DO NOW

You are in a building. You notice smoke coming into the room from under the door. What is the problem? How is this problem likely to get worse before it gets better?

OBJECTIVE

Students will be able to define and describe the elements in rising action and climax in order to support plot analysis of a short story.

To be able to explain how a story develops, we will figure out how the plot of a story is developed for us as readers.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

Stories exist to tell about something happening - this is the plot. Plot is designed to show off how a character deals with a conflict. Effective readers pay close attention during rising action and the climax because this is where important information about the conflict is introduced and then developed.

REVIEW: PLOT STRUCTURE

Plot refers to all of the events that take place in a story. As new events are introduced to move the story along, a plot is said to develop.

Example: You are reading a story about a detective investigating a case. When she finds a new clue, the plot develops.

REVIEW: PLOT STRUCTURE

RISING ACTION

During rising action, the conflict is introduced. The conflict is a problem our protagonist must confront. This can be an argument, a physical fight, a dilemma, or mere survival. Our protagonist may successfully resolve the conflict, or she may fail. We have to read to find out what happens.

RISING ACTION

Conflicts come in four basic types: Person vs. person (protagonist vs. antagonist)Person vs. nature (protagonist vs. weather or

animals)Person vs. society (protagonist vs. town or city or

group or country)Person vs. self (protagonist vs. her fears or negative

thoughts/feelings)

RISING ACTION

During rising action, an antagonist is introduced (if the story has one at all). The antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist in the story’s conflict.

The Joker, Darth Vader, and Plankton are antagonists who confront the protagonists Batman, Luke Skywalker, and Spongebob Squarepants, respectively.

RISING ACTION

After the conflict has been introduced, authors make the story more exciting by adding complications. Complications make the story exciting because they show the conflict becoming more difficult for the character. Conflict: I need to escape a burning building (person vs. nature)Complication: The door is stuck, the elevator is shut down, etc.

CLIMAX

Eventually, the plot reaches a point where so many complications have been added to the conflict that it can’t get any worse. This is the climax. Things start to turn around for the protagonist. This is the most exciting part of the story.

Climax: Having climbed through access tunnels to the roof of the burning building, I jump from the burning building to hang from the helicopter rescuing me.

CLOSE READING GUIDED

Read “No Guitar Blues,” pages 44 through 49 with me as we analyze how Fausto’s problem is introduced and developed by Gary Soto.

How do we know our conflict as we read? What complications add to the conflict? Do we have an antagonist? How does Gary Soto characterize our protagonist directly and indirectly?

CLOSE READING GROUP

On your plot analysis organizer, record the details we have uncovered through our reading within the Rising Action and Climax section.

What is the nature of the conflict in this story? Is there an antagonist in this story? Why or why not? At what point does Fausto’s problem start to turn around?

CENTERS

Grammar: Log into http://www.noredink.com, create a

profile, and complete the subject/predicate activity.

Vocabulary: Write one meaningful sentence for each of

this week’s new vocabulary words.

Independent Reading: Log into http://www.newsela.com,

select an article of your choice and complete the writing

prompt. Newsela: HR26A2

No Red Ink: e74exd8e

DO NOW

prepare for short story planning by checking for topic approval on schoology and reviewing yesterday's freewriting in your Writer's Notebook

OBJECTIVE

Students will be able to complete narrative graphic organizer in order to plan a short story rough draft

We’re going to use our freewriting ideas to develop a story from our imaginations.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

While even the best-laid plans do not always go perfectly, having a concrete plan is essential for writers to be successful. Today is your opportunity to create a road map that will guide you throughout your short story project.

STORY MAPPING EXEMPLAR

Setting

Place Interstellar space station, orbiting near Earth

Time Star Date 4251 A.D., 5 years after the Martian Massacre

STORY MAPPING EXEMPLARStrengths/Likes Weaknesses/dislikes

Character 1MiguelMars

-Strong leader, survived many battles-Excellent communicator and negotiator-Enjoys outsmarting enemies

-Doesn’t want to kill anyone (can sometimes hurt him because he will take enemies prisoner and they will escape)-dislikes anyone who speaks badly about Martians

Character 2Marco Mars

-Best fighter pilot in the Interstellar fleet -strong enough to defeat many enemies in hand to hand combat

-More “brawn” than “brains”, sometimes rushes in without thinking first-Doesn’t enjoy taking orders from his brother, leads to conflicts during battle

STORY MAPPING EXEMPLARSOMEBODY WANTED BUT SO THEN

Miguel and Marco Mars

To establish peace throughout the solar system and rebuild their homeworld after it was destroyed by the Plutonian Armada

-The Plutonians had run out of resources on Pluto and wanted to invade the remaining planets in the solar system.-After successfully attacking Mars, they had their sights set on Earth

-The Mars brothers agreed to lead the defense against the Plutonians.-They suffered heavy casualties due to the Plutonians’ superior ships and technology-The battle was almost over, and it looked like the Plutonians would win until Miguel hatched a plan

-Miguel borrowed the Imperial Space Cruiser to lure the Plutonians into following him.-He tricked them into flying too close to the sun and teleported away at the last second.-With the Plutonians destroyed, the Mars brothers returned to Mars to start rebuilding.

STORY MAPPING

If I have approved your short story topic, you may

begin outlining your story now. If you need approval,

please conference with a teacher before starting. This

map is due tomorrow in homeroom.

HOMEWORK

Reread “The No-Guitar Blues,” pages 43-49 to

prepare for tomorrow’s class.

Vocab homework 1-2 on Schoology due tomorrow.

Short Story map is due tomorrow.

EXIT TICKET“Crusher” Coffin is a world-class MMA fighter who must fight “Killer” Kelly to win the UFC Championship Belt. “Killer” Kelly got his nickname by killing his last three opponents in the octagon. To beat “Killer” Kelly, “Crusher” must overcome his fear.

In this story, what is the nature of the conflict? Is there an antagonist? If so, who is the antagonist? Who is the protagonist?