Tutorial on Reading Skill Character, SEtting, Plot and Theme in Narrative text

1. Tutorial on Reading SkillCharacter, SEtting, Plot and Theme in Narrative text Ad Prima Charter School

2. PA Standards • R7.B.1.1.1- Interpret, compare, describe, analyze, and evaluate components of fiction and literary nonfiction (Character, Setting, Plot, Theme).

3. Vocabulary • Character • A person or animal who takes part in the action of a story, play or other literary work.

4. Vocabulary • Setting • The time and place in which the events of a work of literature take place.

5. Vocabulary • Theme • The truth about life revealed in a work of literature. Theme is not the subject but rather an idea that describes the subject further. Theme should be stated in a sentence. It is broader than the topic, subject or main idea of the work.

6. Vocabulary • Plot • Series of related events that make up a story. • Note, Setting and characters affect the plot, but they are not considered part of the plot.

7. Vocabulary parts of plot • Introduction/ exposition • Tells us who the characters are and what their conflict is.

8. Vocabulary parts of plot • Rising action • Are the events that happen between the introduction of the conflict and the climax. Rising action will most likely include plot complications.

9. Vocabulary parts of plot • Complications • Arise as characters take steps to resolve the conflict. They make the problem worse. They are what make the story more interesting.

10. Vocabulary parts of plot • Climax • Most emotional or suspenseful moment in the story toward the end of the story. It is the moment when the outcome of the problem or conflict of the story is decided one way or another.

11. Vocabulary parts of plot • Falling action • The action that happens after the climax before the final resolution. Some falling action can be considered part of the resolution.

12. Vocabulary parts of plot • Resolution • When the character’s or characters’ problem/s end (good or bad) • It is when loose ends are tied and it is the end of the story.

13. Example of plot graph graphic organizer

14. you could also use a story map graphic organizer

15. Why do we need to identify parts of narrative text? • Knowing the text structure of a genre of literature will help you be able to anticipate what you can find in texts that are similar in structure. • When you get to narrative stories that have multiple characters and subplots, you can handle it better when knowing the basic structure. You need to know the basics before you can understand an extension of it.

16. Identifying theme in 4 stepsStep 1 • Understand the main character. • List the traits of the main character. • physical and emotional • Decide if the reader is supposed to identify with the main character or if she/he is someone the reader doesn't (or shouldn't) want to be.

17. Step 2 in ID theme • Identify the conflict which involves the main character in some way. • The conflict can be between the main character and another, society or some force of nature, or within the main character himself. • Figure out specifically who or what the main character is struggling against in the short story.

18. Step 3 in ID theme • Know how the conflict is resolved can be one of the biggest clues to theme. • Who wins the conflict is the writer's way of telling the reader which force was better. • If an evil main character, one you wouldn't admire, wins out over some force of nature, the theme will have a negative slant.

19. Step 4 in ID theme • Make a generalization. • Look at the items listed in the first three steps. Put this information together to decide on a theme. • It might be easy to start by understanding what the main character learned in the short story. • Then, generalize that lesson to apply to everyone/ humans/society.

20. Note on finding theme • Remember, there are many themes about human experience that could be in a story. There could also be more than one theme in a story depending on it’s length and how many complications are in it. It is not always easy to find theme so do not get discouraged! Ask for help if you need it!

21. Practice • Read the following short stories on the attached papers and identify characters, setting, theme and plot! • Check your work using the keys provided. Try not to just look at the keys to finish the work. Remember you are trying to better yourself by doing this activity. If you cheat, you are wasting your time! • After this activity practice identifying theme looking at movies you may know!

22. more practice on theme • What is the theme of … • Akeelah and the Bee • Monsters Inc.

23. More Practice on theme! • Tangled • The Princess Frog

24. answers to movie themes • Akeelah and the Bee • Working hard and perseverance can lead to success despite difficulties! • Monster’s Inc. • People are afraid of what they do not know or understand. Experience with the unknown will usually eliminate misunderstanding.

25. Answers to theme movies • Tangled • It’s OK to follow your dreams even if it means you have to defy a few people to reach them. Greed never wins. • The Princess Frog • Hard work and perseverance are important to getting what you want.

26. Works Cited • http://dictionary.reference.com used to find definitions of vocabulary. • http://www.ehow.com/how_2063746_identify-short-story-theme.html to help ID theme. • 7th Grade Text book