Events That Advance the Plot

ELA Initiative Power PointA Changing World

7.L.R. 3.2

Beginning in elementary school, you have learned about the elements of a story. We will review those in a later slide.

Think about one of your favorite novels.

Now think about how the author moved the story along and kept you interested.

What else did the author do?

Events That Advance the Plot

Authors carefully choose events to move story plots along.

Authors also plan out the order in which events will occur.

One event may cause another, leading to still another event.

Let’s review the story elements.

Events That Advance the Plot

Events That Advance the PlotPlot is the pattern of action in a story.The plot is kicked off when the main

character faces a problem that needs to be cleared up.

The plot builds as the author presents the story incidents or events in the form of rising actions.

When events come to a head or reach their highest point of excitement, the plot achieves its climax.

When the problem is solved or the situation straightened out, the plot reaches its resolution.

Events That Advance the PlotLet’s focus for a moment on how well an

author explains past, present and future actions in a story.

How does an author accomplish that task?

Authors use prediction, visualizing, and summary to explain past, present and future actions.

Events That Advance the PlotWhat is Prediction ?It is looking at the clues the author gives you to

point you in the right direction.To make predictions you must make educated

guesses about future actions-what will happen next in the story.

Predictions are not random guesses. When you predict the outcome of a sports event ,you base your prediction on the team’s record of wins and loses.

Event That Advance the PlotWhen you read you should base your

predictions on clues the author hints at that

foreshadow future actions.

Events That Advance the PlotWhat is visualizing?It is when you form mental images of the

details in a story.Tips for visualizing: take note of sensory

details that describe how something looks, feels, tastes , smells, or sounds.

Write notes or draw sketchesRead out loud…hearing the words will help

you create those mental images.

Events That Advance the PlotWhat is summarizing?When you summarize a text, you highlight

the most important information in your own words.

Often a story unfolds in time order (one event happens after another event)

However, an author may use two techniques to play with time.

Foreshadowing Flashback

Let’s focus on these elements

Events That Advance the Plot

Foreshadowing and SuspenseForeshadowing: the technique of

hinting about something that will occur later in a story

Suspense : a feeling of growing tension and excitement felt by the reader

Foreshadowing and SuspenseThink of a time when you could tell by the

environment around you that a storm was coming.

These signs in the weather, signaling events to come, are similar to foreshadowing events in a story.

Guided PracticeLet’s work together to identify and analyze

foreshadowing.Foreshadowing creates suspense and makes

readers eager to find out what will happen. Look at the example on your student

document and predict what might happen later in this story(foreshadowing)

Foreshadowing“I should have stopped and gotten gas at that

last station,” said Bert. “We’re almost on empty . I’d hate to run out on this lonely stretch of road.”

“Don’t worry, there’s one in Millersport,” said Amy. “We can get gas there.”

“No,” Bert replied, frowning,” it closed down last summer.”

Amy turned off the radio and thought. “I’m sure we can make it to Gray Haven,” she said finally.

ForeshadowingWhat might happen later in this story?

Fill in your answer then share with your neighbor.

SuspenseNow let’s identify and analyze suspense.Suspense makes a reader curious about the

outcome of an event within a story.A writer creates suspense by raising

questions in a reader’s mind. When you wonder or worry you are feeling suspense.

Suspense‘We should have just waited in the car for

help, like you said,” said Bert, “instead of looking for a gas station. It’s freezing out here.”

Amy shivered and pulled her thin coat tightly around her.”I think we might have turned off the main road ny mistake an hour ago when I-”

But her sentence ended in a terrible gasp. A huge bear, growling loudly, had just lumbered onto the road in front of them.

SuspenseAnswer the next 3 questions then “share and

compare” with your neighbor

1.Identify your feelings about the situation these two characters face.

2.What else might happen?

3.What other question is on your mind?

Foreshadowing“This time the Christian archers sent a thick, bright shock of

arrows that stunned the attackers, and when they reached us they were already unsteady. I caught a bearded man in the head with twin strokes of my hammer. He went down, hooves gouging his body. My sense of fear was lessened.

Our knights called, “Let us at them!” in several languages.“Wait!” cried King Richard, his fine horse snorting, silvery with

sweat, his own sword stained with red. “Patience!” he cried, a word nearly the same in Frankish and English.

But then the wind shifted and the smoke from the burning tower blinded us. The sound of hoof beats were getting closer, though I couldn’t see anything but black. I should have stayed on my horse.

(from The Book of Lion by Michael Cadnum)

Foreshadowing

What examples of foreshadowing can you find?

Foreshadowing“This time the Christian archers sent a thick, bright shock of

arrows that stunned the attackers, and when they reached us they were already unsteady. I caught a bearded man in the head with twin strokes of my hammer. He went down, hooves gouging his body. My sense of fear was lessened.

Our knights called, “Let us at them!” in several languages.“Wait!” cried King Richard, his fine horse snorting, silvery with

sweat, his own sword stained with red. “Patience!” he cried, a word nearly the same in Frankish and English.

But then the wind shifted and the smoke from the burning tower blinded us. The sound of hoof beats were getting closer, though I couldn’t see anything but black. I should have stayed on my horse.

(from The Book of Lion by Michael Cadnum)

Flashbacks

By definition a flashback is an account of a conversation or action that happened before the beginning of a story, or at an earlier point.

Flashbacks interrupt the chronological order of events.

FlashbacksIn the following passage: Identify the place where the action shifts to

the past or to a remembered time (underline)Identify the words that signal the flashback’s

beginningIdentify where the flashback ends

FlashbacksAs I was watching my favorite my favorite

sitcom, I saw a scene of two teenaged sisters squabbling over a pair of running shoes. The arguments brought back fond memories of the fights I had had with my older sister about who would get to wear a pair of my mother’s red spiked heels to parties. “It’s my turn,” I’d whine. “It’s not!” she’d yell back. Because she was older, she usually got her way.

Flashbacks continuedRight now, though, I would love to hear her

voice on the telephone, even if it was just to argue about trivial subjects such as favorite actresses or singers. That’s unlikely to happen since she’s deployed with a special task force in a remote area overseas and cannot be reached. At least I know she’s not wearing those red high heels now.

FlashbacksIn the following passage: Identify the place where the action shifts to

the past or to a remembered time (It begins in the third sentence)

Identify the words that signal the flashback’s beginning (brought back fond memories)

Identify where the flashback ends (Right now, though)