Story Elements
Understanding What We're Reading!
Writing
100

What happens in the story. 

What is plot?

100

A brief statements of the main points 

What is summary?

100

Main argument of an essay 

What is claim?

200

Where the story takes place. 

What is the setting?

200

A message the story reveals

What is theme?

200

The author's attitude 

What is tone?

300
Turning point in the story

What is the climax? 


300

Creating mental images while reading 

What is visualization? 

300

Details from the text that support your main point 

What is evidence?

400
The "big picture message" of the story 
What is the main idea?
400

Find meaning or patterns in what you are reading

What is to analyze?

400

The main argument of your essay

What is a thesis?

500
Who is narrating the story 

What is point of view?

500

Conclusions based on evidence 

What is inference?

500

An object representing a deeper meaning 

What is a symbol?