Summarizing the Plot

OBJECTIVE
Students will learn the defining elements of a summary in order to write a summary and present it to the class.

Tellin’ Good Stories
What are the qualities of a good story?

• Start with summarizing the story to recall important details.
• (Glossary of Literary Terms, pg 171) Summary: Process where a story’s sequence of events are identified. The main idea is to help listeners get the gist in a short period of time.

When you summarize…

• You’re talking about the plot!
• (Glossary of Literary Terms, pg 171) Plot: the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story; also called the storyline; the main conflict or main problem of the story
• (Glossary of Literary Terms, pg 171) Imbroglio: an intricate, complicated plot

YOU DO!
1. Collaborate on completing responses to the five prompts for "The Jacket" and one other story.
2. Be prepared to present your responses to the class.
3. Write neatly & large enough for others to read from a distance.
4. If you finish BEFORE time is called, you may draw caricatures or symbols to accompany your words.

FIVE PROMPTS YOU NEED TO SUMMARIZE A PLOT
Somebody: Who is the Main Character?
Wanted: What does the main character want?
But: What is the conflict? What/who is preventing the character from getting what he/she wants?
So: What does the character do to solve the conflict?
Then: How does the story resolve itself or end? How does the character move on?