All About Point of View
What is first person point of view?
The narrator is in the story (I, me, we)
What are the three main parts of a story?
Beginning, middle, end
What is dialogue?
Characters talking.
Is this show or tell: “She was scared.”
Tell
Is this a simile or a metaphor?
You are my sunshine
Metaphor
What pronouns are used in third person?
He, she, they
What is the problem in a story called?
Conflict
What punctuation do we use for dialogue?
Quotation Marks
Turn into show: “He was happy.”
Answers are accepted if they are close to:
He smiled and jumped up and down.
We know that something is a simile because it has what signal words?
It is a comparison.
Change to first person:
“She walked into the room nervously.”
I walked into the room nervously.
Why should writers include a solution to solve a problem.
They don't want to leave their readers unsatisfied.
Fix this:
he said hello
He said, "Hello".
Which is better and why?
He was as angry as the hulk.
He turned as red as a tomato and balled his fist up.
The second one has more detail and more imagery.
Define figurative language.
Words or phrases that are not meant to be taken literally.
Why is it important to stay in one point of view?
1. So the reader doesn’t get confused.
2. So the story makes sense or stays organized.
3. To make it easier to understand.
Why should writers extend the middle?
1. To add details and make the story interesting.
2. The middle is the filling of the sandwich; there should be enough details.
How should you space dialogue?
Why do writers “show”?
It offers more detail and makes the story more realistic. Readers can picture it and feel as if they are there.
Turn this into figurative language.
“He was very fast.”
He was as fast as the wind.
He was quick as lightning.
He was a lightning bolt.
What is wrong with the point of view, and how can you fix it?
I ran down the street. She was yelling my name as you tried to catch up.
It switches between I, she, and you. It should stay consistent.
Why is the middle of a story the MOST important part, and what should a writer include to make it strong?
It develops the problem. It should include details, events, and build up to the solution.
Why is dialogue important?
Dialogue adds details to a story. It offers context, events, and gives the writer room to add more information.
Rewrite using Show Don't Tell.
He was angry.
He slammed his fist on the table. “That’s not fair!” he shouted.
Write a sentence that includes at least two pieces of figurative language.
The wind howled like a wolf as the trees danced in the night.