Beginning- Middle- End of a story (Plot)
What is the beginning, middle and end of this story?
Planning the story
Characters
- Who is the main character in the story? Is it a boy? A Girl? A dragon? A sponge? A clump of hair?
- Write about the character in your story. What does your character like to do? What does your character hate to do? Draw your character.
- Write about other characters. Be as creative as you would like. Draw each character.
Setting
- What is the setting ? Where does the story take place? Does the story take places in multiple areas? Is it a real place or fake? How is the weather there?
Story Plot
Beginning-Middle and End
Suspense and climax
What problem does your character face? How does your character feel because of this problem? How is it affecting the other characters in the story?
Obstacles stand in the way.
As the story develops the main character's quest become harder and harder.
The top suspense
Resolution
First attempt at solving the problem. How does your character try and solve the problem? This first attempt will fail. How does the character fail? Does he learn anything from this first attempt.
Second attempt at solving the problem. How else does your character try and solve the problem? This second attempt will fail. How does the character fail? How does the character feel about this?
Third attempt at solving the problem. How else does your character try and solve the problem? This third attempt will succeed. How does the character feel now that he has succeeded?
Second attempt at solving the problem. How else does your character try and solve the problem? This second attempt will fail. How does the character fail? How does the character feel about this?
Third attempt at solving the problem. How else does your character try and solve the problem? This third attempt will succeed. How does the character feel now that he has succeeded?
Sequence of the story
Let's start our story draft
Entertaining Beginning
A strong engaging beginning sets the tone for the piece, determines the content and direction of the piece, and establishes the voice. Of equal importance, the engaging beginning captures the reader’s interest, inviting the reader to dive headfirst into the text.
When you read, pay attention to how the writer engages you at the beginning of a story.
When you write, experiment with multiple engaging beginnings. Deliberately craft different leads. During revision, choose the lead that you believe works best.
Below are examples of many different strategies for engaging the reader.
Typical
It was a day at the end of June. My mom, dad, brother, and I were at our camp on Rangeley Lake. We arrived the night before at 10:00, so it was dark when we got there and unpacked. We went straight to bed. The next morning, when I was eating breakfast, my dad started yelling for me from down at the dock at the top of his lungs. He said there was a car in the lake.
Some effective strategies for engaging the reader:
* Action: A Main Character Doing Something
I gulped my milk, pushed away from the table, and bolted out of the kitchen, slamming the broken screen door behind me. I ran down to our dock as fast as my legs could carry me. My feet pounded on the old wood, hurrying me toward my dad’s voice. “Scott!” he bellowed again.
“Coming, Dad!” I gasped. I couldn’t see him yet—just the sails of the boats that had already put out into the lake for the day.
* Dialogue: A Character or Characters Speaking
“Scott! Get down here on the double!” Dad bellowed. His voice sounded far away.
“Dad?” I hollered. “Where are you?” I squinted through the screen door but couldn’t see him.
“I’m down on the dock. MOVE IT. You’re not going to believe this,” he replied.
* Reaction: A Character Thinking
I couldn’t imagine why my father was hollering for me at 7:00 in the morning. I thought fast about what I might have done to get him so riled. Had he found out about the way I talked to my mother the night before, when we got to camp and she asked me to help unpack the car? Did he discover the fishing reel I broke last week? Before I could consider a third possibility, Dad’s voice shattered my thoughts.
“Scott! Move it! You’re not going to believe this!”
When you read, pay attention to how the writer engages you at the beginning of a story.
When you write, experiment with multiple engaging beginnings. Deliberately craft different leads. During revision, choose the lead that you believe works best.
Below are examples of many different strategies for engaging the reader.
Typical
It was a day at the end of June. My mom, dad, brother, and I were at our camp on Rangeley Lake. We arrived the night before at 10:00, so it was dark when we got there and unpacked. We went straight to bed. The next morning, when I was eating breakfast, my dad started yelling for me from down at the dock at the top of his lungs. He said there was a car in the lake.
Some effective strategies for engaging the reader:
* Action: A Main Character Doing Something
I gulped my milk, pushed away from the table, and bolted out of the kitchen, slamming the broken screen door behind me. I ran down to our dock as fast as my legs could carry me. My feet pounded on the old wood, hurrying me toward my dad’s voice. “Scott!” he bellowed again.
“Coming, Dad!” I gasped. I couldn’t see him yet—just the sails of the boats that had already put out into the lake for the day.
* Dialogue: A Character or Characters Speaking
“Scott! Get down here on the double!” Dad bellowed. His voice sounded far away.
“Dad?” I hollered. “Where are you?” I squinted through the screen door but couldn’t see him.
“I’m down on the dock. MOVE IT. You’re not going to believe this,” he replied.
* Reaction: A Character Thinking
I couldn’t imagine why my father was hollering for me at 7:00 in the morning. I thought fast about what I might have done to get him so riled. Had he found out about the way I talked to my mother the night before, when we got to camp and she asked me to help unpack the car? Did he discover the fishing reel I broke last week? Before I could consider a third possibility, Dad’s voice shattered my thoughts.
“Scott! Move it! You’re not going to believe this!”
Description of setting
Suspense and climax
Red flag words for suspense and climax
Suddenly
To my surprise The next thing Just then |
A moment later
The next thing I knew All of a sudden In a blink of an eye |
Resolution/conclusion
Extended ending
Let's improve our story!
Add description to character
Let's watch this video- https://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/9263-use-description-to-develop-characters
Add dialogue to develop a story
Let's watch the video - https://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/4347-add-dialogue-to-develop-a-story
Add dialogue to a character- https://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/9370-add-dialogue-to-develop-a-character
Show, don't tell
Telling:
Sa_rah was nervous about her piano recital.
Showing:
As Sarah stood backstage, she could feel her knees go week. she wiped her palms against her velvet dress to remove the sweat that continued to collect. Her heart was pounding like keys on a piano as she went over the song she would be playing in her head.
Sensory detail
Elaborative detail
Let's watch a video- https://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/9270-use-description-to-develop-a-story
Use transition words
Example of some transition words-
Next Afterward Then Another Before During Because of this However A few moments later In addition |
Consequently Also Finally Therefore Meanwhile Later At last Soon After |
Use similes and metaphors
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Final Edit: whisper
Congratulations!
Now you are an amazing writer.
Rubric
Extention
Extension Activity
1.Using pencil, draw out your main character(protagonist).
2. Color in the clothing, hair, skin, eyes,and everything else to bring your character to life!
3 Cut out your bookmark so it looks like a paper doll (but is only coloured on one side).
4. On the back of your bookmark, in pencil or colored pencil, write out various adjectives that describe your$main character. Remember, adjectives describe nouns.These adjectives are just words and phrases instead of complete sentences. Try to think of at least 8 or 9 adjectives for your character.
Example-
Hilarious
Personable
Silly!
One of a kind!
Very likeable
Never shy!
Happy
Honest
Kind and polite