Introduction to Short Story/Narrative

1. Do Now: The following passage contains grammatical errors. Re-write the passage in your Grammar section, fixing all errors. •  My name is Jay Hammond I am a firefighter. I live in 128 Pine Lane, in Jackson, Mississippi. I have two childs. One is a girl named Clair. The other is boy named Thatcher. His name after my father. I also have a wife named Jenna. She is beutiful. She has long, dark, soft hair. We also got a dog named Buck. He is very obedient but sometimes he barks at night and it upsets our neighbors!

2. Introduction to Short Story/Narrative

3. In the next two months, we will… • Read several short stories (and practice annotating texts as we read) • Learn more about specific story elements (character, setting, theme, point of view, conflict, etc.) and focus on these in the stories we read • Discuss the Narrative Writing task on the PARCC and look at examples • Review and practice the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, editing/revising, publishing • Write one original short story, adhering to rules and guidelines that we learn • Write one PARCC-style narrative (read a selection and continue the story)

4. Plot • Most stories move from beginning to end chronologically • Plot diagram: • Exposition: the beginning of a story, introduce setting and major character(s) • Rising action: introduce major conflict(s), any action that happens building up to the climax of the story, most of the action in the story falls under this section • Climax: the most exciting part of the story/the turning point, usually comes toward the end • Falling action: any action that happens after the climax and winding down to the end of the story, this section is usually fairly short • Resolution: how the conflict is resolved (or not)

5. Conflict • This is what drives all of the action in a story • Man vs. man: two characters are pitted against each other • Man vs. nature: character must overcome a force of nature (a natural disaster, difficult climate, animal, etc.) • Man vs. society: a character sees something differently than the other people in his culture/community • Man vs. himself: character has an internal struggle, holding himself back from something

6. Character • Protagonist: main character • *not necessarily “good” • Antagonist: a character who holds back from protagonist from reaching his or her goal; an adversary • *not necessarily “evil”

7. Characterization • Direct characterization: the author explicitly describes the character’s traits • Indirect characterization: the author provides clues that reveal the character’s traits, the reader must use these clues to infer the character’s traits

8. Setting • Where and when a story takes place • Why is setting important?

9. Point of View • First-person: I/me/we/us, the narrator is actively participating in the story • Second-person: you, the narrator speaks directly to the reader • Third-person limited: he/she/they, the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character (usually the protagonist), follows this one character closely throughout the story • Third-person omniscient: he/she/they, the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters, may jump from character to character to show how each contributes to the plot

10. Symbol • Usually a concrete object that represents an abstract idea • The reader must infer the meaning and significance of a symbol

11. Theme • A lesson/statement suggested by the story • Rarely stated directly, usually must be inferred

12. Dialogue • Spoken words/conversation in a story • Start a new line and indent each time a new character starts speaking • Dialogue should typically look like this: “Can you please remain seated until the bell rings?” asked Ms. Kelly.

13. Vivid descriptions • Specific sensory details bring scenes to life

14. PARCC Narrative Task • Today you will read and answer questions on a story about a man seeking to complete an important mission. When you have finished reading and answering questions, you will write a narrative story using details from your reading…. • THEN: Write a continuation of the story of Bahauddin Shah using details from the passage. Describe what you think might happen after Bahauddin Shah climbs out of the Salt Caverns. What obstacles might he face, and what actions might he take to overcome them?

15. Things to remember • Read and analyze the given story, then continue where they left off according to the directions. Do NOT write a completely random story. • What do we already know about these characters? Dominant traits? Strengths/weaknesses? • What is the main conflict and how does it get resolved (or not)? Is there a lesson learned? Does the character change/grow?

16. Skills we need to do this… • Identify the main conflict of the story and its role in moving the plot forward • Infer character traits/analyze characters • Identify potential sources of conflict for a sequel: • Original conflict is revisited by a new character and the old protagonist helps him resolve it? • Main character has to learn how to apply this newly-learned lesson? • If the conflict is not resolved, how does the story continue? • Pre-writing/organizing and writing!

17. Narrative Pre-writing • Remember “Somebody Wanted But So” • Somebody: determine a protagonist • Wanted: what is the protagonist trying to do? • But: determine the main conflict, what is holding the protagonist back? • So: determine the resolution, how does the protagonist overcome the conflict or not?