1. Mr. Verutes 9/26/17
English 9
Aim: How is a story organized? What are the parts or “elements” of a novel or short story? Do Now: Begin reading p in TLOL. Then explain each of the following terms in your own words:
Plot :
Conflict:
Characters:
Setting:
Theme:

2. Whole Class Review Plot, Character, Setting, & Theme
Follow along on p as we review the examples
Copy down and answer the Your Turn questions for Plot, Character, and Setting on p on a separate sheet of looseleaf. Make sure to start by writing your heading.
Your Turn: Plot – Read the passage at the right, which is taken from the exposition of “Plainswoman.” What potential conflict is introduced?
Your Turn: Character - What details in this passage give you clues to understanding the very different characters of Nora and Pleny?
Your Turn: Setting - In this passage, what words and phrases help evoke the setting?
Classwork Activity

3. Whole Class Review Elements of Fiction Key Terms
Plot – The sequence of events in a narrative (story).
Exposition – The stage of the plot in which background information about the characters, the setting, and the conflict in the story are provided.
Conflict – The problem(s) or struggle(s) faced by the main character(s) in the narrative. Conflict may be internal or external, and there may be more than one in a story.
Rising Action – The stage of plot events in which complications are introduced, and the writer builds suspense.
Climax – The turning point of the narrative. The climax is the most suspenseful part of the story, and it results in major change for the main character(s).

4. Whole Class Review Elements of Fiction Key Terms
Falling Action (Denouement) – The stage of plot development after the climax during which conflict is resolved (resolution).
Characters – The people, animals, or imaginary creatures who participate in the events of the narrative.
Setting – The time and place in which the events of the narrative occur. The writer will communicate the setting to the reader through vivid description.
Theme – The theme in a work is not stated directly but must be inferred by the reader. A theme is a message about life or human nature that the writer wishes to share with the reader.

5. Classwork Activity Read Aloud – “Plainswoman”
Begin completing the Questioning Texts handout for the short story “Plainswoman.”
Our reading purpose is to consider the structure and literary elements at work in the story.
Our guiding questions to consider are “How is the text organized?” and “What words and phrases stand out to me as I read?”
Our text-specific question to consider is “How does Nora’s character change throughout the stages of the plot of “Plainswoman”?”
Source: Saturday Evening Post 4 September 1960 (TLOL)
Follow along in your text as we begin re-reading the short story “Plainswoman” by Williams Forrest (TLOL p. 8-19). In your class notes, note the page number and briefly describe any details we get concerning changes in Nora’s character so we can place them at one of the stages of plot development.

6. Homework
Reread “Plainswoman” (TLOL p. 8-19) with our text specific question in mind and complete at least four note-taking entries (one for each stage of plot development) in your Reader’s Notepad.
For your SAY notes, record any details (at least 2-3 sentences each) that you noted in your class notes on Nora’s character that we get in one of the stages of plot development as a quote and cite each quote with the textbook page number(s). Each set of details should be from a different stage of plot development.
In your Matter notes, be sure to explain what that set of details tells us about Nora’s character and explain how the author, Williams Forrest, is indicating the changes her traits undergo, what changes her character exhibits,  and which stage of plot development your SAY quote comes from.