Characters
Name at least THREE different traits a character can have.
Brave, cool, reckless, kind, angry, nervous, etc.
Name at least THREE different kinds of settings in a story.
A forest, a ship, a desert, an ocean, a house, etc.
What THREE parts of a plot does a story need?
Beginning, middle, and end.
How many drafts does a story usually need?
3 drafts.
Who is the main character of our story? What are at least THREE of her traits?
Nancy Drew. She is brave, determined, kind, reckless, and smart.
Give an example of a life lesson that a character might learn by the end of a story.
Learning to be brave, to be kind, to stand up for themselves or others, learning to share, how to not give up, etc.
What does it mean when a setting "changes"? How does it change?
The characters go to different locations or the setting undergoes a drastic change.
An interesting beginning needs what to catch your reader's attention?
A hook, a creative introduction, etc.
How are the three drafts different from each other?
First draft is messy and has mistakes, second draft has edits, third draft is final and has no mistakes.
DAILY DOUBLE!
Name at least THREE side characters in our story Nancy Drew and the Broken Clock.
Mr. Drew, Hannah Gruen, Allison Hoover, Grace Hoover, Ada Topham, Isabel Topham, etc.
Read this writing:
Johnny stood up from the dirt and put his baseball cap back on. He was determined that by the end of fifth grade, he would be the best baseball player in his whole town of Holland.
What is Johnny's motivation?
Johnny wants to be the best baseball player in Holland by the end of fifth grade.
DAILY DOUBLE!
Read this writing:
The house creaked as the rainwater pelted its walls. Thunder boomed in the distance, and the only light in the house was from a tiny candle, flickering in the darkness of the storm.
What is this setting's mood?
Dark, spooky, haunted, wet, cold, lonely, etc.
Most storylines are pretty boring for the characters if they do not include what?
A problem for characters to solve.
What are the THREE things that need to go at the top of your story when you write?
Your name, the date, and a catchy, creative title.
Who is the man who passed away with a second, secret will?
Josiah Crowley.
Read this writing:
I turned away from Maya and gave her a mean smile. "I can't believe you thought we were friends! I'd never be friends with someone like you." I laughed at Maya again, then walked away.
What is the narrator's connection to Maya?
The narrator is mean and a bully to Maya, doesn't like her, they are enemies, etc.
Read this writing:
The sun shone out over the field as fresh morning dew covered the grass. Yellow rays of light colored the stalks of grass, making them look gold. Birds chirped and deer grazed. Everything was in perfect harmony.
What is this setting's mood?
Happy, peaceful, nice, bright, calming, etc.
Read this writing:
Boom! A crash of thunder shook the school, and rain pelted against the windows. Anyone who was looking could see the swirling clouds of a really bad storm. In just five minutes, I would need to go outside for recess. What was my teacher thinking?!
What part of the plot is this?
The beginning, the hook, the introduction, etc.
DAILY DOUBLE!
Give at least THREE examples of how you can edit your story to make your writing more effective.
Proper spelling, punctuation, capitals, grammar, no-run ons, etc.
Why does Nancy want to find Mr. Crowley's second will?
To let the families (Hoovers, Turners) who need the money receive what they are owed OR to deny the Topham's receiving any money they do not need.
Read this writing:
Mary emerged from the dark of her home and onto the front porch. All around her, raindrops dripped from the rafters and sparkled on the grass. Mary smiled to herself. The storm had been scary, but she had grown. And now, the next time a storm came, she would be ready to face it.
What life lesson has Mary learned?
Mary has learned to be brave, confident, determined, etc.
Read this writing:
Everything was too crowded. Students were jammed together, friends were yelling and slamming lockers and pushing each other as they laughed loudly. Josie was squished against a wall. Her head buzzed and her eyes couldn't focus. She could hardly think!
How does this setting affect our character Josie?
Stresses her out, overwhelming, makes her panic, she can't go anywhere, etc.
Read this writing:
Mary emerged from the dark of her home and onto the front porch. All around her, raindrops dripped from the rafters and sparkled on the grass. Mary smiled to herself. The storm had been scary, but she had grown. And now, the next time a storm came, she would be ready to face it.
What part of the plot is this?
The ending, the conclusion, Mary learned her lesson, etc.
Look at the sentence where these arrows are pointing:
---> "I will play with you!" <---
What are these symbols called?
Dialogue markers, bunny ears, etc.
What is one life lesson Nancy has learned so far in our story?
To be brave, to not give up, to help and be nice to others, detective work can be dangerous, etc.