National 4 Added Value Unit Summary of structure for short stories

Snakes and Ladders Good for questions about relationships or an individual’s conflict with society - caused by poverty 1. Lily’s background – explain, including where her son is 2. How Lily faces a conflict with the clerk – she can’t make him understand why she needs a transfer 3. Clerk’s attitude is not personal – he doesn’t have the power to help her 4. We find out why Lily’s son is in hospital – explain what this incident tells us about the setting (the area Lily is from) 5. The ending is very effective as Lily takes power into her own hands – explain what she does and why she does this

Superman and Paula Brown’s Snowsuit Good for questions about conflict with society or childhood and growing up 1. Explain how narrator is portrayed as very childish and innocent in the beginning – e.g. dreams of flying, loves Superman, connects idea with her uncle 2. She doesn’t really understand what is going on when WW2 starts – prefers fantasy to reality 3. Paula’s party – Paula as unpleasant – narrator forced to face reality during cinema trip – explain what she sees 4. Paula’s snowsuit – explain why she is blamed – focus on the group mentality – ganging up/ making her a scapegoat 5. Ending – explain shy she has to pay –why is this so upsetting – what does she realise – think back to the way she connected her uncle and superman – can he help her now?

The Great McGunnigle Good for questions about conflict 1. Alex is dreading goes back to school – explain how he is made to seem like a pupil 2.McGunnigle is shown to be a horrible character as Alex thinks back to all he has done in the past e.g. school dance/ the stall/ argument about homework 3. McGunnigle is shown to be physically threatening/ intimidating as the conflict develops e.g. the way he behaves on the football field 4. How conflict reaches a climax and how Alex reacts 5. The effective ending when we realise who is the teacher and who is the pupil – why is this enjoyable? What does it make you think about?

Barely an Incident Good for questions about conflict – racism 1. Explain how the setting is made to bleak and depressing 2. explain how the 3 drunk boys behave towards the young couple 3. Explain that the policemen enter too late and don’t seem interested in preventing trouble 4. Explain how the narrator feels – furious and helpless – as she sees how upset the young couple are 5. Explain why the narrator tries to apologise – why does she feel guilty and what does she think is the main problem in society?

Mary Moon and the Stars Good for questions about inner conflict or about childhood and growing up 1. Explain how the friendship between Mary Moon and the narrator begins 2. Explain why the narrator feels conflicted about becoming friends with Mary – what is scared of? – think about what her granny says 3. Explain why the narrator decides to be friends with Mary and how this leads to a conflict with her Granny – what does this make you think about her Granny? 4. Climax – Mary’s mum has attempted suicide – explain what the narrator realises about Mary’s poverty, her life and why she feels that she hasn’t done enough 5. The effective ending – we learn that Mary has done well – explain how this makes the narrator feel and how you think Mary might feel about the narrator

The Face Good for questions about relationships or childhood and the difficulties of growing up 1. explain why the little boy is visiting the coalmine and what he is afraid of 2. explain why he has misunderstood what the face is – story of John Ireland – shows that children cannot understand the adult world 3. explain what his rite of passage is – what is he afraid of and how does he feel about his father? 4. explain how his father feels about him when he manages to walk along the passage 5. the effective ending – explain why there is a twist here – how do the little boy and his father change roles?

The Last Spin Good for questions on conflict or relationships 1. Danny and Tigo are enemies because they belong to different gangs. Both have been sent as representatives to settle a dispute by playing “Russian roulette”, where one of them will die. 2. They begin to realise they have a lot in common and almost suggest a double date… 3. As they realise how scared they both are, they also realise how pointless it is to fight when they have no grudge against each other. 4. The boys agree to stop playing after one last spin, and to forget about their gangs and go out on the lake with their girlfriends. 5. The ending is tragic as Danny is shot by the last spin. Tigo is left shocked and weeping for his lost friendship and the senselessness of gang violence.

Killer Mum Good for questions on conflict or relationships 1. Writer is embarrassed by the way her mother is dressed when Stevie stops to talk to her at the shops. 2. She tries to persuade her mum to wear something less embarrassing to the school dance. 3. She is completely humiliated by her parents being the first couple up to dance. 4. She realises that Stevie feels exactly the same way, because his parents are the other couple. 5. Her and Stevie are united by their embarrassment and start going out with each other.

The Cure Good for questions about growing up or relationships or possibly conflict 1. Writer is asked by Roy Speedie to compete in a school race and she has a big crush on him. 2. She dreads the race because she is a terrible runner. 3. It is very tense as she describes how she loses the race. 4. Roy screams at her and shatters his charming illusion and the writer is cured of her crush when she sees his true colours. 5. This experience changes her whole outlook. She feels grown up and experienced and in control.

A Picture Of Zoe Good for questions on relationships, conflict or prejudice 1. there is a clear social class difference between Zoe and Gerry e.g. shown through their friends, the old lady’s approval, restaurant 2.He is surprised by Zoe’s kind, sympathetic