A SHORT STORY, STEPHEN CRANE'S "THE OPEN BOAT," AND SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY OF THE STORY WERE PRESENTED IN A STUDY GUIDE, ONE OF A SERIES OF CURRICULUM GUIDES PRODUCED FOR USE BY A NINTH-GRADE ENGLISH CLASS. ONE STUDY TECHNIQUE PRESENTED, CALLED "THE EXPLODED DIAGRAM," INVOLVED SEPARATING THE STORY'S CONTENT INTO SUCH SINGLE ELEMENTS AS SUBJECT, FORM, AND POINT OF VIEW, AND EXPANDING EACH ELEMENT FOR DETAILED EXAMINATION. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS COULD PROVIDE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOTAL STORY AND ITS PARTS. THE CORRESPONDING TEACHING GUIDE IS ED 010 826. RELATED REPORTS ARE ED 010 129 THROUGH ED 010 160 AND ED 010 803 THROUGH ED 010 832. (AL)