💰 THEME & DEVELOPMENT
What is the theme of the story?
People learn from their experiences.
Answers may vary
From whose perspective is MOST of the story told?
Alexis
What is one purpose of the author?
to entertain
What is the main conflict in the story?
Alexis struggles to make a decision to take the shortcut or not.
What is Alexis’s relationship to her mother?
Daughter
Which event BEST develops the theme?
Alexis decides to take the shortcut
Which other character’s point of view is included?
The mother
What lesson does the author want readers to learn?
Make safe choices / learn from experiences
What type of conflict is this?
Alexis makes the decision to take the shortcut.
man vs self
What value does Alexis’s mother demonstrate?
Alexis' Safety
How do Alexis’s actions at the beginning help develop the theme?
Alexis does ___action_________ that causes__action______ that develops the theme of_________.
answers may vary
Why does the author include the mother’s point of view?
To show her concern and develop the relationship
Which statement BEST describes the author’s purpose for writing this text other than to entertain?
To entertain while teaching a lesson about choices and safety
Describe the exposition of the story.
Students answer should include characters, setting, and conflict if provided:
Alexis (character) had just got off the bus in the late afternoon. It was a little chill and a little warmth from the sun (setting). She decides to take the shortcut. (conflict)
How does Alexis’s understanding of her mother change?
She begins to understand her mother's safety concern and makes the decision not to take the shortcut again.
How do Alexis’s experiences throughout the story develop the theme?
Think about what happens during her shortcut trip.
Her fear leads her to learn a lesson
answers may vary
Where does the shift in point of view happen?
students should use text to show where this happens
Find an example from the story that shows suspense.
Students may mention Alexis's experience when she takes the shortcut.
Find an incident in the story that pushes (propel action) the story along (cause and effect).
answers may vary
How does Alexis and her mom's relationship develop/grow?
What was their relationship like at the beginning and how does it change?
At the beginning of the story, Alexis makes her own decision to take the shortcut knowing her mom wouldn't agree. After she takes the shortcut and has a bad experience, she learns to make better decisions and trusts her mom who shows a major concern about her safety.
Provide 2 pieces of evidence that supports how the theme develops.
(1) provide a theme
(provide 2 pieces of evidence)
Choice → fear → learning
Explain how the shift in point of view contributes to the meaning of the story.
In other words, why is the story told from multiple point of views?
Reinforces theme and relationship
Explain why the author develops multiple purposes in the story.
to teach theme
to show the relationship between multiple characters
to show suspense
Write a description of the resolution.
After Alexis and her mom discusses Alexis taking the shortcut, Alexis receives a text message from her mom. She checks her phone and her mom says that she is proud of her. She then agrees not to take shortcut again.
Explain how the relationship between Alexis and her mother supports the theme.
"What is their relationship like and how does it relate to the theme?"
Alexis and her mom's relationship grows after Alexis bad experience from taking the shortcut which supports the theme "listen to your parents; they know what's best."