Story Elements

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Story

Elements
BIG QUESTION:
How do authors use narrative
elements to create a story?

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After this lesson, you will be able
to determine how the setting,
characters, and plot affect each
other and contribute to the
overall meaning of a piece of
writing.
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What is a story?
An account of imaginary or
real people and events told
for entertainment.

Although there are different


types of stories, they all have
the same elements.
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Watch the
What is a plot?
video. A series of events that form the
story in a novel, movie, etc.

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Introduction/EXPOSITION
In the
introduction/exposition,
we learn about the
characters and the
setting of the story.
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During the story, the main
characters are involved in one
or more kinds of...

Conflict

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The most important part of the
story is called the...

Climax

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After the Climax,
the story must
come to a...
Resolution

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Putting it all together…
Check the slideshow.

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Plot Study
1. Introduction/Exposition – Introduces the characters
and the setting.
2. Conflict – Shows the characters having internal
and/or external conflicts (problems).
3. Climax – The most important and exciting part of the
story.
4. Resolution – The problem is solved and the story
comes to an ending.
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Let’s look at some famous
stories using this model.

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Star Wars

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● Watch the video.
● What elements of a
story can you identify?
● Record your answers
in Plot Elements Chart.
You wil need to make a
copy of the document
before you can enter
your information (Click
File>Make a Copy).

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Here is a simple recipe for your story.
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CHARACTERS:
Your characters can be people, animals, etc. Answer the questions
about each character while getting ready to write your story.

• Who is your character?


• What does he/she/it like or dislike?
• What is your character’s personality?
• What does your character look like?

To develop your characters, ask questions about them:

How old are they?


What are they interested in?
Do they have anything they really dislike?
Do they have a special talent?
Do they have a secret?
What are they afraid of?
What is their biggest wish?
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Here is a list of character traits you can
use while analyzing characters.
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SETTING:
When you are thinking about a setting you need to remember that it must match
the type of story you are going to write. It might be helpful to make a list of
possible settings and then make the best choice. Watch this video.

● Choose an interesting name for your setting.


● Think about details like the time of day and the weather.
● Show the setting through the main character’s eyes e.g.
Zak could see a bright speck in the sky which grew bigger
and bigger. What could it be?
● Use unexpected detail as a ‘hook’ e.g. It was then he
noticed it. Something had been crawling in the fine, red
dust beneath the largest tower. Zak stooped down and
looked at the marks. They were unlike anything he had
seen before.
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SETTING:

● Ask yourself these questions:


When does your story take place: past, present or
future?
How much does your setting affect your main
character's problem?

Picture it: Use photos and pictures.


Draw a landscape or map of your story setting.
Sense it: Close your eyes and imagine the setting.
Film it: Imagine you are looking at your setting through a
camera at different angles.

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SETTING:
You can find some
ideas for the setting
of your story here
and a list of objects
you can use in your
story here.
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PLOT
After you introduce the setting and the characters in your
story, start telling the events in it in a logical order together
with the problems and solutions. Use storyboards to
visualize your story and make sure that your story follows
this plotline:

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PLOT
Without a problem, your story would be boring. Give
your main character or characters a problem to solve
to make your story come alive.
PROBLEM - The challenge your character
must face and overcome.
SOLUTION - How the character finally
solves the problem.
The problem in the story should be solved in the end.
Your character/s may fail once or more and try harder
and harder to solve their problem.
Use this digital organizer to plan your story. Click each
box twice to be able to write in it.
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Watch the
animation, Above
and Beyond and fill
in the graphic
organizer here.
Don’t forget to make
a copy (click
File>Make a Copy)
before you fill in the
diagram.

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THEME
Most often, the main character learns or grows as s/he
tries to solve the problem. What the character learns is
the theme. It is the lesson or message the author
wants you to learn from the story. The author won’t
explicitly state it - you often have to infer the theme.
The theme is not specific to the story you are reading.
It is universal. It applies to everyone.
Consider the reason why you are writing this story and
the message/s you want to give your readers.
Read the next three slides on theme. Then, fill in this
story planner before you start writing your story.

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One-word topics are
not themes, but you
can use these topics
to find the theme.
Look at the sample
themes in this poster.

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QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU FIND THE THEME:

● How did the character respond to the conflict or


challenge?
● Did the character make a good choice or a bad
choice?
● What happened to the character as a result?
● What can you learn from that character’s
decision?
● Did the character learn anything from their
decision/s? How can you apply that to your own
life?
● Would you do the same thing as the character?
Why / why not?
● What do you think the author is trying to teach
you from the events of the story?
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Find the theme of each story and
write them in the boxes below.

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THEME
Based on what you have learned about Theme from
the previous slides, what is the theme of the video,
For The Birds you watched on slide 21? Write your
answer in the box below:

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THINK - PAIR - SHARE
Think about the question below
for a minute and share your
ideas with your partner (for 3
minutes). You are then going to
share your ideas with the whole
class.

Explain how the story elements


in the video, For The Birds help
you understand it better.

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REFLECT
Go to this Padlet link to explain
why you think story elements are
important to the overall meaning
of a story by clicking the pink +
on the bottom right of the
screen.

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Now that you have learned the basic
story elements, you are ready to write
your story.

Read the reminders and instructions


on slides 45-48 and start writing your
story. Don’t forget to use the graphic
organizers you have filled in.

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STORY WORDS
These are examples of words and phrases you can use in a story.
• Beginning:

• Once upon a time, last night, one day, there once was, one night, last summer,
in the beginning, it was a dark and stormy night...., (use a question).
• Middle:
• Then, all of a sudden, suddenly, later, next.
• Ending:

• Finally, lastly, in the end, at last.


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USE DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE
Descriptive language is all about the use of rich adjectives, adverbs, and
verbs. Try to use adjectives which employ the use of the senses:
• Sight: including colors, sizes and shapes, such as green, large, bright.
• Sound: including types and volume, such as quiet, whistle, banging.
• Smell: including scents and strengths, such as flowery, strong.
• Taste: including flavors and strengths, such as spicy, bitter, sour.
• Touch: including textures and temperatures, such as hard, damp, cold.

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LET’S PRACTICE!
Task 1
Use the image below to create a sizzling
start, using the criteria in the previous slides..

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LET’S PRACTICE!
Task 2: Use the image below to create a sizzling
start, using the criteria above and onomatopoeia.
.

Then, edit your work looking


for both creative editing
(vocabulary, excitement and
curiosity for the reader)
and secretarial editing
(capital letters, punctuation
etc) to improve your writing. 50
WHILE WRITING YOUR STORY:
• Include an exciting opening to hook your
reader.
• Use powerful verbs, adverbs and
adjectives when describing the setting.
• Include a problem and solution.
• Use descriptive words and phrases to
show how characters are feeling?
• Include dialogue, but don’t use it too
much. Make sure to balance the dialogue,
action, and description.
• Write an ending that shows how the main
character feels or what s/he has learned.
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Read this rubric before
you start writing your
story. Use your
imagination and be
creative!

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STORY MAPPING
Fill in this story map after writing the first draft of your story to make sure that
everything follows a logical order. Use the checklists in slides 42 and 43
before you start writing your final draft.

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CHECKLIST

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CHECKLIST

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REFLECT:
Open this checklist and identify where
you think you are in relation to each
topic. Then respond to the student
questions.

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EXTEND
(For students who want to do more practice on the story
elements and for early finishers).

Watch the Pixar short movies listed on the next slide and
fill in the plot diagram here for each of them. You need to
make a copy (click File>Make a Copy) before you fill in
the diagram each time .

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PIXAR SHORTS
Day and Night
Partly Cloudy
Tiny Toy
Presto
Geri’s Game
Dug’s Special Mission
La Luna

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cREDItS
● A huge Thank You to Lisa Highfill, Kelly Hilton and
Sarah Landis about HyperDocs.
● Many thanks to
http://www.communication4all.co.uk/http/literacynew.htm
and to all the people who made and released all these
awesome resources for free.
● Special Thanks to Tricha Williams for The Importance
of Story Elements HyperDoc.
● Presentation template by Slides Carnival.

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