people are graduates of ASU and they are congratulating each other for 4 years of stressful life.

2. After four years of study and hard work, they have made it through college and many are proud of them.

3.  Most of them are thinking what next, I don’t have a job, Mom is going to kick me out.

4.  They will have a party and most will get jobs within two weeks.

Graduation Story 3

1.  A daughter, Kira, has graduated and her mother, Sharon, is so proud of her.  The boy on the right is Adam, Kira’s boyfriend who also graduated.

2.  4 years of high school and finally all that work paid off.

3.   Sharon is crying because her baby is all grown up and Kira is ecstatic about tonight!

4.  Mom will go home and the kids are going to go and party.

Runners Story 1

1.   John and Sally have been in competition for years.  Today they are both the leaders in a marathon.  The lead has been going back and forth since the beginning.  They are friends, but in a competitive way.  John is starting to feel a cramp in his stomach and Sally is moving ahead.  She feels confident she will win.

2.  The rivalry between the two has existed since they were in grade school.  Sally was a bit of a tomboy and could always compete well against the other boys.  John has a bit of a crush on Sally and challenges her as a way to get close to her.  He has never revealed these feelings to her.  Sally thinks of John only as a friend.

3.   Sally has noticed John losing his pace and can smell victory.  Now she’s trying to imagine John beating her to motivate her to give it her all.  She’ll never be defeated!  John doesn’t want to lose to Sally.  He thinks she’ll lose some respect for him if he loses, but he knows he can’t win this race.  Still, he has to try.

4.  Despite John’s best efforts, he will lose to Sally in this race.  But there will be other races.  And indeed there are.  They will know each other for many years, and John will eventually ask her out.  She will say yes, but they will discover they should just be friends.

Runners Story 2

1.  Bill and Jane are running, getting ready for the annual marathon that is coming up next week.  They have been practicing for weeks now.

2.  In the past, Bill and Jane have not done too well in the marathon, so this time, they decided to practice harder so they can do better.

3.  Both feel that if they practice they will do much better, so everyday they run miles at a time trying to improve upon their last meet.  They both are wanting to win, and both feel that it is within their reach.

4.  They will place first and second and will be excited about their accomplishments.

Runners Story 3 

1.  A man and woman are running in what looks like a neighborhood.  They are a married couple, Sarah and Jarred.  They are training for the Olympics.

2.  They both run long distance.  They tried out for the Olympics a couple of years ago.  They did not make it.  They have been training ever since.  The tryouts are in 3 months.

3.  They are very focused, thinking about how hard they must work to qualify.  They both want to qualify for the Olympics and are very supportive of one another.

4.  They both make it to the Olympics but in a trial run, Jared's knee becomes dislocated and he cannot compete.  Sarah wins the silver and gives it to her husband saying "I did it for you".

Kayaking Story 1

1.  A man is rafting down rapids quickly in the water.  He is out alone and all he can see and hear around him are the winding rapids.  His heart is pounding and his adrenaline is rushing, as this is something he has wanted to do for a long time.  He feels energized and excited as he tackles the rapids.

2.   He decided to go rafting down the rapids because he needed to get away from his routine life and do something exciting and out of the ordinary.  Every day he gets up to do the same set of activities and feeling burnt out, he felt the need to free himself from this.

3.  The man is thinking about how good it feels to be out in the water.  He is away from the ordinary people and events that are in his life.  He is feeling interested and proud of what he is doing.  He is wanting to feel excitement and freedom.

4.   After he gets done rafting, he will feel great.  He will reflect on his life and realizes that he needs to add excitement to his life more often and that he needs to break away from the ordinary.

Kayaking Story 2

1.  The man is kayaking through the Colorado River .  His name is Vince.  Vince has done this many times and this river is always the most challenging because of its raging rapids.

2.   He does this for fun.  The wilder the river, the better.  He knows that bad things can happen as well.  Once he got pulled into a whirlpool and almost didn’t get out.

3.   He’s concentrating on the moves and which way he is going to go.  He wants to return safely and then go back home for dinner.

4.   Vince finishes his trip by sunset.  He’s very sore, but enjoys kayaking.  He’s left hungry and tired.  He’s definitely ready for dinner now.

Kayaking Story 3

1.  John is white water rafting alone in a dangerous area.  He didn’t mean to get so lost by himself but the currents just kept pushing him further and further out.

2.  His brother James told him that he was incapable of rafting alone in a place with such big currents.  He knew he could do it if his brother could and was set out to prove his brother wrong.

3.  John is scared about what may happen to him, but he wanted really bad to get through this.  He is overcoming his fears and set out to prove that he could do whatever he sets his mind to.

4.  John will get through the rapid currents even though it takes him all day long.  He proves his brother wrong and realizes that some things are not as scary as they seem.

Laboratory Story 1

1.  Katie and Tom have been working all day to find a new antibiotic, they are so close.

2.  Katie and Tom have been working together for five years on this antibiotic, and they know they’ve almost got it.  They had a disagreement this morning so Katie is making Tom do the rest of it while she watched .

3.  Tom is sincerely worried that Katie will not like his new way.  But he’s praying it will work.  Katie is still fuming that he didn’t agree with her but secretly she wants it to work as well.

4.  It ends up that the new experiment doesn’t work, but Katie and Tom make up and decide they’ll try again tomorrow.

Laboratory Story 2

1.  These two are scientists conduction an experiment.  One scientist is measuring fluid in a test tube while the other observes.  He also could be adding chemicals to the test tube as opposed to only measuring what’s already inside.

2.  Maybe they are trying to create a formula for a cure to a disease.  There are many disease which are deadly and many people I’m sure are working to find a cure.

3.  One man doing the experiment is thinking critically and wants to be precise in his measurements.  The other is observing and hoping he does not see the other man take bad measurements or screw up the experiment.

4.  Hopefully their experiment will be successful and they get the results they are looking for.  They will take the results and apply them to their purpose for the experiment, or use the results to help in future experiments.

Laboratory Story 3

1. This is Heather and Joe. They are chemists.  They have been trying to find the cure for cancer.  From the looks on their faces they are very intent on finding this cure so they can help many people.  At this time they are not having much success.

2.  Both Heather and Joe have gone to college and graduated.  They both majored in biochemistry and worked very hard to get their masters, in order to be chemists for medicine.

3.  Joe is thinking, how much he wants this to happen and how he wants to find a cure for cancer.  Heather is thinking the same thing, but she is also thinking how much she wants Joe to ask her out on a date.  She thinks he is so cute and she hopes that he likes her too.

4.  Well they will find the cure for cancer and save a ton of people’s lives.  Also they will end up getting married and having a lot of kids.  They continue their work to save people and now are working on the cure for Aids.

Mountain Climbing Story 1

1. Finally, the day had come for "The Big Climb."  Mike and Aaron had been planning this trip for months and the day had finally come when they would face their most challenging climb ever.  They packed all their climbing gear and headed for the Grand Canyon .

2.  Mike and Aaron have been avid climbers since they could remember and were always looking for new, challenging climbs.  This climb was to be the most intense one they had ever considered and both men were incredibly excited but very nervous at the same time.

3.  Although both men were very good at the activity they enjoyed the most, Mike had much more natural talent.  Aaron knew this climb would be much more challenging for him and this made him incredibly nervous.   Mike was worried for Aaron as well, so worried, in fact, that he may have forgotten some very important things.

4.  Both men strapped into their harnesses and mentally prepared themselves as well.  Aaron stayed at the bottom of the cliff while Mike cautiously began to climb.  Suddenly, about 50 feet in the air, Mike lost his footing and fell that very long distance to the rocks below.

Mountain Climbing Story 2

1. Mark and Eric have been best friends forever and climbing buddies since the age of four.  To celebrate Mark's twenty-first birthday they decided to climb Mt. Everest.  They are in the first stages of the expedition and have a long way to go.

2.  When they were little they climbed every tree they came to.  When they were old enough they were enrolled in one of the finest climbing schools in the world.  They have excelled in every aspect of climbing and now they are attempting to conquer the greatest feat for any climber or any human being for that matter.

3.  Both are thinking about the rush they will feel when they get to the top.  But only subconsciously.  They have to concentrate on every placement of their hands and feet.  How they move and what to do next.

4.  Both men, Mark and Eric will make it to the top through some of the harshest conditions imaginable.  They will have their pain, suffer scares, scrapes, and mishaps but both will be triumphant in conquering the greatest mountain on Earth.

Mountain Climbing Story 3

1. It is the first attempt by anyone to climb Mt. McKinley, Two brothers set out to become legends by conquering what was thought to be an impossible feat.  Many have attempted it before, but no on has completed the task.

2.  These two brothers have been climbing since they were very young.  Their father, also a skilled climber used to take them out with him occasionally on climbs.  There have been a few setbacks in their careers coming in the form of broken bones and such, but take nothing away from their talent.  They are very good.

3.  The brothers feel, both, excited and apprehensive about their climb.  It is by far their biggest undertaking and everyone has urged them to pull out of the expedition.  But they go anyways, dedicating the trek to a good friend of theirs who died while climbing the same mountain.  With the weather worsening comes increased pressure to scrap the journey.

4.  The brothers set out from the base of the mountain with good thoughts in their heads.  Suddenly the weather takes a turn for the worse and the brothers, having lost radio contact, have no idea.   Three-fourths of the way up the mountain they both pass away from exposure.  No one has found them since, but everyone takes comfort in the fact  that they died doing what they loved, climbing.

Skydiving Story 1

1.  They are part of a skydiving team trying to break the loner’s fear of skydiving and everyone’s heart is in it because it is a milestone in his life.

2.  The loner had a terrible parachute accident and was out of commission for a year.  Skydiving was his passion and he inspired others with his love for life.  After the accident he was a changed man, scared of diving and lost his lust for living life to the fullest and his friends wanted to bring the old feelings in him back to life.

3.  The man in the far corner is looking at the loner with an emotional stare, compelling the loner to go through with the formation.  The loner is having huge doubts and desperately wants to pull out the chute but he wants to finish it as well.   The dude in the far right is just trying to grab his hand before the loner has a chance to pull on the string.

4.  The loner will finish the formation and they all will land in tears and he will get over his fear and be his old self.

Skydiving Story 2

1.  Tom, Dick, Alex, Bill, and Colin are professional skydivers and are doing a routine.

2.  The five guys meet while doing jumps and by trying to get into a skydiving group that perform shows.

3.  Colin is determined to get the routine right this time because he has been having difficulties.  His buddies are supportive and hoping he will succeed.

4.  Colin will get the routine down and the show will do great but Colin has doubts about his future as a professional skydiver.

Skydiving Story 3

1.  A group of friends have decided t go skydiving.  They are all excited and trying to do a formation in the air.

2.  They all have been practicing really hard to get their diving certification and they know they can pull this off.

3.  They are excited and frustrated at how close they are and are trying to link hands to pull it off.

4.  The group will be able to complete the stunt and have a successful landing with a great feeling of satisfaction.

Star-gazing Story 1

1.  A boy is stargazing with a telescope.  He is in high school and wants to be an astronaut.

2.  His dad wants him to be something practical like a banker or engineer.  He wants to be an astronaut and fights with his dad about it.  Tonight his dad threatened that he couldn’t stay home unless he started being "responsible" and pursing a more practical career.  He’s bitter and went outside to escape and brood.

3.  He feels trapped by his inability to support himself and his desire to pursue his own dreams.   He’s torn between the comfort of home and his life long ambition.  He wants to move out and be an astronaut for himself and to spite his father.

4.  He’ll move out late at night.  So his parents don’t know and will come back years later after struggling through college and getting into NASA.  He won’t be an astronaut yet but his dad will be proud of him.

Star-gazing Story 2

1.   A man is stargazing because a meteor shower is occurring.  He is just a normal man with an interest in astronomy.

2.  This man has been waiting for this meteor shower his entire life and he is very excited the time has finally arrived.

3.  The man is fascinated by this shower, he has been planning this day for a long time.  He wants to learn something from this shower.  He is interested in knowing why this shower only occurs every few hundred years.

4.  The man will observe the shower and he will become more interested in astronomy.  He will be the man who figures out why these showers only occur so often.

Star-gazing Story 3

1.   The man is looking at what appears to be a new planet.  All his life he has devoted himself to astronomy.

2.  He has always wanted to discover a new planet.  He has found new meteors but his goal was to find a planet.

3.  I can’t believe I discovered a new planet.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I think I will call it Pluto.

4.  He will call it Pluto.  He will be famous.  He has achieved his goal!

Studying Story 1

1.  There is a young man working on his homework.  He is concentrating and appears to be very studious.

2.  After attending school, the boy returns home to do homework.  He knows that he some day would like to be a doctor, so he tries hard to complete his work well.

3.  He is thinking about the work he is doing, but also about the day he gets to practice medicine and help people.  He wants to do well to become a doctor.

4.  The boy will finish homework and in a few years, finish school.  A few years, he will finish college and a few years after that, he will be working in a hospital, saving lives.

Studying Story 2

1.  A student is hard at work, preparing for his next exam.  He is reading his text, writing and reviewing his notes, and practicing.  It is important to do well on this test for him because it is relevant to the field he will be going into.

2.  He has always done well on his tests in the past, so he feels that he should continue to do well.  His friends and family have always had high expectations, so he feels he needs to do well for them as well as himself.

3.  The boy is wanting to achieve on this test.  He feels that if he can achieve on this test, he will be capable of achieving his degree.  He is thinking about how hard it is going to be, but also about how bad he wants it.

4.  The boy will do well on his exam.  His hard work and studying will pay off, and he will feel proud about his accomplishment.  He will tell his friends and family when they ask, and he will study hard for future tests so that his goals will be met and he will continue to succeed.

Studying Story 3

1.  A boy studying.

2.  This boy comes from a large family of hard workers but who unfortunately doesn’t make too much money.  He is determined to go somewhere in his life and he figures now is a good a time as any.  He sees education as equaling success.

3.  He wants to go to college, receive his Ph.D., and be a professor at a university.  This boy focuses on the future to get him through the present.  His family has yet to have someone graduate from high school.

4.  In mid-teens, he decides he would rather be a doctor than a teacher.  He becomes a doctor, also publishing world renowned health books.  By 2026, he discovers a cure for cancer.

Surgery Story 1

1.  Dr. Martin and Dr. Schmidt are working on a very precise cancer extraction.

2.  Diane developed cancer in her frontal lobe and they decided to try a new type of surgery to get rid of it.

3.  The doctors are very nervous but hope to perform the surgery to the best of their abilities.

4.  Diane awakens from the surgery but soon after slips into a coma and passes on.  They find that the tumor had been too intense, and they just couldn’t get it all in time.

Surgery Story 2

1.  Two skilled surgeons and their team are working very hard to separate conjoined twins.   This is one of the most difficult cases they have ever accepted.  The babies, two girls, share one leg and each has their own leg and their hips are fused together.  Dr. Kotch and Dr. Kazinovits are leading the surgery, and head nurse Sholz is assisting.

2.  These girls were born six months ago in West Africa.  Their family doesn’t have any money so they have no way to pay for the operation.  And, without this operation these little girls may not make it past their second birthdays.

3.  The doctors are concentrating on every little cut or snip.  One false move and the girls could bleed to death or sustain paralysis.   Everyone involved in the operation wants everything to go perfectly and that both girls survive.  Each of the girls has a fifty percent survival rate.

4.  After thirteen hours on the table both girls have survived surgery and recovery.  Their parents were overjoyed.  The doctors were thrilled with the success.  Both girls go on to live full productive lives thanks to Dr. Kotch, Kazinovitz, and nurse Shultz.

Surgery Story 3

1.  There are two doctors and one assistant.  One female, and one male doctor, and one male assistant. They are Jesse, who is the female, Cameron the assistant, and George, the other doctor.  They are working on a liver transplant, while listening to music to keep things calm.  Everything is going as planned.

2.  They are working on a male alcoholic who is in need for a new liver.  The team is well known, and has had a successful history of liver transplants.

3.  Jesse is thinking about how well everything is going.  She’s also thinking about the song playing on the stereo, and remembers where she first heard it.  George is thinking about his upcoming promotion and his new apartment he is going to move into.  Cameron is thinking about every step they are going through, and is paranoid that something might go wrong.  He wants to memorize everything.

4.  This will be another successful transplant.  Jesse feels great about herself and the team.  George is more positive about his promotion, and is thinking about asking for more.  Cameron is relieved they finished.  Now he’s thinking about the next surgery he will assist, and when he will do his own one day.

Swimming Story 1

1.   Mary is swimming in an Olympic event in Barcelona.  She is doing well and currently in 2^nd place.

2.   Mary has been swimming since she was 6 years old.  She’s now 23 and going for the gold.  Her mom and swim coach always saw potential in her and supported her throughout her life.

3.   Mary is growing tired and has two laps left.  She desperately wants a gold medal in this event.  Her concentration is deep and she feels nothing but a medal around her neck.

4.  Mary wins!  She was ecstatic on the podium because she had accomplished a childhood dream.  She won flowers, gift certificates, and of course, her gold medal.

Swimming Story 2

1.   This is Amy.  Amy is a high school sophomore who has been swimming since she was 4.  She loves to swim and hopes to go to college for it someday.  On the sidelines, her coach yells and encourages her to continue if she wants to go to the state meet.

2.   Amy’s mom put her on swim team when she turned 4 to get her involved in something that might become a healthy hobby.  From the first day, Amy was a natural in the water and swam her heart out ever since.  She has won tons of prizes and awards for her accomplishments and her mom is so proud.

3.   Right now as Amy swims, her mind clears and she is in a peaceful state, although she is swimming her hardest because she is doing what she loves.  In the back of her mind she pushes herself harder and tells herself to keep going because she wants to someday go to the Olympics.

4.  5 years down the road she walks in a huge stadium where she stands on the highest platform and hears everyone cheer.  She sees her mom’s face in the crowd and holds up her gold medal, dedicating it to her mom.

Swimming Story 3

1.   The person is a swimmer from Shadow Mountain High School practicing for the upcoming meet.  Her name is Olga and she actually only has one arm but fully functional legs.

2.   In the past, she was born with a broken arm.  That is why they had to remove it at birth - it was never going to heal.  But that didn’t stop Olga.  She still wanted to be the best simmer because she loved the water.

3.   She is thinking about what college is going to try to give her scholarships.  She hopes that USD or UCSD will be at tomorrow’s meet.  She wants to go to school in San Diego badly.

4.  Tomorrow she will swim the fastest she has ever swam and beat all the other competitors.  USD will call her personally to set an appointment and she will go to college there the following fall.