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Setting

Details can describe:

Time of day
Time of year
Time in History
Scenery
Weather
Location

The setting describes where an when the story takes place.
It helps build background and create images in the mind.
It helps set the tone or mood of the story.

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Using the Five Senses

A good setting helps the reader visualize the places in the story.
A good author includes descriptions of the setting using the five senses…

SIGHT
SMELL
TASTE
FEEL
SOUND

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Take a Look…Which is better?

The castle was beside the water.

The waves crashed loudly against the shoreline. The fog lifted lightly and the medieval castle came into view. It was a beautiful site! The fog brushed my face and I could smell the smoke from the fire in the distance and taste the sea salt on my lips.

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OR…

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Your Turn…

On the next slide, there is a picture of a setting.
In your own words, write a detailed description of the setting in your picture. Include many adjectives and don’t forget to include descriptions for each of the five senses: see, hear, feel, smell, taste
Extension: Draw your own setting and then write about it.
Extension: Your teacher will give you a magazine to look through. Find a picture that could be a setting for a story.

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Characters

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Every story needs Characters…

People

Animals

Or Creatures

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The protagonist is the “good guy”

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The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force

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Characterization

Characterization is the way in which an author shows the personality of a character

Characterization is a technique writers use to make characters “come to life.”

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Think about your favorite book, movie or TV character…

How can you describe his/her appearance?
What kind of personality does he/she have?
What kinds of things does he/she like?
Make a list of character traits for this character.

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Characterization

Characters are people or animals in a story.

A writer can tell you directly about a character… (Freddy was very competitive)

A writer can tell you indirectly about a character… (Two days before the game, Freddy gathered his teammates and laid out his plan. Then he looked at them and said, “We are going to win this one. No excuses.”)

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Direct Characterization

Direct Characterization tells the reader the personality of the character.
Direct Characterization is obvious to the reader and “spells” it right out.

“The patient boy and the quiet girl were both well behaved and did not disobey their mother.

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Indirect Characterization

Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of the character.
Speech
Thought
Effect on Others
Actions
Looks

The boy sat next to his sister as she poked him and teased him. He did not react. He carefully picked up her doll from the floor and placed it on her lap saying gently, “Here you go, why don’t you play with your doll?

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Indirect Characterization

☻What d oes the character say? How does the character speak?

☻ What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?

☻ What is the character’s effect on others? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?

☻ What does the character do? How does he/she behave?

☻ What does the character look like? Dress like?

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Character Traits�Character Traits are descriptive adjectives that tell us specific qualities of a character

Honest Light-hearted Leader Expert Brave Conceited Mischievous Demanding Thoughtful Keen Happy Disagreeable Simple Fancy Plain	Excited Studious Inventive Creative Thrilling Independent Intelligent Compassionate Gentle Proud Wild Messy Neat Joyful Strong	Bright Courageous Serious Funny Humorous Sad Poor Rich Tall Dark Light Handsome Pretty Ugly Selfish	Unselfish Self-confident Respectful Considerate Imaginative Busy Patriotic Fun-loving Popular Successful Responsible Lazy Dreamer Helpful Simple-minded	Humble Friendly Short Adventurous Hard-working Timid Shy Bold Daring Dainty Pitiful Cooperative Lovable Prim Proper	Ambitious Able Quiet Curious Reserved Pleasing Bossy Witty Fighter Tireless Energetic Cheerful Smart Impulsive Loyal

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Factors in Analyzing Characters

Physical appearance/what they look like
Personality & Character Traits
Background/personal history
Motivation/why do they act?
Relationships
Conflict or struggles
Does the character change?
What do they think and feel?
How do others feel about them?

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Character Motivation

Character Motivation is the driving force behind why the character does what he/she does. (Reasons for character’s actions)
What does the main character want more than anything else (main goal)?
What do secondary characters want more than anything else (main goal)?
What potential conflicts or struggles might exist between the characters?

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Snow White: Character Motivation

Character Motivation. Why does the queen’s heart turn against Snow White?
Character Motivation. Why do the dwarfs allow Snow White to stay with them?
Character Motivation. Why does the queen disguise herself as an old peddler woman?
Character Motivation. Why does the queen give Snow White the poison apple?

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Your Turn…Think of a character from a book, a movie or TV…

Who is the character? From what story?
What does he/she want?
What does he/she need?
What is his/her motivation?
What does he/she do to get what they need?
How does the character change during the movie, book or TV show?

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Identifying Character Traits Worksheet: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson175/RWT186-2.pdf

Character Poem

First name ________________________�Four traits ________________________�Related to:________________________�Cares deeply for _____________________�Who feels ________________________�Who needs ________________________�Who gives _________________________�Who would like to see __________________ Resident of ________________________

Example of poem

Snow White, �Beautiful, giving, loving, unhappy �The Queen, her wicked stepmother �The seven dwarfs �Safe in the forest �The love of a Prince �Love to the seven dwarfs �Goodness throughout the kingdom �The forest.

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Plot

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Plot

Plot - the events that take place in a story. Every story needs a plot! The plot has different “parts…”

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Plot Components

Exposition: the start of the story, before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of events and conflicts in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.

Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.

Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.

Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.

Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.

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The climax is the most exciting part!!

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Special Techniques of Plot…

Suspense- excitement or tension
Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past
Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect
And…Foreshadowing…

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A hint about what will happen next is called foreshadowing

For example, if you hear this:

Then you know someone’s about to get eaten!

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Your Turn…

You will be given a short story to read.
Once you’ve finished reading, fill out the plot diagram for the story.

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Conflict

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Conflict

Conflict is the “battle” between two forces.

Conflict isn’t always bad..sometimes it helps to create change.

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Conflict

Conflict is the struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

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Types of Conflict

Character vs. Nature

Character vs. Society

Character vs. Self

Character vs. Character

Character vs. Technology

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Types Of Conflict…a deeper look

Character vs. Character

(problem with another character)

3. Character vs. Society

(problem with the laws or beliefs of a group)

(character vs. community, society or culture)

2. Character vs. Nature

(problem with force of nature)

4. Character vs. Self

(problem with deciding what to

do or think; “inner conflict”)

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Your turn…

What’s a well-known movie that has…

Character vs. Character Conflict

Character vs. Nature Conflict

Character vs. Society

Character vs. Self

Character vs. Technology