Theme
Plot
Literary Devices
Character Traits
Story Elements
100

When Katie Clean invited Messy Missy to her house to work on their biology project, she had no idea what a visit from Messy Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Messy Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Messy Missy ate a bag of hot chips on Katie Clean’s white bedspread without asking. Messy Missy is a sloppy eater too, so hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie Clean tried to be polite and ignore Messy Missy’s sloppy behavior. But then Messy Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie Clean pretended that she was sick and asked Messy Missy to leave. The next day Katie Clean asked the teacher if she could work by herself. After Katie explained the situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Messy Missy almost finished the assignment alone, but she spilled grape soda all over it and quit.

What is respect others and their property?

100

The most exciting part of the story.

What is the climax?

100

The world is a stage.

What is a metaphor?

100

Jake is Cassie's older brother.  One day they are walking home from school when a cold front rolls in and the temperature drops 20 degrees.  Jake is dressed more appropriately for the weather than Cassie.  He takes off his hooded sweatshirt and offers it to her.  She gratefully accepts. Jake is now colder, but he is happier.

What is kind and considerate?

100

The people or animals in a story.

What are characters?

200

Tammy and Sammy were both students in Mr. Morton’s reading class. Mr. Morton wasn’t too strict about deadlines, and Sammy took advantage of that. Sammy did all his homework in his other classes. But he never bothered to complete Mr. Morton’s reading assignments. He figured that he could complete them later. Tammy, on the other hand, completed each assignment Mr. Morton had assigned every night. She had to stay up a little later, but she knew that reading was the most important subject. She knew that if she learned to read well, then she could teach herself anything. So she always worked hard in her reading class. When the end of the quarter came, Tammy and Sammy had both planned on going to the Magic Castle amusement park. They were both so excited. But then Mr. Morton called Sammy’s mother to report Sammy's grade. She grounded Sammy and that weekend was horrible for him. He stayed up until 2:00 AM each night, yet he still couldn’t complete all the assignments. Meanwhile, Tammy had a great time eating pizza at Enchanted Castle. After that she stayed up late and watched movies. She enjoyed her weekend free of stress and pressure. At the end of the quarter, Sammy was lucky to squeak by with a C minus. Tammy earned an A. Yet, Sammy still hasn’t learned his lesson. He may not complete this activity either.

What is work hard, play hard?

200

The main parts of the story which includes the problem.

What is the rising action?

200

He was as brave as a lion.

What is a simile?

200

Craig is a football player training over the summer for next season.  The coach demands that all players come in at 6:00 AM and lift weights until 8:00 AM, when practice begins.  Craig gets there at 5:00 AM to begin his training.

What is dedicated or hardworking?

200

The problem of a story

What is conflict?

300

Mr. Pig and Mr. Dog relaxing at the food court of the animal shopping mall. Mr. Pig was eating a huge feast of pizza and drinking a large jug of fruit punch. Mr. Dog was watching him eat. "Hey, Mr. Pig. If you give me a slice of your pizza, I'll let you have the next bone I find." Mr. Pig declined, even though it hurt his stomach to eat the last three slices of pizza. "I'm sorry, Mr. Dog," Mr. Pig said between grunts, "but I paid for this pizza and it's all mine." Mr. Dog sighed and waited for Mr. Pig to finish. Then they left the animal mall together. On the way out, a hunter spotted them and gave chase. Mr. Pig normally could have escaped the hunter, but he was weighed down by the large meal. Mr. Pig collapsed and the hunter seized him.  Mr. Dog easily escaped. Later that night, Mr. Dog returned to the scene. He caught the scent of something delicious and began digging around a trashcan. He found a large ham bone with lots of meat and marrow still stuck to it. Mr. Dog happily ate.

What is don't be greedy?

300

The problem is solved.

What is the resolution?

300

He was so happy, he cried.

What is irony?

300

Anna volunteered to help Kylie clean her house.  When Anna washed the mirrors, Kylie asked her if she used paper towels instead of newspapers.  When Anna admitted that she had, Kylie asked her to redo them.  Then, while Anna was sweeping, Kylie corrected her on her technique.  "Don't just push the dirt around, Anna.  SWEEP it," Kylie told Anna.

What is bossy or unappreciative?

300

Time and place

What is setting?

400

In his sophomore year of high school, basketball legend Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play. The coach cut Jordan from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. The next year, Jordan made the varsity squad. He averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.

What is never give up?

400

In the beginning the author introduces the main character, setting, and the main issue needed to understand the story.

What is the exposition?

400

The trees danced in the breeze.

What is personification?

400

Zylah came back from the bathroom and noticed that her rainbow pencil was missing.  She looked around the room and saw that Jayla was using a rainbow pencil. Zylah started crying uncontrollably and ran out of the room.

What is sensitive?

400

On a brisk Saturday morning, at Ben Franklin Elementary

What is setting?

500

The lesson learned or the moral of the story.

What is theme?

500

The events that follow the climax and leads to the resolution.

What is the falling action?

500

Meow! Meow!

What is onomatopoeia?

500

Keenan found a wallet on the ground.  He opened up the wallet and saw an old woman's ID card.  Keenan took the ID out of the wallet, walked to the woman's house, and returned the wallet to her.

What is honest?

500

The sequence of events that make up a story.

What is a plot?

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