Parts of a Story
The story begins in a small village by the sea, where fishermen work every morning.
What part of a story is this?
Setting
Unlike his messy desk, her desk was neat and organized.
What does “neat” mean?
Clean and organized
Even though she dropped her ice cream, Mia stayed optimistic and said, “At least I still have my cone!”
What does “optimistic” mean?
Hopeful, looks on the bright side
In the first paragraph, Maria clearly states, “I believe school uniforms help students focus.”
What part of an opinion essay is this?
The introduction / opinion statement
Lila, a curious girl with a big imagination, loved exploring the forest near her home.
What part of a story is this?
Characters
This is the longest part of the plot chart. (event after event)
The sky grew gloomy, with dark clouds covering the sun.
What does “gloomy” mean?
Dark or sad-looking
Marcus was so generous that he gave half of his lunch to a classmate who forgot theirs.
What does “generous” mean?
Willing to share or give to others
Liam writes, “For example, uniforms stop kids from worrying about clothes and help everyone feel equal.”
What part of an opinion essay is this?
A reason with evidence
As the storm clouds gathered, Jason hurried to board up the windows. The wind howled louder, and rain started pounding on the roof. He grabbed a flashlight and gathered his family in the living room.
What part of a story is this?
Rising Action / Events building the suspense
Emily wakes up early every morning to feed her chickens and water the garden. Her neighbor Jack, on the other hand, sleeps in late but spends his afternoons helping his dad repair fences.
How are Emily and Jack alike and different?
They both do chores to help their families. Different: Emily works in the morning, Jack works in the afternoon.
After running the mile, she was exhausted and could barely catch her breath.
What does “exhausted” mean?
Very tired
When the teacher asked for volunteers to help clean the art room, most students stayed quiet. But Jordan immediately grabbed a broom and said, “I’ll do it!”
What character trait does Jordan show?
Helpfulness / responsibility / willingness to help
According to a report from the CDC, kids who are active for at least 60 minutes a day perform better in school. This shows that having more recess could actually improve grades.
What part of an opinion essay is this?
Evidence supporting a reason
Liam wanted to win the spelling bee more than anything. But when the final round came, he froze on stage, unsure of the word.
What part of a story is this?
Problem / Conflict
Carla is a fast runner who enjoys racing her friends at recess. Her best friend Zoe prefers reading quietly under a tree, but both girls love spending time outdoors.
How are Carla and Zoe alike and different?
Both enjoy being outdoors. Different: Carla likes running, Zoe likes reading.
The sentence says, “The lake was so tranquil, calm and quiet, that we could hear the birds sing.”
What does “tranquil” mean?
Calm and quiet
After losing the soccer game, Marcus congratulated the other team and told his teammates, “We’ll do better next time if we keep practicing.”
What character trait does Marcus show?
Good sportsmanship / positivity / encouragement
That is why schools should increase recess time. More recess means healthier, happier, and more focused students.
What part of an opinion essay is this?
Conclusion / restating the opinion
After weeks of searching, Maya finally discovered the lost treasure hidden deep inside the cave. She carried it back to her village, where everyone cheered and celebrated her bravery.
What part of a story is this?
Solution / Resolution
In the novel, Clara spends hours practicing the piano because she dreams of becoming a musician. She carefully follows instructions and never gives up, even when a piece is difficult. Her brother Leo, however, gets frustrated easily and would rather play soccer than sit still to practice. Yet, both siblings work hard when they want to achieve something important to them.
How are Clara and Leo alike and different?
Both work hard toward their goals. Different: Clara is patient and focused on music; Leo is impatient and prefers sports.
After running for hours, the marathon runners were weary, their legs heavy and their faces covered in sweat, but they pushed themselves to the finish line.
What does “weary” mean?
Sofia’s friends wanted to quit the puzzle after hours of trying, but she encouraged them to keep going. She stayed at the table, trying piece after piece until, at last, the picture was complete. She smiled and said, “See? We did it together!”
What character trait does Sofia show?
Perseverance / determination / leadership
Some people think recess is just playtime, but it’s actually important for learning. Recess gives students a chance to rest their brains, talk with friends, and get exercise. That is why I strongly believe schools should give kids more recess time.
What part of an opinion essay is this?
Introduction — it gives the opinion and sets up reasons.