Short Story Guiding Questions: What happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story?

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1 Short Story Guiding Questions: What happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story? When and where does the story take place? How do you know? Who are the characters? How does the author make them "believable"? How does the author establish point of view? Is there a conflict in the story? What is it? Is the conflict solved in the end? How? Does time pass in this story? How do you know? How does this story make you feel? Why? How do the characters interact? How do you think the author felt about what she was writing? How does it make you feel? Guiding questions K W L Oct 7 2:11 PM 1

2 Short Story: The Basics A fictional text in which a character overcomes great challenge. Generally has a limited number of characters and scenes Focuses on an isolated event or a short span of time Frequently deals with only one problem Uses only the details necessary for understanding the situation Because they are concise, writers depend on the reader bringing personal experiences and prior knowledge to the story in order to understand the story short story elements Basic Elements of a Short Story: Setting Character(s) Point of View Plot Theme Sep 21 11:22 AM 2

3 Plot Plot is what happens in the story. It is how you set up the situation, where the turning points of the story are, and what the characters do at the end of the story. Hook A thrilling, gripping, stirring event or problem that grabs the reader's attention right away. Exposition Background information required for seeing the characters from their intended goal. Rising Action Adds or introduces a problem for the characters. Climax When the rising action of the story reaches the peak; the turning point in the story. Falling Action Releasing the action of the story after the climax. Resolution When the internal or external conflict is resolved. Other terms: Conflict A character versus the internal self or an external something or someone. Flashback Remembering something that happened before the short story takes place. plot vs. theme Sep 25 8:24 AM 3

4 Plot: Guiding Questions 1. What is the hook or explosion? 2. What is the problem? 3. Is there flashback? 4. What is the climax? 5. What is the falling action? 6. What is the resolution? Sep 27 3:52 PM Theme The theme of a story is the moral or underlying idea of the story that drives the character's motivation and peaks the reader's interest. Theme can also refer to the emotion that you want readers to feel when they are finished reading your short story. theme 4

5 Character Development Character A figure in a literary work that either is a human being or possesses human qualities and is portrayed in human terms. Dynamic Character A character who changes in a significant way during the course of the story Static Character A character who remains the same throughout the story. Round Character A character who is presented in a complex, three dimensional portrait Flat Character A character who is presented as having a single trait Character Development Character Qualities to Consider: Name Age Grade Gender: Male or Female Appearance Where does he/she live Parents or Siblings Things he/she likes and dislikes Places where he/she is happy and scared Things he/she is good at and not good at Relationships with friends and family Friends Who are they? What are they like? Enemies People he/she is scared or intimidated by Things about him/her that people make fun of Fears or worries Things that make him/her feel proud Favorite objects character qualities to consider 5

6 Point of View Point of view is the narration of the story from the perspective of first, second, or third person. Who is going to tell the story? First Person The story is told from the view of "I." The narrator is either the protagonist (main character) and directly affected by unfolding events, or the narrator is a secondary character telling the story revolving around the protagonist. Second Person The story is told directly to "you", with the reader as a participant in the action. Ex. Self help books Third Person The story tells what "he", "she", or "it" does. The third person narrator's perspective can be limited (telling the story from one character's viewpoint) or omniscient (where the narrator knows everything about all of the characters). point of view Setting Setting includes the time, location, context, and atmosphere where the plot takes place. Include enough detail to let your readers picture the scene, but only details that actually add something to the story. Use two or more senses in your descriptions of setting Use descriptive details Don't tell your readers it's raining, describe how it's raining! setting 6

7 Short Story Characteristics Oct 3 12:13 PM Brainstorming memories or events places you have visited activities you enjoy issues that are important special people (friends and family) interesting things in the world Oct 5 7:50 AM 7