Point of View Otherwise known as Narrative Perspective or the perspective in which the narrator tells the story.

http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/11686.aspx#ixzz1bHQtjm7e

Pronoun Case

First-Person I, me, my, mine, we, us, ours,

Second-Person you, your

Third-Person he, she, her, they, them (also character's names)

We are trying to figure out the narrator's view point on the story.

Perspectives and Signal Words

Secret

“I am in the room”

I = 1st Person

“You come in the room.”

You = 2nd Person

“Then he or she came in the room.”

He or She = 3rd Person

First-Person

Narrator is a part of the story (character).

Often uses I or we.

Example

I went home. Tim came over. I couldn't play.

Third-Person Omniscient

Narrator is all knowing. Narrator tells thoughts and feelings of more than

one character.

Omni = All Scient = Knowing

Example Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay knew Tim would be mad, but she wanted to live her life.

Third-Person Limited

Narrator is limited to one character. Tells thoughts & feelings of one character

Example

Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay just left without saying anything. She left a note and then left him.

Tips on Identifying

• Check 1st or 2nd-person before worrying about objective, limited, or omniscient.

• Ask, “Who’s story is the narrator telling: his, mine, or someone else’s?”

• Focus on narration not dialogue.

Practice

Name that Perspective

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Leslie sat in front of Paul. She had two long, brown pigtails that reached all the way down to her waist. Paul saw those pigtails, and a terrible urge came over him. He wanted to pull a pigtail. He wanted to wrap his fist around it, feel the hair between his fingers, and just yank. He thought it would be fun to tie the pigtails together, or better yet, tie them to her chair. But most of all, he just wanted to pull one.

What is the Narrative Perspective?

Third-person Limited

If it is third-person, which character’s thoughts are revealed?

Paul’s Thoughts

Name that Perspective

The Baffled Parent's Guide to Great Basketball Drills by Jim Garland

Before each practice begins, make sure you check the court and remove any debris from the playing surface. When your players arrive, check that they have the proper footwear and that they’ve removed any jewelry, which could injure the player wearing the jewelry or another player. Always carry a list of emergency phone numbers for your players, and know where the nearest phone is located. You should also have a first-aid kit, and you might want to take a first-aid course.

What is the Narrative Perspective?

Second Person

If it is third-person, which character’s thoughts are revealed?

None

Name that Perspective

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

The day Shiloh come, we’re having us a big Sunday dinner. Dara Lynn’s dipping bread in her glass of cold tea, the way she likes, and Becky pushes her beans over the edge of her plate in her rush to get ’em down. Ma gives us her scolding look. We live high up in the hills above Friendly, but hardly anybody knows where that is. Friendly’s near Sistersville, which is halfway between Wheeling and Parkersburg. Used to be, my daddy told me, Sistersville was once of the best places you could live in the whole state.

What is the Narrative Perspective?

First Person

If it is third-person, which character’s thoughts are revealed?

Only the Narrator’s

Discussion

"   Why is one point of view sometimes more effective than the other?

"   Are there any weaknesses to using the different perspectives?

Assessment

"   This counts as a quiz grade!!!

"   Take out a sheet of paper (maybe two).

"   Step 1. Write a paragraph (5 sentence minimum) from the POV of a TV remote (1st Person). Read it over to make sure it’s free of errors.

"   You have 5 minutes

Assessment

"   Step 2. Rewrite it once again from 3rd person Limited (the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of the remote. Read it over to make sure it’s free of errors.

"   You have 5 minutes.

Assessment

"   Step 3. Re-write the story from 3rd Person Omniscient (The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of the remote and other characters involved). Read it over to make sure it’s free of errors.

"   You have 5 minutes.

Assessment

"   Step 4. Trade with a neighbor. Read the three paragraphs silently to yourself. Circle the paragraph you think was the best perspective for their story.

"   Based on what you now know about Point of View, explain why you think this perspective works best.

Assessment

"   Check your paper for errors.

"   Turn it in to me.