Short Story Elements.notebook
April 03, 2013
Elements of a Short Story
The Five Elements you will need to know in order to write your own short story.
Extraordinary made simple
TM
© 2008 SMART Technologies ULC. All rights reserved. Dec 13­1:41 PM
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Short Story Elements.notebook
April 03, 2013
Writing a Narrative (which is a story) is fun!
But first you have to know how...
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Plot
the events in a story linked by cause and effect
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Plot Pattern:
3. Climax
2. Conflict
4. Falling Action
1. Exposition
5. Resolution
Conflict can be either Internal or External for the characters in your story.
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Exposition
1 Paragraph
* Should include:
* the setting
* the character(s)
* may include an introduction to the conflict
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Conflict or Rising Action
1 ­ 2 Paragraphs
* Should include:
* 3 Steps the characters go through to solve the problem
* Use details for each event to describe the event.
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
1 Paragraph
* Should include:
* Climax
* Falling Action
* Resolution
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Characters
the people or animals who take part in the action
• Characterization ­ creating and developing a character
• Character's Traits ­ qualities of the character that help readers to understand his or her actions • Character's Motives ­ the reasons for the character's actions
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Setting
the time and place of the story
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Theme
a message about
or
an insight into life
Example: the theme of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is respecting other's property
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Point of View
who is telling the story
• Are you telling the story?
• Is the character telling the story?
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Write the short story element that matches the description below.
Plot Theme Characters Setting Point of View
1. a house at the beach during a hurricane __________________________________
2. an athlete who struggles to make the team ­________________________________
3. a boy who enjoys studying dinosaurs _____________________________________
4. sisters who learn the meaning of friendship ________________________________
5. events that lead to the capture of a criminal ________________________________
6. Emilia narrates her adventures to the zoo __________________________________
7. a museum in the early morning ­­­­­­­­­­__________________________________________
8. a boy who learns to respect his parents ___________________________________
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Write the short story element that matches the description below.
Plot Theme Characters Setting Point of View
1. I explain the events at my grandma's party __________________________________
2. a beautiful blue jay with determination ­____________________________________
3. the tortoise and the hare _______________________________________________
4. a family moves to California to start a new life ________________________________
5. a young girls learns the importance of human dignity ____________________________
6. New York City during the Great Depression __________________________________
7. two mischievous boys ­­­­­­­­­­__________________________________________________
8. children playing hide­and­seek discover a magical wardrobe_____________________
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Short Story Elements.notebook
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Plot Pattern:
Resolution
Exposition
Falling Action
Drag the parts of the plot to their correct locations on the diagram.
Climax
Conflict
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Genres:
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Realistic Fiction
Science Fiction Nov 5­11:00 AM
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