How many of you have ever told a story before?

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How many of you have ever told a story before?

• Told your mom about a movie you saw.
• Told your friends about something you did or saw.
• Told your dad about what your brother or sister
  did
• What you have been doing is telling a story!

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STORY?

• Story is
• the events and experiences that make up who we
  are
• OR
• the events and experiences that an author creates
  for his or her characters

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Fiction

• One type of story is called
• FICTION
• Fiction is
• Works of writing that come from a writers
  imagination
• The writer may be inspired by true events, but
  everything written is made up in his/her mind
• One type of fiction is
• SHORT STORY!

4
Elements of a Story

• Every story must have certain elements, or parts,
  in order to be a good and entertaining story.

5
Setting

• The setting of a story is the TIME and PLACE that
  the story occurs.
• Oftentimes there will be many settings within a
  story however, we can always come up with a
  general statement about the setting by asking
  ourselves these questions
• When in time is the story taking place? How do
  we know?
• Is there a main location for the story? What is
  it, and how do we know?

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Characters!

• Another main element of a story

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Characters

• Every story needs characters, or
  people/animals/mystical creatures to relate to
• The better we can relate to the characters, the
  easier it is for the author to pull us into
  his/her story!
• There are different types of characters within a
  story

8
Protagonist

• The main character of any story is called the
  protagonist. The protagonist is who we follow
  throughout the story. S/he is who we try to
  relate to. S/he is who we see in conflict with
  someone or something.
• Lets seeWho are the protagonists in the
  following books or stories
• The Outsiders
• Ponyboy
• Twilight
• Bella
• The Landlady
• Billy Weaver
• The Amazing Life of Mrs. Merriman
• Mrs. Merriman (of course? )

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Antagonist

• The antagonist of a story is the person or thing
  that the protagonist is in conflict with (AKA
  The BAD Guy).
• Sometimes the antagonist doesnt have to be a
  specific person.
• Who are the antagonists for the following books
  or stories?
• Twilight
• Holes
• The Warden
• The Harry Potter series
• Voldemort
• The Landlady
• The landladythat crazy people stuffing woman!

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Other Characters

• Usually a book will be filled with other
  characters that the protagonist comes in contact
  with. This is to add detail and keep our
  interest in our main character.
• Oftentimes meeting other characters will help to
  develop the protagonist and make him/her more
  relatable.
• Why is it important for the author to make a
  protagonist that is relatable to the reader?

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THEME

• Another main element to a story

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Theme

• Theme is an idea about life or human nature that
  the writer tries to share with the reader.
• Example In the Twilight series, the theme is
  that love can conquer all obstacles.
• In the short story The Boy Who Cried Wolf, the
  theme is that one shouldnt ask for help unless
  you truly need it.
• What was the theme in The Landlady?

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Types of Theme

• The theme of a story can either be STATED or
  IMPLIED.
• If a theme is stated, then the author includes
  the theme within the story itself.
• If a theme is implied, then the author expects
  the reader to understand the theme or message
  based on the story itself.
• In most short stories and books, the theme is
  going to be implied.
• With fables, the theme is often stated at the end
  of the story.

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PLOT

• Another extremely important element to a story

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Plot

• The plot of a story is the sequence of events in
  a story (AKA The Play by Play).
• The plot has a basic format that most stories
  followbut you already know that!

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Quickie Reminder!

• The Exposition, or Introduction, starts out the
  plot. During this part of the story, the
  setting, characters, and basic situation is
  introduced. Also during this time the main
  conflict is introduced.
• The Rising Action comes next in a story. This is
  when the conflict increases in intensity until it
  reaches a high point, which means it becomes
  super suspenseful or interesting.
• The Climax occurs next. This is when the
  conflict reaches its most suspenseful moment.
  (Whos going to win the conflict? How is
  everything going to work out? Is our protagonist
  going to make it?)
• Then comes the Falling Action. During this time,
  the main conflict ends.
• Finally comes the Resolution, or Denouement,
  where any other events that occur after the main
  conflict end (and all is well with the world).

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The Plots Format in a Diagram
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Resolution or Denouement
Conflict Introduced
Exposition or Introduction
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Conflict

• The last main element of a story

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Conflict

• A conflict is a struggle that occurs within the
  story.
• Often stories will have a main conflict and then
  smaller conflicts to overcome
• The main conflict is what the main character is
  trying to overcome throughout the story.

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Why is conflict important?

• Would Twilight be an interesting book if Edward
  wasnt a vampire and Bella could easily date him?
• Would the Harry Potter books be fun to read if
  Harry didnt have to struggle trying to kill
  Voldemort in each book?
• Would The Landlady have been an interesting
  short story if the landlady let Billy Weaver walk
  away?
• Conflict is what makes stories exciting and
  interesting. It keeps us interested in the book
  or story!

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4 Main Types of Conflict

• Man vs. Man When two people/animals/characters
  are in conflict or fighting/struggling with each
  other
• Example Billy Weaver vs. the landlady (although
  Billy doesnt really realize it until the end)
• Man vs. Self When the main character is in
  conflict or struggling with her/himself and how
  s/he feels
• Ex. How often have you struggled with trying to
  decide whether or not to do something? That is
  you struggling with yourself!
• In the Twilight series, Bella is often struggling
  with trying to decide what is the right thing for
  her.

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4 Types of Conflict contd

• Man vs. Society When the main character is in
  conflict with what society says is right or the
  way to go or what the law says.
• Ex. Have you ever had pressure from your friends
  to do something you know is wrong? That is a man
  vs. society conflict.
• Ex. Knowing that the speed limit is 65mph but
  wanting really badly to go 80mph because you are
  late.
• Man vs. Nature When the main character is in
  conflict or struggling with the natural world.
• Ex. Have you ever been on a walk and it started
  to downpour and you still had to get home? You
  were probably pretty upset because you were
  getting soaked but you still had to get home.
  You were in conflict with nature.
• Ex. Man vs. Wild (the tv show) is a great example
  of man in conflict with nature.

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Internal vs. External Conflict

• The 4 types of conflict fit into 2 different
  categories
• Internal (when a character is struggling
  mentallyits in his/her head)
• External (when a character is struggling with an
  outside force)
• In which category does each type of conflict go?
• Internal man vs. self
• External man vs. man, man vs. society, man vs.
  nature

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Conflict

• Conflict is necessary to make stories interesting
  and exciting!
• Conflict is a struggle between at least two
  things/people/ideas/etc.
• Without conflict, STORIES WOULD BE
  BORING!!!!!!!!!!