Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday 3-19 to 3-21

MONDAY

Did You Know?

v  A short story is a short work of fiction. Fiction, as you know, is prose writing about imagined events and characters.

v  Prose writing differs from poetry in that it does not depend on verses, meters or rhymes for its organization and presentation.

v  Novels are another example of fictional prose and are much longer than short stories. Some short stories, however, can be quite long.

v  American literature contains some of the world's best examples of the short story. Readers around the world enjoy the finely crafted stories of American writers such as O. Henry, Stephen Crane, Jack London, Mark Twain and Edgar Allen Poe.

v  What makes these authors such remarkable short story writers? They are true masters at combining the five key elements that go into every great short story:

1.       Character

2.       Setting

3.       Conflict

4.       Plot

5.       Theme.

v  The ability to identify the elements of a story aids in comprehension, leads to a deeper understanding and appreciation of stories, and helps students learn to write stories of their own.

CHARACTERS

v  The characters are who the story is about. A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or other literary work.

v  Characters can be real or make believe.  They can also be animals or things.

v  A good story includes:
*What the character looks like
*How the character acts
*How a character changes

Ways to Know a Character

•         Appearance

▫          how the character looks.

▫          how the character dresses.

•         Thoughts and conversation

▫          what the character says, thinks, or feels.

▫          what others in the story say or think about the character.

•         Actions

▫          what the character does.

▫          what the character chooses not to do.

▫          what others in the story do to the main character.

GOOD CHARACTERS ARE:

▫          believable

▫          consistent     

▫          multidimensional, that is, not stereotyped

▫          memorable

▫          grow or change over time

▫          Antagonist and Protagonist

Short stories use few characters.  One character is clearly central to the story with all major events having some importance to this character - he/she is the PROTAGONIST. 

                The ANTAGONIST is a character

    that works against the protagonist

     causing conflict.

PRACTICE

Pick the best character trait for the main character in the sentence.

1. Ethan and his friend Colton threw the little kitties into the pool.
                   A. brilliant
                   B. attentive
                   C. wicked
2. Julie was afraid to stand up to the bully who was picking on her friend.
                   A. modesty
                   B. cowardice
                   C. intelligent

TUESDAY

SETTING

q  The setting of a short story is the when and where. It is the time and place in which it happens. Authors often use descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting.

q  Sometimes the author tells you the setting.
For example:
Once upon a time (that means long ago) in a beautiful meadow (place) there lived three Billy goats gruff.

q  Sometimes, the author gives you clues about the setting.

  "Simon, it is important that you tell no one about hiding the runaway slaves (Civil War) (In the South because that is where slavery was allowed.) in the barn!" (place)  whispered Pa.

The clues tell you that this story is

taking place on a farm in the South

during the Civil War.

•         There are several aspects of a story's setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a story (some, or all, may be present in a story):
 

a)  place - geographical location. 

Where is the action of the story taking

 place?

b)  time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc)

c)  weather conditions –

Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?

d)  social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like? Does the story contain local colours (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?

e)  mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story?  Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

ACTIVITY 1

Read the paragraph and complete 1- 4.

Ben walked through the door and put his books in the book return. He walked around a corner and quietly walked into the children's section. Some children sat quietly at tables or looked at books with others. The sunlight came in through the windows and warmed the room. He asked the librarian to help him find a book by his favorite author. Ben sat down in the sun and began to read.

1. Write a description of the setting.
____________________

    ____________________

    ____________________

2. Describe when it takes place.

                ____________________

    ____________________

    ____________________

3. Think of a different setting for this paragraph. What is your new setting?
____________________

    ____________________

    ____________________

4. Rewrite this paragraph using your new setting:

 ______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

WEDNESDAY

•         PLOT

When you tell your friends about a great story you’ve read or an exciting movie you’ve seen, and they ask, “what happened next?” and “ then what happened?” your answers describe the events in the plot.

The plot is what happens in the story.  The plot usually revolves around a problem or conflict that is presented at the beginning of the story and resolved at the end. The plot is the events that help the character solve the or deal with a  problem.

To identify the plot:

1. Find the problem in the story.
2. Sequence the events that lead to the character  solving their problem.

There are five essential parts of plot:

1)  Introduction/Exposition- The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed.

2)  Rising Action - This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax).

3)  Climax - This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story.  The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?

•         It is helpful to consider climax as a three-fold phenomenon: 

                                a)  the main character receives new  information. 

                                b)  accepts this information (realizes it but does not necessarily agree with it).

                                c)  acts on this information (makes a choice that will determine whether or not he/she gains his objective).

4) Falling action - The events and complications begin to resolve themselves.  The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between climax and resolution).

5) Resolution- This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.