Story Map & Summarizing A Story

These two graphic organizers were used in class to help students learn about how the elements of a plot work together to form a story. Below are two organizers I've done based on the story "The Pact," written by "Janet", a teenager from Florida. Click on the images to make them larger.

11/13 Revision: Editing & Proofreading Symbols

PLOT MAP

SUMMARIZING THE PLOT
Introduction/Exposition: Beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to the character, the setting
Conflict: When the reader discovers the plot or the main problem the main character(s) must face.
Rising Action: Events that logically build to the climax.
Climax: The height of the action in the story.
Falling Action: The action winds down.
Resolution/Denouement: The ending of the story.

11/12 Structure of a Narrative: Parts of a Good Story

PLOT

• Events
• Actions/Sequence of events/storyline
• Conflict or Problem
• Problem Solved
• Strong beginning and ending

SETTING

• Time
• Place/Geographic location
• Details convey mood
• Historical Period
• Culture
• Where the conflict happens
• helps to set the mood

CHARACTERS

• Dynamic (major/primary) and static (minor/secondary) characters
• Strong Traits
• Strong dialogue
• Described w/ and show great detail
• helps to set the mood
• personality/strong emotions, help drive action

THEME

• Meaning of the story
• Moral, lesson, message the author wants to convey to the reader
• Can help to convey the overall mood of the piece
• lesson, moral or message the author wants the reader to know

11/12 Structure of A Narrative

OBJECTIVE
Students will learn the structure of a good story in order to continue practicing new strategies to revise and edit their writing.

THE TEN-SENTENCE STORY

1. Create a new notebook entry in your Writers Notebook called: The Ten-Sentence Story.
2. Choose one of the topics:
   The scary room
   My first go-go
   The lost and found
   Escape from captivity
   The break up
   The make up
3. OK, so now you’ve selected one of the topics. Now, tell a story in 10 sentences or less.
4. You can combine ideas, but the story CAN ONLY BE TEN SENTENCES LONG.
5. Though you are collaborating on the story, you must record the story in your own notebook.

SELF-CHECK
During and after your writing, ask yourself these questions:

• Are the stories complete with a beginning, middle and end?
• Do they have characters and settings?
• Is there a plot? Does the story have a conflict/resolution or problem/solution?