Elements of Fiction

Short Stories/ Novels

Feb 17/18

Agenda:● Review elements of fiction● Use short film to discuss elements of

fiction● Begin short story- 2BR02B

PlotConflict/Resolution Setting/moodCharacterizationPOV/narrationTheme

Review Elements of Fiction

Draw for element groups- your group will look for your chosen element only, then share findings with the class

Watch “Black Button”

Group discussion

Class discussion

Apply Elements to Short Film

Your group will continue to focus on your element, and annotate the story for only that element.Each group will use a different color:Plot- redSetting/mood- orangeConflict/resolution- yellowCharacterization- greenPOV/narration- blueTheme-purple

Apply Elements to Short Fiction

Annotate with your group as we read

Group discussions

Share with class using the doc cam- class will record your notes on their copy

Read 2BR02B by Kurt Vonnegut

Agenda:● Finish work over 2BR02B● Brainstorm for an original short story

o Snowball fight!

Feb 19/20

Creating the central conflict:_________ (somebody) WANTED ________BUT________________________________SO_________________________________.

Snowball fight!Get out notebook paper

Your short story

On your paper write (large):____________________________________

WANTS____________________________________Example: Edward K. Wehling, father of newly born triplets, WANTS to keep all of his babies.

Throw your snowball!

First Round- Who wants what?

Pick up/ catch a snowball.Read and add on BUT__________________.Ex: BUT he lives in a world where the population has been stabilized and controlled, and in order for all his children to live, he must find three volunteers to die.

Throw your snowball!

Second round- BUT!

Pick up/ catch a snowball.Read and add on SO___________________.Ex: SO Wehling shoots the doctor who delivered his babies, a gas-chamber hostess, and himself so that his children may all live.

Share completed conflicts and post for inspiration.

Third round- Soooo...

Write a ________wanted _________ but ____________ so_________________.

You may write several if you wish.

This will become the skeleton of your own short story.

Brainstorming- Short Story

Agenda:● Anticipation guide● Read p.1-9: focus on setting

● Continue brainstorming for short storieso finish somebody/wanted/but/so

statementso start outlining ploto Short story setting/mood brainstorm

Feb 23/24

Setting Focus

Location

Time

Weather

Sensory Details

Mood/ Atmosphere

Setting/ Mood:● Where?

o Specifics: Country, State, City, etc.o Surroundings

● When?o Specifics: Era, year, month, day, houro Context/ conditions

● Weather?o How can it aid the theme or characterization

● Sensory details?o Help to set the mood

Short story-

● Read p. 9-29 in 1984● Context for 1984

“Why I Write” essay by George OrwellLetter from Orwell to Noel Willmett

● Write interpretive response

Feb 25/26

Read essay “Why I Write”Read letter from Orwell to Noel Willmett

Interpretive response (1 page):

How did Orwell’s life experience influence his writing?

Context- 1984 by George Orwell

Agenda:● Turn in interpretive response● Focus: Direct/ indirect characterization● Character posters● Brainstorm for short story- characters● Read p. 29-48

Feb 27/ Mar 2

Physical descriptionThoughts/ FeelingsActionsWordsOther characters’ perceptions

Characterization

Roles:● Physical description● Thoughts/ feelings● Actions● Words (What the character says)● Other characters’ perceptions

Create an artistic depiction of your character surrounded by quotes from the book that show the different types of characterization.

Groups- Julia, Winston, O’Brien

Agenda:● Finish Character posters- 15 minutes!● Flashback/ Foreshadowing● Read p. 48-69

o Focus: POV● Short story- drafting plot line

Mar 3/4

Flashback:● deepens inner conflict● stimulates conflict● allows reader to sympathize with

character● increases tensionForeshadowing:● build anticipation● create suspense● create tension

Flashback/ Foreshadowing

Main/ Protagonist● Physical description● Thoughts● Actions● Words● Others perceptions

Antagonist● Physical description● Thoughts● Actions● Words● Others perceptions

Minor Characters● Physical description● Thoughts● Actions● Words● Others perceptions

Short Story- Characters

What point of view is the story told from?How does this shape the reader’s perception of events?Why did the author choose this POV?

1984- Point of View

● Plot out series of events● Find a place where you could insert a

flashback● Find a place to include foreshadowing

Short Story- Plotline

Agenda:Read p. 69-87

● Peer conference #1- questioning

Homework: Write rough draft of short story

March 5/6

Share your prewriting for your short story with a partner.Ask questions of each other- when your partner is talking, you can only listen and record their questions. Do not try to answer them!

Peer Conference #1- Questioning

Take your list of questions from your partner and all your pre-writing and brainstorming home.

Begin drafting your story.

Make sure your plot answers the questions- this will ensure that your story is thorough and has no holes.

Drafting Your Short Story

Agenda:● Read p. 87-104

o Focus on themeo Theme Posters

● Work on short storyo Turn in all prewriting/ brainstormingo Rough draft check

March 9/10

What are the one/two-word “themes” (main concepts)?Ex: governmental control

What is the author’s point about these ideas? This is the real THEME.Ex: When a government has absolute control, personal individuality is lost.

Themes Emerging in 1984

Write down as many one/two- word “themes” as you can in 3 minutes.

Themes in 1984

Consolidate your lists at your table.

Working as a group, write theme statements for each concept.

Themes in 1984

Pick your group’s best theme statement.

Gather text evidence that supports your chosen theme.

For each piece of evidence, provide commentary on how the evidence contributes to the theme.

Themes in 1984

Agenda:● Read p. 105-126● Peer Conference #2- short story

March 11/12

Agenda:● Read p. 126-147

o Focus on character/ moral dilemma

HW- Revise short story, use feedback gained from peer evaluation

March 13/23 (Spring Break)

Moral Dilemmas Map

Character

Situation

Choice #1 Choice #2

Possible Outcome Possible Outcome

What should ________ do? Why?

Agenda:● Read p. 147-167

o Focus on suspense

HW: Bring short story and peer review with you next class!

March 24/25

CREATING SUSPENSE● They must have goals. The moment your character forms a goal, readers

will hope she achieves it – and worry about what will happen if he doesn't● A strong character needs a strong opponent. Give him advantages the

hero lacks, fanatical supporters, and the power to lure away the hero's allies.● Take away the character's ability to defend herself (or others) and you

create intense suspense● Give your character a want or lack that she's desperate to fulfil.● Raise the stakes. You can either raise the prize for succeeding, or raise the

price of failure – or, preferably, both at the same time● Shorten the deadline.● Increase the pressure in unpredictable ways Take away her friends and

supporters, undermine her assets and any options she's relying on, block her escape routes, cut the deadline in half, devalue her strongest beliefs or the things she most cares about. Anything that can go wrong, should go wrong.

Suspense-state of uncertainty or anxiousness while awaiting news or events

Agenda:● Read p. 167-184● Annotation Checklist● Teacher conferences and final revisions

March 26/27

Turn to your neighbor(s) and discuss how your draft is going for two minutes.

Share at least one thing that you like about the writing process or your draft itself!

Pulse Check

Annotate for each of the following:Plot- redSetting/mood- orangeConflict/resolution- yellowCharacterization- greenPOV/narration- blueTheme-purple

Highlight in any color each of the following:Flashback/foreshadowingImagery

Check Elements in Short Story

What is the basic plot of my story? Create a summary sentence

ex. In “The Black Button” Mr. Roberts is tricked into making a bad decision by a “gatekeeper” in purgatory after he dies and is then doomed to hell.

Plot

What is your:

_________ (somebody) WANTED ________BUT________________________________SO_________________________________.

Conflict/Resolution

Edward K. Wehling, father of newly born triplets, WANTS to keep all of his babies…

BUT he lives in a world where the population has been stabilized and controlled, and in order for all his children to live, he must find three volunteers to die…

SO Wehling shoots the doctor who delivered his babies, a gas-chamber hostess, and himself so that his children may all live.

Conflict/Resolution

Setting/Mood

Location

Time

Weather

Sensory Details

Mood/ Atmosphere

Setting/ Mood:● Where?

o Specifics: Country, State, City, etc.o Surroundings

● When?o Specifics: Era, year, month, day, houro Context/ conditions

● Weather?o How can it aid the theme or characterization

● Sensory details?o Help to set the mood

Setting/Mood

Main/ Protagonist● Physical description● Thoughts● Actions● Words● Others perceptions

Antagonist● Physical description● Thoughts● Actions● Words● Others perceptions

Minor Characters● Physical description● Thoughts● Actions● Words● Others perceptions

Short Story- Characters

Physical descriptionThoughts/ FeelingsActionsWordsOther characters’ perceptions

Characterization

What point of view is the story told from?

How does this shape the reader’s perception of events?

Why did you choose this POV?

Point of View/Narration

What is the theme of your short story?

Remember to think about what idea you’re trying to get across to your audience.

Ex: In 1984, George Orwell makes the point that: when a government has absolute control, personal individuality is lost.

Theme

Flashback:● deepens inner conflict● stimulates conflict● allows reader to sympathize with

character● increases tensionForeshadowing:● build anticipation● create suspense● create tension

Flashback/ Foreshadowing

o Creates mental imageso Appeals to all senses with devices like

metaphors, similies, descriptive languageo Shows rather than tells

ex. The baseball player argued with the umpire.

ex. The ace pitcher hurled his glove at the mound, then spit words at the man behind the plate

Imagery

Annotate for each of the following:Plot- redSetting/mood- orangeConflict/resolution- yellowCharacterization- greenPOV/narration- blueTheme-purple

Highlight in any color each of the following:Flashback/foreshadowingImagery

Check Elements in Short Story

Agenda:Predictions- bubble wrapGoldstein’s book summarized-p.184-217Read p. 217-239

● Continue teacher conferencing● Final revisions/ editing- short story

March 30/31

Bubble Wrap Pop!Write some predictions on a sheet of paper and number them 1-10.If you predict events correctly, you get to pop your bubble!

Prediction Activity

Agenda:● Read p. 239-260

Get out your bubble wrap and keep popping!

2+2=5 lyrics and discussion

Short stories DUE!

April 1/2

Are you such a dreamer To put the world to rights

I'll stay home forever Where two and two always makes a

fiveI'll lay down the tracks

Sandbag and hideJanuary has April showers

And two and two always makes a five It's the devil's way now

There is no way outYou can scream and you can shout

It is too late nowBecause you're not there

Payin' attention (4x)yeah I feel it, I needed attention

Payin' attention (3x)Yeah I need it, I needed attention

I needed attention (3x)Yeah I love it, the attention

Payin' attention (3x)

2+2=5 by Radiohead

Soon ohI try to sing along

But the music's all wrongCos I'm not (2x)

I'll swallow up flies?Back and hide

But I'm notOh hail to the thiefOh hail to the thief

But I'm not (4x)Don't question my authority or put me

in the boxCos I'm not (2x)

Oh go up to the king, and the sky is falling in

But it's not (2x)Maybe not (2x)

● Write/draw an example of propaganda or things that don’t add up in our society that you feel forced to believe.

● Tape up around room. ● Gallery walk -place sticker on items that you agree

are forms of brainwashing.

Today’s Equivalent of 2+2=5

Agenda:What is in Room 101?Read p. 260-282- keep popping!

April 6/7

Draw what you think Room 101 looks like based on what you have read so far.

Room 101

Agenda:● Read p. 282-end- finish popping prediction

bubble wrap● Foreshadowing: a look back● Socratic Seminar- review

HW:Study all notes to prepare for exam over 1984

April 8/9

Take out your frustration on any un-popped bubbles.

Winston, NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

● Pair up● Make a matching game made up up of

events in the book 1984● Each event should be foreshadowed by

another event, or serve as foreshadowing of a future event

Foreshadowing

Trade games with another pair and test yourselves

Foreshadowing

Test over 1984- multiple choice and essay

April 10/13