Title: The Short Story
1The Short Story
2What is a Short Story?
3What is a Short Story?
- In your notebook, write your own definition of
what a short story is. - Do not write A story that is short! Use what
you know about short stories in the past. - Below your definition, brainstorm about short
stories any words you have learned connected to
short stories, titles of stories, authors, etc.
4The Short StorySome Definitions
- The short story gives the illusion of life. It
is a tiny capsule of living, a moment or two in
the lives of other people. - A short story is a story that is under 40,000
words in length (so, a short story). - A short story is a story that can be read in a
single sitting. - but there is much more to the genre called the
short story!
5Vocabulary
- Noun A word that refers to people, places or
things. - Common Noun A noun that refers to a general
person, place, or thing. (e.g. boy, dog, city,
book) - Proper Noun A noun that refers to a specific
person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are
essentially nouns with names, and are always
capitalized. (e.g. Johnny, Spot, Saint John, Cue
for Treason)
6Common and Proper Nouns Exercise
- Write the following words in your notebook. When
you do, indicate whether each is a Proper Noun
(PN) or Common Noun (CN). - Begin the word with the proper capital or
lower-case letter. - alex sobeys moncton
- river easter orange
- hampton high school cd player tim hortons
- You have 3 minutes to complete this exercise. I
will be calling people randomly for answers.
7Vocabulary
- theme The theme of a story represents what the
protagonist (main character) and/or reader learns
about life. It is the message that the author
is sending through the story the story is the
medium for the message.
8Besides being shorter, how is a short story
different from a novel?
- Short stories and novels seem to begin in very
different ways in my mind. With a novel, the
main characters come first they grow slowly in
the imagination until I feel I know them well
Most short stories Ive written seem to be
triggered off by some event, either in my own
life or something Ive observed. The characters
in a short story seem just as real to me as the
characters in a novel, but I have not seen them,
in my mind, in as many situations they are
visualized more in relation to one main
situation.
9- One form is not better than the other. They
simply do not serve the same function When I
write a novel, I feel rather like a juggler
trying to keep a dozen themes spinning up there
in the air. In my short stories, on the other
hand, there tends to be one central theme. - Margaret Laurence
10Margaret Laurence
- Margaret Laurence is a famous Canadian novelist
one of the core authors in the field known as
Canadian Literature. - In 1986, after a grim diagnosis of lung cancer
that had spread throughout her body, Laurence
took her own life in 1987. - Her best-known novels are The Stone Angel and
The Diviners. Her 1966 novel, A Jest of God,
received the Governor Generals Award for Fiction.
11Vocabulary
- genre a class or category having a particular
form, technique, content, etc. E.g. poetry,
novels, fantasy, science fiction - prose the ordinary form of spoken or written
language, as distinguished from poetry or verse - fiction the class of literature comprising
works of imaginative narration
12The Short Story Genre
- The oldest form of literature.
- Prose fiction.
- A distinct genre (like poetry, novels, plays).
- Every word counts! There is a strong focus on
word choice, because this is how the author
prunes and polishes the piece to meet his/her
objective(s).
13The Short Story Genre
- History of the Short Story Genre
- Ancient Times
- The Bible Old Testament 750-350 B.C.E.
- Middle Ages (800-1400 A.D.)
- Arabia One Thousand and One Nights by
Scheherezade - Spain Exemplary Tales by Cervantes
- England Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
- but in the Middle Ages, the genre had not taken
shape as a recognizable form.
14The Short Story Genre
- History of the Short Story Genre
- The modern short story genre took shape in the
19th century simultaneously in - Germany (Hoffman, Brothers Grimm)
- Russia (Pushkin, Gogol)
- France (Balzac, DeMaupassant)
- U.S.A. (Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe)
- The short story became a favorite form of
entertainment for the emerging middle class.
15Initial Short Story Assignment
- Read the short story assigned to you.
- Answer the following questions
- Draw a plot diagram. Label the parts of the
diagram, and identify the parts of the story. - What is the setting of the story? How do you
know? Use proof from the story. - Identify the main conflict of the story.
Describe that conflict. - What purposes does this short story serve?
Support your answer with proof from the story. - What is the theme of this story? Explain how the
author makes this clear through plot and
character development.
16The Short Story as Art
17 Artist Medium Receiver (art)
- The communication model above demonstrates the
relationship between an artist and the receiver
of the art. - When an artist sets out to create art, she/he
determines three main things - Purpose What am I trying to accomplish?
- Audience For whom am I creating this art?
- Medium What art form am I going to use?
18- In terms of a short story, the model looks more
precisely like this - Author Short Story Reader
- Short stories are not the spontaneous product of
the natural world the author deliberately brings
his/her writing talent to bear, in order to bring
something to the reader (the purpose).
19PURPOSE Why Short Stories?
- There are principally THREE reasons for
reading/writing short stories - To entertain
- The first purpose of a short story is to enjoy
it. Authors want you to enjoy a short story (and
usually to pay money for it).
20Why Short Stories?
- 1. To entertain
- 2. To teach
- Often, the author has a particular point of view
on an issue that he/she wants to share. The
story is the medium the author uses to convey the
message. - This is the stage of analysis at which
understanding symbol, meaning, and other literary
devices is important.
21Why Short Stories?
- 1. To entertain
- 2. To teach
- 3. To raise questions
- Often, a specific message from the author is
not clear other times, there is no message
from the author per se. - Rather, the author might be simply trying to get
the reader to think about things in a new way, or
to question things that the reader might have
already made up his/her mind about.
22Why Short Stories?
- 1. To entertain.
- 2. To teach.
- 3. To raise questions.
- It is important to remember that each short
story can have two or all three purposes at the
same time.
23The Conversation of Birds
- Crossroads 10 pp. 41-45.
- Complete Responding to the Story b., c., d.,
and e. Also, write down the definition of simile
on p. 46, and find 3 examples of similes in the
story.
24History of the Short Story Author Research
Project
- You will be given an authors name. Go to the
library. - Find out information about the author using
books in the library. Write notes (Cornell
format). - Come to class tomorrow with your notes. Be
prepared to present your author to the class.
25How to Analyze a Short Story
26How to Analyze a Short Story
- In the study of English as a discipline, you
must approach texts in a variety of ways. - The only way to truly analyze a work of fiction
is to return to it more than once, with different
purposes in mind. - In a tightly-constructed short story, every
element and often every word is chosen
deliberately. - When you analyze a short story, it is to see the
authors design. When you can see the authors
work, it raises the level of enjoyment (from an
initial knee-jerk reaction to an intellectual
one).
27How to Analyze a Short Story
- First Reading
- Second Reading
- Subsequent Readings
- Read primarily to enjoy.
- Take notes on anything that seems unusual,
particularly vivid, jarring, or difficult to
understand. - Bring your analytical skills to bear. Look for
literary devices, and think about how they
operate in the story.
28How to Analyze a Short Story
- Take notes when you read a short story.
- Remember
- WHEN YOU READ,
- YOU UNDERSTAND ONCE
- WHEN YOU WRITE,
- YOU UNDERSTAND TWICE.
29A Conversation of Birds
- Read the short story, A Conversation of Birds.
- With a partner, discuss what the aim(s) of the
author might have been for writing the story.
What is the theme or message? - Write a persuasive paragraph arguing your
opinion.
30Elements of a Short Story
- Plot, Character, Setting, Atmosphere, and Style
31The Five Elements of a Short Story
- Plot
- Character
- Setting
- Atmosphere
- Style
32Plot
33Vocabulary
- Plot the arrangement of incidents or events in
a story what happens in the story. - Plot line a way of visually demonstrating a
storys structure by plotting incidents along a
line plot lines can vary for different forms of
fiction
34Plot of a Short Story
35Plot of a Short Story
36Plot of a Short Story
- Exposition (or Opening Situation) The reader is
informed of the setting and is introduced to the
main characters. - Inciting Force (or Complication) A conflict is
usually established between characters. This
conflict gets things started. - Rising Action The conflict between characters
develops and becomes more pronounced. Involves a
series of crises (conflicts).
37Plot of a Short Story
- 4. Climax The moment of greatest suspense a
point of conflict that will lead to the
resolution of the main plot. - 5. Falling Action The result of the outcome of
the climactic conflict. Can involve a crisis,
but in a short story is usually very short. - 6. Denouement (or Resolution, or Final Outcome)
The writer attempts to have the reader leave the
story satisfied.
38The Three Little Pigs
39Plot The Three Little Pigs
40Assignment Analyze The Three Little Pigs
-
- In your notebook, draw a plot line.
- Label the plotline with numbers and dots for the
crises. - Then, using the numbers as a key or guide,
explain the plot of The Three Little Pigs. - Also, jot down (in a couple of sentences) what
you think is the authors intention behind the
story. How do you know? - You may work with a partner on this.
41Plot of The Three Little Pigs
- Exposition (or Opening Situation) The three
pigs are introduced. Setting is minimal Once
upon a time, with talking/personified pigs. It
is time for the pigs to go out into the world
and seek their fortunes, so they leave home. - Inciting Force (or Complication) The big bad
wolf discovers the first pig in his house of
straw, and wants to eat him. - Rising Action The wolf visits the house of
straw and the house of sticks, blows them down
and eats the piggies (these are the crises).
42Plot of The Three Little Pigs
- 4. Climax Failing to blow down the brick house,
the wolf tries a different tactic to get into the
house. The wolf climbs down the chimney and
dies. - 5. Falling Action The surviving pig invites his
mother over, and she reinforces the lesson the
pig (and reader) learned. - 6. Denouement (or Resolution, or Final Outcome)
The pig learns his lesson and lives happily ever
after!
43The Michelle I Know
- Crossroads 10 pp. 16-23.
- Complete Responding to the Story and Story
Craft Plot chart p. 23.
44Paragraph Example The Plot of The Michelle I
Know
- The Michelle I Know is a short story about a
girl diagnosed with leukemia who is very unhappy.
The reader learns in the exposition that
Michelle is confined to a hospital ward, and that
she has few visitors except Rob, a boy she likes.
Through the rising action, Brenda, Michelles
kind nurse, tries to cheer Michelle up. She
takes Michelle to meet a man who still has a
positive outlook, despite also suffering from
cancer for the past 8 years. The climax occurs
when Rob finally shows up, and Michelle realizes
that he likes her for who she is. There is no
falling action or denouement, other than a kiss
they almost share. Michelle is changed by the
end of the story because she is finally happy.
45Plot and Conflict
46Plot and Conflict
- Our lives are full of conflict. Likewise, the
lives of characters are full of conflict. - Think of a story as really a look at a conflict
and its resolution (for better or worse!). - There is no story without conflict.
47Plot and Conflict
- Really, the plot of a story is literally ALL
about conflict. - The inciting force and the crises (in the rising
action phase), as well as the climax are all
conflicts of some sort. - (Note There can be minor conflicts in the
falling action, but in a short story these are
rare.)
48Two Main Types of Conflict
- There are two main types of conflict
- Psychological Conflict
- Physical Conflict
49Categories of Conflict
- Conflict can be categorized as
- Internal
- Person vs. Herself/Himself
- OR
- External
- Person vs. Person
- Person vs. Nature
- Person vs. Society
- Person vs. the Unknown
- Person vs. the Supernatural
- Person vs. Time
50Brainstorm Conflicts
- Create a character in your mind. Choose his/her
name, gender, age, and list a couple of details
about him/her. -
- Example Henry 23-year-old male construction
worker. Loves to travel, has a dog named
Rover, oldest of three brothers. -
- Look at the kinds of conflict.
- For each type of conflict, create THREE examples
of that kind of conflict that your character
might be involved in. - e.g. Person vs. Nature on the construction
site, Henry uncovers a prehistoric creature
that tries to kill them all - -- Rover is bitten by a rabid mouse and hunts
Henry - Person vs. Time Rover is bitten by a rattler,
and Henry must get him to a vet in time to
save his life. - Person vs. the Unknown Called to a building
project in Brazil, Henrys co-workers start
disappearing into the night and no one knows
why
51The Michelle I Know
52- Divide your page into three equal parts.
- Beginning
- Middle
- End
53- Brainstorm for each part (15-20 mins). In each
space, cover the following questions - Who is involved?
- What is happening?
- When is it taking place?
- Where is it taking place?
- Why is it taking place?
- How is it happening? any other details that pop
into your head.
54The Michelle I Know Outline a Short Story
(Pre-writing)
- Write an outline for your short story. Write a
brief paragraph (3-4 sentences, unstructured) on
each of the following elements - Main Character(s) and Personality
- Setting
- Main Problem (to be solved in the climax)
- Rising Action Crises/Conflicts (at least 3)
- Climax
- Changes Outline what has changed from the
beginning - Conclusion
- You will have 20-25 minutes for this exercise.
55Drafting
- Write a first draft of your story, following your
outline. Do the best you can, but do not
obsess over every detail. - Aim for 350-500 words.
- Your final version of this story will be between
500 and 1000 words.
56Revising
57Revising Adding Details
- A simple way to revise a story is to analyze the
authors use of details so far, and make
suggestions for improvement. - The way to do this is through improving word
choice, and adding sensual details through
adjectives and adverbs.
58Revising Adding Details
- Swap stories with a classmate. Let him/her read
your story draft, and each of you must comment
on - What works really well in the story so far.
- What works in the story, but needs some
improvement. - What doesnt work so well, and needs some
revision. - Wherever you see a NOUN, circle it.
- Wherever you see a VERB, circle it.
- Get back your story. For every NOUN circled,
write at least ONE adjective that could go with
that noun. For every VERB circled, write at
least one ADVERB that could make the image
clearer. - Write a second draft of the story, making changes
that reflect your peers suggestions. Use MLA
format! - Remember The idea of getting peer help is to
IMPROVE your writing, not simply to criticize it!
59Revising Adding Dialogue
- Remember Short story writing is an ART. That
means, every part of the short story should play
a part towards the whole! - When writing dialogue, remember that every time
a character speaks, there should be a REASON for
that speaking. - Dialogue should
- Give the reader previously unknown information.
- Make the speaker and situation more realistic for
the reader. - Characterize the speaker and the character(s)
spoken to. - Actually, the authors use of dialogue WILL do
these things! So, the authors job is to make
them work within the story he/she has written.
60Revising Adding Dialogue
- Swap stories with a classmate. Let him/her read
your story draft, and - Where dialogue is present, constructively
criticize the diction used, and make suggestions - Indicate points where you think dialogue would
make the story better, and make suggestions - When you are finished, discuss these things with
your partner. Remember The goal is to make the
writing BETTER!
61Editing
- Swap your second draft with a classmate.
- Peer edit each others work. Pay attention to
little details like paragraphing, punctuation
(especially in dialogue!), and grammar. - When finished, produce a final draft for
publication.
62Publish
- Your final version of this story is due
Wednesday, Nov. 12, in MLA format.
63Genre Science Fiction
- Science fiction is a broad genre of fiction that
often involves one or more of the following
elements - A setting in the future or in an alternate
timeline. - A setting in outer space or involving aliens or
unknown civilizations. - The discovery or application of new scientific
principles or new technology, such as time travel
or robots. - Science fiction differs from fantasy in that its
imaginary elements are usually possible within
established laws of nature (although some
elements might be entirely imaginative).
64Ray Bradbury
- Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy,
horror, science fiction, and mystery writer best
known for The Martian Chronicles, a 1950 book
which has been described both as a short story
collection and a novel, and his 1953 dystopian
novel Fahrenheit 451.
65A Sound of Thunder
- Answer all questions in complete sentences.
66- 1. How is the readers interest caught?
- 2. How does the exposition part of the story set
up what is to follow? (setting, main
characters) - 3. What relationship does the material presented
in the introduction bear to the conclusion of the
story? - 4. Describe as many conflicts as you can in the
story. For each, label it as a person vs.
_____ conflict, and describe who/what is
involved in it. Indicate the page(s) on which
the conflict takes place. Try to identify what
you think is the MAIN CONFLICT. - 5. What is the climax of the story? Why do you
think that part is the climax?
67- 6. Bradburys stories are often thought to
contain outright lessons for the reader. That
is, one of the goals of this story is to teach,
and Bradbury has a certain point of view of which
he wants to convince his reader. -
- What do you think is the main lesson of the
story? In a persuasive paragraph, argue what you
think is the message (or messages) being
delivered through the story. Use evidence from
the story to prove what you say.
68- Two of the goals of this story are to teach and
to raise questions about larger issues in the
real world. - For each of the following ideas, brainstorm what
Bradbury might be trying to get the reader to
think about. You have to think on two levels
what does the story indicate about the issue, and
how might that message be relevant to the real
world generally - Mans relationship with the natural world
(hunting) - Scientific progress and its dangers in general
(time travel, technology, etc.) - Human nature/psychology
- Politics
69Essays
- For this section, the slides you are to copy
appear in BLACK.
70The Essay The Basics
- To understand the structure of any essay,
remember this structure - Say what you are going to say.
- Say it.
- Say what you said.
71The Essay The Basics
- To understand the structure of any essay,
remember this structure - Say what you are going to say.
- (Introduction)
- Say it.
- (Body Paragraphs)
- Say what you said.
- (Conclusion)
72The Essay The Basics - Paragraphs
- There are many ways to write paragraphs. For a
general rule, follow this formula - Topic Sentence
- Say what you are going to say.
- Body sentences
- Say it (or prove it).
- Final sentence
- Say what you said AND/OR transition to the next
paragraph.
73Expository Essay
- You either offer information or explain your
point of view on a topic you already know
something about. - The five-paragraph essay taught in high school
English classes is of this type. - There are two basic types of expository essay
- 1. one gives information, and
- 2. the other defends an opinion.
74Expository Essay
- Basic structure
- Paragraph One - Introduction
- Announces the topic and builds to a thesis
statement in which you state your point of view. - Paragraphs Two to Four (or more) Body
Paragraphs - Supporting evidence and reasoned discussion.
- Final Paragraph Conclusion
- Restates the thesis more emphatically, and
suggests wider implications. Do NOT simply
summarize!
75The 5-Paragraph Essay
- Introduction
- Body 1
- Body 2
- Body 3
- Conclusion
76Structure of the Introduction
- General Statement Talk about the broader topic
in general. - Linking Statement Name the text and author.
- Thesis Statement
77Body Paragraphs
- Make three statements that support your thesis,
and provide evidence or proof that supports those
statements. -
- These will be three paragraphs of roughly-equal
length. They should follow strict paragraph
structure, and the evidence you use to back up
your topic sentences should be drawn directly
from the text whenever possible.
78Structure of the Conclusion
- Re-state Thesis
- Linking Statement Name the text and author.
- General Statement Talk about the broader topic
in general, AND/OR leave the reader with
something related to think about.
79Notes and Tips
- In general, except for in Personal Experience
essays, avoid the first-person pronoun, I, in
your essays. -
- Any sentence can be re-written to remove the
self-conscious I, me, mine. - It is not necessary to write, In my opinion, I
believe, I feel, etc. - NEVER write things like, In the following essay,
I shall try to prove, or In conclusion
80Thesis Statements
81What is a Thesis?
- Your thesis is the main point or central idea of
your paper. It is the backbone of the paper. - If you ask the question,
- What is the main point of this paper?
- your answer should resemble your essays thesis
statement.
82What is a THESIS?!?
- The core of an informational writing piece
- The central message of the essay the meaning in
a nutshell - A clear, concise statement of what an author is
going to say. - An argument with which others may agree or
disagree.
83A strong thesis
- gives both the reader and writer a sense of
direction. - gets readers involved in the conversation of
the essay it alerts the reader to look for
details, facts, and quotations that support the
statement the thesis makes.
84Where is your thesis statement?
- At the beginning of the essay, in order to
- establish your position, and
- give your reader a sense of direction.
- Usually the last line of paragraph 1.
- In longer essays, may appear in paragraph 2.
85Comparison Essay A Sound of Thunder and A
Sound of Thunder
- Watch the film A Sound of Thunder.
- Take notes on the plot, especially how it varies
from the short story A Sound of Thunder. - You might want to set your page up in two
columns to make comparison notes - Movie Short Story
86- Clearly, the film was inspired by the movie.
But, the film is very different from the short
story. - What messages does the film version carry? How
does it handle the issues raised by Bradbury? - In a formal essay, compare Bradburys A Sound
of Thunder to the film A Sound of Thunder. - You will want to mention the following
- Consider the purposes of short stories To
entertain, to teach, and to raise questions. - Explain how the story and the film work to
accomplish the three purposes of short stories. - Look at how the film treats the SAME
topics/issues. Compare (consider things that are
the SAME) and contrast (consider things that are
DIFFERENT) the two versions and their messages.
87Five-paragraph Comparison Essay Structure A
Sound of Thunder
- Structure
- Introduction In your thesis, clearly state for
the reader what you are going to prove to them. - Paragraph 2 Compare/contrast the treatment of
issue 1. - Paragraph 3 Compare/contrast the treatment of
issue 2. - Paragraph 4 Compare/contrast the treatment of
issue 3. - Conclusion Re-state your thesis.
- Follow this formula!
88The Essay The Basics - Paragraphs
- There are many ways to write paragraphs. For a
general rule, follow this formula - Topic Sentence
- Say what you are going to say.
- Body sentences
- Say it (or prove it).
- Final sentence
- Say what you said AND/OR transition to the next
paragraph.
89Sample Paragraphs
90How the Writing Process Works
- The writing process is the method by which you
will develop your writing from idea to published
form. It includes five important steps
pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and
publishing. Pre-writing involves brainstorming
and organizing your ideas. Drafting is when you
write your first, rough copy. Revision involves
adding or removing parts with your audience in
mind. Fixing spelling, punctuation, and grammar
mistakes is editing. Finally, publishing
involves giving your work to the intended
audience. Using the steps of the writing process
will improve your writing by taking it from an
idea to publication.
91The Aims of a Short Story
- When an author writes a short story, he/she has
three aims in mind To entertain, to teach, and
to raise questions. The author wants the reader
to enjoy the story, and the main aim of short
stories is to entertain. To teach means the
author has a certain message for the reader to
understand, and the story is the medium for that
message. Sometimes, the author does not have a
specific message, but simply wants to raise
questions in the readers mind about things that
the reader already believes, and so get the
reader to think about things in a new way. Short
story authors might focus on one aim in
particular, but all three aims are often in mind.
92Character
93Character
94Characterization
- Characters are the people of the story.
- Characterization is of two main types
- Direct characterization occurs when the author
(through narration) explicitly tells the reader
what a particular character is like. - Indirect characterization is more subtle. The
author gives certain information and lets the
reader draw his/her own conclusions regarding the
character.
95- Indirect characterization is achieved using the
following methods - The characters name. (E.g. Old Man Warner in
The Lottery warns people.) - The characters appearance.
- What the character says (or thinks).
- What the character does.
- What others say or think about the character,
including other characters or the narrator.
96- To analyze a character, look at the characters
dialogue, appearance, actions, environment,
character type, and motivation. - Also note if there are ironies or discrepancies,
i.e. does the character say he believes one
thing, but act the opposite way? Do other
characters say things about him that you do not
see as true?
97Two Kinds
- Crossroads 10 pp. 198-209.
- Complete Responding to the Story p. 210.
98Two Kinds Character Development
- Character development occurs when a character
changes throughout the course of a story. - 1. What was your initial reaction to the mother?
How did you feel about her by the end of the
story? - 2. What was your initial reaction to the
daughter? How did you feel about her by the end
of the story? - When you write your own stories, keep this in
mind!
99Two Kinds Vocabulary
- conjunction a part of speech used to
connect and relate words or sentences.
Common conjunctions are and, but, for, or, so,
and yet. - Normally, conjunctions should NOT be used to
start sentences. In Two Kinds, Amy Tan uses
conjunctions to begin many sentences. What is
the effect of this?
100Two Kinds Assignment-- Thinking Outside the
Text
- What pressures are there on people to be
successful? - What is success?
- What images does society use to stand for
success? - Do you think that success is important? Why?
- Should everyone want to be successful? Why or
why not? - Can everyone be successful?
- What is character? How does character relate
to behaviour?
101Two Kinds Letter of Apology
- Have you ever felt badly about something you
once did, but you never apologized for doing it?
Well, heres your chance! - Write a letter to that person explaining what
you did and why you have to apologize. - Will you send your letter? You decide!
102-
- Dear Mr. Crowell,
- I hope everything is well with you. It has
been a long time since we last spoke, so youre
probably wondering why I am writing now. I feel
a need to apologize for something I did when I
was in your grade 7 science class. - In the spring of that year, we had to do a big
poster project about something scientific that we
researched ourselves. When the time came to hand
them in, I had not finished the assignment. I
then promptly forgot all about it. - A few weeks later, you returned the projects to
the class. Knowing that my mark would suffer
because I did not hand it in, I asked you where
my project was, and pretended that I was angry
because I had handed it in and you lost it. I
was not a good liar, so I did not keep up the
charade for long, and you were well-organized and
knew the truth. - I want to apologize for that lie now. I know
that my accusation made you look like either an
incompetent teacher or a liar in front of our
class. It was unfair of me to basically accuse
you of failing to do your job. For the lie, I
truly apologize. - Sincerely,
- Toby K. Stoddart
103Two Kinds Descriptive Paragraph
- Everyone wants to be successful, but people
have different ideas about what success is. - How will you know when you have achieved
success? What would success look like in your
own life? - Write a descriptive paragraph in which you
describe yourself in 10, 15, 20, or 25 years
when you are successful, according to your own
definition of success.
104Character
105What is a Character Sketch?
- A character sketch is a write-up about a
specific character, giving the characters main
personality traits and physical attributes. It
should include the following - Identifying the Character (1 paragraph)
- Physical Description (1 paragraph)
- Personality Characteristics (1-2 paragraphs)
- Importance of the Character to the Story (1
paragraph)
1061. Identify the Character
- This paragraph could be the introduction.
- Tell who the character is by naming the character
and what role he/she plays in the story. - Give the title of the novel/story/play.
- Tell whether he/she is a major, secondary, or
minor character.
1072. Physical Description
- Tell what the character looks like. Use evidence
from the novel be specific! - Look for the best quotes you can note
characterization methods!
1083. Personality and Characteristics
- Explain what the character is like.
- This could include
- His/her likes and dislikes
- His/her good and bad qualities
- His/her strong and weak points
- His/her attitude and opinions
- Basically, any personality characteristic that is
shown through characterization.
1093. Personality and Characteristics cont.
- IMPORTANT Whatever statements you make about a
character, they MUST be backed up (proven) by
evidence from the story! - Give examples, quotations, and references from
the story to prove what you say.
1104. Importance of the Character to the Story
- Explain the importance of this character and
his/her role in the story. - (You may also consider how he/she added to the
story and speculate on how the story might have
been different had he/she been different or acted
differently.)
111Personality Words Exercise
- Each class member will be assigned a letter.
- Working with a partner, take a few moments and
brainstorm words that describe peoples
personalities that begin with your letters. - You should have at least 5 words for each
letter. You will share them with the class.
112Personality Words
- Aggressive
- Ambitious
- Anxious
- Bitter
- Boastful
- Cautious
- Clumsy
- Concerned
- Confident
- Considerate
- Courageous
- Courteous
- Cowardly
- Cruel
- Curious
- Dependable
- Disorganized
- Easy-going
- Eccentric
- Excitable
- Faithful
- Friendly
- Generous
- Gentle
- Gloomy
- Greedy
113Personality Words
- Grouchy
- Gullible
- Helpful
- Honest
- Humble
- Hypocritical
- Ignorant
- Ill-tempered
- Imaginative
- Impatient
- Independent
- Ingenious
- Insecure
- Insistent
- Intelligent
- Inventive
- Irrepressible
- Jealous
- Lazy
- Lonely
- Loving
- Loyal
- Miserly
- Moody
- Nervous
- Obnoxious
- Optimistic
- Outgoing
- Outrageous
- Pessimistic
- Polite
- Proud
114Personality Words
- Relaxed
- Reliable
- Romantic
- Rude
- Sarcastic
- Scatterbrained
- Secretive
- Sensitive
- Shy
- Sly
- Sneaky
- Sophisticated
- Spontaneous
- Stubborn
- Superficial
- Suspicious
- Tactful
- Timid
- Tiresome
- Treacherous
- Uninhibited
- Unintelligent
- Unpredictable
- Unreliable
- Vague
- Vain
- Virtuous
- Vital
- Vulnerable
- Witty
115Write a Character Sketch Pre-writing
- Choose a character from a story you know well or
a television show that you know very well. - Brainstorm everything you know about that
character. - Take a few minutes to do this.
116Write a Character Sketch Drafting
-
- Write a character sketch of the character you
chose. - Note If you chose a television or film
character, you must know the show or film well
enough to be able to provide concrete examples
that prove what you say!
117What is a Character Trait Essay?
- Character sketches can take many forms. The
most common is the Character Trait Essay. - Character Trait Essays can be longer than 5
paragraphs, but are structured the same way
Introduction, main body, and conclusion. They
try to prove THREE or more main characteristics
about a character.
118Character
119Types of Characters
- Characters can be described in several ways. Two
main ones are - Flat or Round
- Major or Minor
120Flat v. Round Characters
- Round (or dynamic) characters change and grow
throughout the course of a story. The change
might be emotional, spiritual, or intellectual.
Through encountering the conflicts and crises in
the story, they illuminate the message(s) the
author is sending. - Flat (or static) characters do not change and
grow throughout the story.
121Major v. Minor Characters
- Major characters are important to the story.
They tend also to be round. - Protagonist The central character of a literary
work. - Antagonist The rival or opponent against whom
the main character (protagonist) is contending.
122Major v. Minor Characters
- Minor characters tend to be flat, but are also
important to a story in that they serve
particular purposes, which may include - Giving the author a way to provide background
information - Act as a foil (a contrast character) or alter ego
(a comparison character) to a major character - Foreshadow events
- Advance the plot
- Illuminate theme
- Enhance the setting
- Establish mood
123Stereotypes
- Sometimes, characters are stereotypes
characters that reflect expectations of behaviour
from particular groups, rather than a fleshed-out
personality. - Stereotypes can serve a purpose in a story as a
minor character, but as major characters they are
usually simply a sign of weak writing.
124Ive Got Gloria
- Crossroads 10 pp. 170-176.
125Ive Got Gloria Character Development
- Character development is a change in how a
character in a story thinks or deals with life
situations. It is an awareness that a character
develops to become who he or she is. - 1. What is Scott like at the beginning of the
story? What did you think of him at the
beginning of the story? How has he changed at
the end? Did your impression of him change? - 2. Choose a story you have read recently (or a
film you have seen) in which you think a
character changes or develops. Outline the
events that led to this development. (Follow a
plot diagram!)
126Setting
127Setting
- Setting the physical backdrop of the story
- where (place) and when (time) the story takes
place. - When looking at setting, you must try to be as
specific as possible, but describe where the
entire story takes place. For example, A
modern-day city, Jerusalem in the Middle Ages,
and Anchorage, Alaska c. 1950s are settings
night-time on a street, then in a car, then a
store is not. - Generally, the author will leave it to the
reader to infer the setting of the story, to some
extent. Use clues from the beginning of the
story to figure out the setting.
128Setting Exercise
- Return to the short stories we have read so far
- Your childrens book.
- The Three Little Pigs
- On A Sidewalk Bleeding
- The Michelle I Know
- A Conversation of Birds
- A Sound of Thunder
- Ive Got Gloria
- It Could Happen to You (test story)
- For each story, describe the setting as
completely as you can in as few words as you can. - Return to the first few paragraphs of the story
if you do not remember.
129Atmosphere
130Atmosphere
- Atmosphere the overall mood or tone of the
story. Atmosphere is usually established at
the beginning of a story. - Any number of things can contribute to the
atmosphere, including (but not limited to) - Characters
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Natural surroundings
- Light/darkness
- Weather
- Atmosphere has a close connection with setting,
because the setting often determines the
atmosphere of the story.
131The Cask of Amontillado
- As we read, note how the author uses the setting
to establish mood and reveal character.
132- A. Introduction
- Why is the introduction successful in capturing
the readers interest and in creating suspense? - What purposes in the development of the story are
served by the introduction?
133- B. Setting
- In what ways does the setting contribute to the
creation of mood or atmosphere? - How does the author use setting to reveal
character?
134- C. Plot
- 1. Define the central conflict(s) in the story.
- 2. Where is the climax of the story? Explain why
you think so. - 3. What is the denouement? Do you think it is a
satisfying ending? Why or why not?
135- D. Dialogue
- To what extent does the author use dialogue to
advance the plot? Give an example. - To what extent does the author use dialogue to
reveal character? Give an example.
136Style
137Vocabulary
138Style
- Style the ways an author expresses himself/
herself and conveys his/her ideas and
central purpose. - Style is very personal, like a signature no
two writing styles are identical. - In order to examine a writers style, we must
consider the following six areas diction,
sentence structure, point of view, irony,
symbolism, imagery.
139Style - DICTION
- Diction word choice.
- Diction is what makes the short story an art
form words are chosen specifically to achieve a
particular purpose. -
-
-
140Style - DICTION
- There are FOUR main types of diction
- Formal diction
- Informal diction
- Colloquial diction
- Slang
141Style DICTION
- Formal diction is usually found in academic
texts, academic papers, and formal discourse. - Informal diction is relaxed conversation, and
is found in writing that has a lighter tone and
is sometimes humorous.
142- insert reading samples of formal diction
143- insert reading samples of informal diction
144Style DICTION
- Colloquial diction is the everyday language use
of a particular group of people. - For example, we go to the store to buy a loaf
of bread, but in Cape Breton they buy a bun of
bread. - Colloquial diction varies by geographic area and
cultural region. For example, think about how
different English is here than in Newfoundland
(where colloquialisms abound).
145Style Colloquial Diction
- Can you think of anything that HHS students say
that might not be understood by people from other
places? - What is jonesin? (Mr. Stoddart is
jonesin!) - Can you think of other colloquialisms? (This
might be difficult sometimes it takes someone
from another place to point them out!)
146Style - DICTION
- Slang is defined as a newly-coined word not
accepted for formal usage yet, and is usually not
found in the dictionary. - Aint and Doh are slang, but have made
their way into the Oxford English Dictionary.
147Style Sentence Structure
- Sentence structure is indicated by whether or
not the sentences are long, short, simple,
compound, complex, etc. - Some authors styles are recognizable by their
sentence structure alone.
148- See Crossroads 10 Teacher Manual pp. 460-463.
149The Michelle I Know Sentence Variety
- Re-read the first few pages of The Michelle I
Know (Crossroads 10 pp. 16-23), noticing how the
author uses sentences of varying lengths and
types. Why would an author do this? What effect
is created? -
- Check one or two of the pieces that youve
written this year. Do you think youve used a
variety of sentences? - In one of your own works, find an example of each
of the following - A statement
- A question
- An exclamation
- A very short sentence
- A very long sentence
- If you do not have all of these types of
sentences, edit some of the sentences until you
do, then write down those examples.
150Style Point of View
- Point of view the vantage point from which the
author presents the action of the story. The
point of view is presented by the narrator. - Every work of fiction has a narrator the person
telling the story is the narrator, NOT the
author! - In some stories, there is little separation
between the narrator and the author, but in
others the narrator brings his/her own biases to
the telling of the story.
151Style Point of View
- There are two ways to describe point of view
- Third person perspective
- vs.
- First person perspective
- AND
- Limited narration
- vs.
- Omniscient narration
152Style Point of View
- Third person narration
- The person telling
- the story is NOT part
- of the action.
- The reader/viewer sees the action as if from an
external camera.
They saw the enemy ahead. Creeping up quietly,
John raised his rifle
153Style Point of View
- First person narration This is a major, minor,
or silent character who tells the story. - (Silent means they play no role in the action
of the story, but are present in it.)
I saw them there, crouched behind the boxes, and
shouted to my team to fire at will!
154Point of View Language
- You can identify a first- or third-person
perspective based upon the pronouns used by the
narrator. - First person narration I or we are used.
- Third person narration He, she, or they are
used.
155Subject and Object Pronouns
- Basic Sentence Structure
- Mary and I went to the park.
- subject verb object
- Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns
in a sentence. - There are two types of pronouns Subject
pronouns and object pronouns. - Basically, subject pronouns are the do-ers of
the action in the sentence, and come before the
verb. - Object pronouns have the verb acted upon them.
156Subject pronouns can only go in the subject
position in a sentence object pronouns can only
go in the object position!
- Subject Pronouns
- I
- You (s.)
- He/She/It
- We
- You (pl.)
- They
- Object Pronouns
- Me
- You (s.)
- Him/Her/It
- Us
- You (pl.)
- Them
- ( others, e.g. himself, herself, etc.)
157French-language students usually understand this
best by recognizing the parallels in French.
- Subject Pronouns
- Je
- Tu
- Il/Elle
- Nous
- Vous
- Ils/Elles
- Object Pronouns
- Moi
- Toi
- Il/Elle
- Nous
- Vous
- Lui
158- A COMMON MISTAKE! NOTE THIS!
- You probably would not say
- Me went to the park.
- Little children talk this way, because they have
not absorbed language rules yet. When used in
public speaking (for example), it is a mark of a
lack of education. - You would not do this because me is an object
pronoun not to be used in the subject position! - Likewise, then, you should not use the following
- Mary and me are going out tonight.
- Me and him are gonna get together after school.
159Point of View Verbs and Tenses
160Shoplifting
- Read the three short short stories on shoplifting.
161Point of View Short Story Exercise
- Choose one of the short stories on shoplifting.
- Choose a character or object from the story.
For example, you might choose one of the thieves,
a store clerk, or an object that was stolen (e.g.
toothpaste tube). - Choose a tense for the story. You can write it
as a past-tense story about what happened, or as
a present tense in the moment story. - Without changing any of the facts of the story,
and following the same plot as much as possible,
re-tell the story from the first-person point of
view of the character/object you chose. - Your draft should be 300-500 words in length (or
more).
162Style Point of View
- Limited narration The narrators knowledge is
limited to the direct knowledge of the
narrator/character. - This is the point of view that is most like
real life, and provides an immediacy to the
action. - For example, you do not know exactly what is
happening behind each of the walls of the
classroom you are in. Likewise, a limited
narrator would only know what he/she could
perceive.
163Style Point of View
- Omniscient narration The narrator knows
everything about the characters and events, and
can enter the mind of any character at will. - Omniscient narration is useful for stories with
several characters of equal importance, or for
letting the viewer see the antagonists point of
view as well as the protagonists. - Omniscient narration sacrifices immediacy of
action. - The omniscient narrator is often confused with
the author.
164Style Point of View
- When you describe the narration in a story, you
must describe the various aspects of the point of
view. - There are FOUR basic points of view
-
- First person omniscient
- First person limited
- Third person omniscient
- Third person limited
165Style Point of View
- First Person
- Limited Omniscient
- Third Person
166Point of View Some Examples
- The Three Little Pigs is written from the third
person omniscient perspective. We can see what
each of the pigs is doing inside the houses, and
what the wolf does outside as well. - The Outsiders is written from the first person
limited perspective. We only see what Ponyboy
sees, and events are interpreted for us by
Ponyboy. (Cue for Treason is the same, with
Peter being the narrator.) - The Harry Potter series is written mostly in
the third person limited perspective. The only
action that we see happen is when Harry is
present the rest is reported to the reader by
other characters. (Most suspense novels are
written from this point of view, to maintain
suspense by keeping the reader guessing.)
Occasionally, the author allows us to see the
teachers talking, and on one or two occasions
lets us see the villains scheming (switching
narrative perspectives).
167Point of View Exercise
- Complete the following exercise in your
notebook - Choose two novels you have read in the recent
past, or are reading now. Include your
independent reading selection for class! - For each, identify the narrative point of view
and the verb tense employed. Why do you think
the author deliberately chose these elements?
168The Crystal Stars Have Just Begun to Shine
- Crossroads 10 pp. 60-66.
- Prewriting
- Choose an event that happened to you recently,
and brainstorm on the event. Write down as much
as you can, and include details (who, what, when,
where, why, sights, sounds, smells, tastes,
feelings, etc.)
169The Crystal Stars Have Just Begun to Shine
- Crossroads 10 pp. 60-66.
- Read 3. Writing and complete the writing
exercise Choose an event that happened to you
recently, and describe that event in the first
person, then again in the third person. (About 1
page each.)
170Style - Foreshadowing
- Foreshadowing a literary device in which an