Conflict
If a character is in an argument with another character, what type of conflict is this?
Man vs. Man
Maya walked through the crowded hallways of Lincoln Middle School, hearing lockers slam as students hurried to class.
What is the setting of this scene?
A middle school during the school day.
What does STEAL stand for?
Says, Thinks, Effects on others, Acts and Looks
At the beginning of a story, readers meet Emma, a 12-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother in a small town. Emma loves exploring the woods behind her house.
Which part of the plot introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation?
Exposition
Lena studied every night for her math test. Even when the problems were difficult, she kept practicing instead of giving up. When she received her test back, she had earned one of the highest scores in the class.
What is a possible theme of this story?
Hard work and persistence can lead to success.
Trent has to hike through a blinding snowstorm to reach the ranger before he suffers from hypothermia.
What type of conflict is this an example of?
Man vs. Nature
The waves crashed against the shore as Jordan watched the sun disappear behind the ocean. It was nearly midnight, and the beach was empty.
What are the two main parts of the setting being described?
The beach/ocean and nighttime
What is the difference between indirect and direct characterization?
Indirect is when the reader has to infer based on the details given throughout the story. Direct is when the author directly/explicitly tells the reader the character's traits and personality.
Marcus has always dreamed of playing soccer for his school. One afternoon, his coach announces that the team's starting goalie is injured and Marcus will have to take his place in the championship game.
Which part of the plot is this event?
The inciting incident
Carlos noticed that his new classmate always sat alone at lunch. Even though Carlos was nervous about approaching someone he didn't know, he invited the student to sit with his friends. By the end of the week, the new student had made several friends.
What is a possible theme of this story?
A small act of kindness can make a big difference.
Elena is threatened when she tries to publish evidence that the town mayor is stealing food meant for poor families, because the town’s leaders demand silence.
What type of conflict is this an example of?
Man vs. Society
Snow covered the streets, and everyone wore thick coats, scarves, and gloves. The town's holiday lights were glowing, and families were rushing into stores to buy gifts.
Based on the clues, what is the likely setting?
A town during winter/around the holiday season.
Marcy had her first day of swimming lessons. She had never swum before without a life jacket. When she got into the pool, she held on tightly to the side of the pool. Marcy's swim coach told her to let go, but she couldn't let go and she began to shake.
What character trait is shown here for our character? Does the author use indirect or direct characterization here and how do you know?
The character trait for Marcy is nervous or scared.
This is indirectly shown through her holding on tightly to the pool and beginning to shake.
After spending the entire story trying to find her lost brother, Ava finally discovers him trapped inside an abandoned cabin. She must decide whether to risk entering the dangerous building to rescue him.
Which part of the plot is this moment most likely to represent?
Climax
"When Maya's science project failed, she wanted to throw it away. Instead, she asked her teacher what went wrong. She rebuilt the model three times before it finally worked. Maya realized that mistakes could help her learn."
The theme is “Mistakes can help us learn and improve.” Which detail from the paragraph best supports this theme?
Maya rebuilt her model three times after asking what went wrong, showing that she learned from her mistakes.
This conflict type happens when a character struggles against another character.
Man vs. Man
A character is walking through an unfamiliar forest at night. The trees block the moonlight, strange sounds come from the bushes, and the character cannot see very far ahead.
How does the setting affect the mood of the story?
It creates a mysterious, tense, or frightening mood
It was the start of a new school year, and claire made a resolution. She was determined to finish her homework every night before using her phone or watching anything on her tablet. In the past, she had spent too much time on screens that she would forget to do her homework. Not this year though!
What character trait does the passage tell us about Claire? Did the author directly or indirectly tell us and what details tells us this?
Claire's character trait is determination. The author directly tells us by stating "she was determined..."
After defeating the creature that had been frightening the town, Jake and his friends return home. They explain what happened to their families and help repair the damage caused by the creature.
Which part of the plot is being described?
Falling Action
"Ethan had been saving his money for months to buy a new video game. On his way to the store, he saw a family struggling to pay for groceries. Ethan decided to use some of his savings to help them. Although he had less money for his game, he felt proud that he had helped someone who needed it."
The theme is **“Helping others can be more rewarding than getting what you want.” Which evidence best supports the theme?
Ethan chose to spend some of his savings helping the family instead of using all of it to buy the video game.
Jordan has been practicing for the school basketball team for months. The night before tryouts, Jordan starts thinking about quitting. Jordan really wants to make the team but worries that not making it will disappoint their family and make them feel like they aren't good enough.
What kind of conflict is this an example of?
Man vs Self
In a story, a teenager wants to escape from a small island, but a powerful storm has made the ocean too dangerous to cross. The character must find another way to leave.
Why is the setting important to the plot?
The island and dangerous ocean create an obstacle that affects what the character can do and pushes the plot forward.
Marcus noticed that his new student was sitting alone at lunch. He picked up his tray and walked over to the student with a friendly smile. “You can sit with us,” he said.
What method(s) of STEAL are used in this passage and what details show this?
The methods of STEAL used are Actions and Says. Marcus’s actions show that he is kind and welcoming. His speech also shows that he is friendly and thoughtful.
Months after the big competition, Sofia has adjusted to her new school. She has made several friends, joined the art club, and finally feels comfortable in her new community.
Which part of the plot is this, and what clues help you identify it?
The resolution. The main conflict has been resolved, and the story shows what life is like after the major events are over.
"For weeks, Ava practiced playing the piano because she wanted to perform at the school talent show. On the day of the performance, she made several mistakes during her song. Ava felt embarrassed, but she finished playing and received applause from the audience. Later, she told her friend, 'I didn't play perfectly, but I'm glad I didn't let my fear stop me.'”
What is a possible theme of the story, and which detail best supports your answer?
“Courage means facing your fears even when things don't go perfectly.”
Ava made mistakes but continued performing instead of allowing her embarrassment to make her quit.