Transcript Essential Characteristics of a Realistic Short Story Notes

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Warm Up: Voice Level 0
1) Read page 92 in the Writing Coach
textbook.
2) In your journal, explain what you think it
means to be creative. Give examples!!
CHARACTERISTICS OF A REALISTIC
SHORT STORY
• Create: vt. To make or bring into being by
applying the imagination.
• Successful writing requires the writer to
create before turning to the mechanics of
writing.
CHARACTER
• All stories are about characters. Story events
happen to characters. Always start by
identifying the main characters.
Explanation
Examples
Beings in stories that
think and act on their own
behalf.
A person, a dog, a talking stump, and so on
CHARACTER TRAIT
• Character traits are any information that makes a
character seem clear, real, vivid and interesting to
readers.
Explanation
Examples
A trait, ability, fear, passion,
history, relationship, or characteristic of a character that makes the
character interesting to readers.
A jagged scar across a
cheek, six fingers on one hand,
a fear of cats, a whiny voice, the
ability to jump 8’ high, etc.
DIALOGUE
• Dialogue helps develop the story and moves
the action along.
Explanation:
Examples:
POINT OF VIEW
• The perspective from which the story is told.
Stories usually use the first-person or thirdperson point of view.
Explanation:
Examples:
FOCUS & PLOT
• A clearly defined focus (main idea) and plot
(the events in the story: exposition, rising
action, climax, falling action, resolution)
should all be centered around the CONFLICT.
Explanation:
Examples:
GOAL
• A goal is what the main character wants to do or
get in this story. It’s what the character is after in
the story.
Explanation
Examples
What a character wants to do or
get in a story.
To get a million dollars, to
Become a star football
player, to fly to the moon, to
have pizza for dinner, to fly
a kite, etc.
CONFLICTS & PROBLEMS
• Conflicts and problems are the obstacles that
block a character from reaching a goal. These
obstacles are the root of every plot and every
story event and action.
Explanation
Examples
Obstacles that block a character
from reaching a goal.
The antagonist, a villain,
a storm, prejudice, parents, etc.
RISK & DANGER
• Risk and danger represent the likelihood that
something will go wrong and the consequences
(what happens) to the main character when
something goes wrong.
Explanation
Examples
The bad things and the trouble a
character could get into if things
go wrong (worst-case scenario)
Embarrassment, being the
laughing stock at school,
being killed, being abandoned,
etc.
STRUGGLES
• Struggles are what a character does (the
action, the plot) to overcome obstacles and
reach a goal.
Explanation
Examples
What a character does to try to
get past conflicts and problems
and reach a goal.
Any action that is part of
an attempt to reach a goal.
MOTIVE
• A motive explains why a goal is important to a
character. The more important the goal is, the
more suspenseful & intriguing the story will be.
Explanation
Examples
Why a character wants a specific
goal; what makes that goal
important to the character
To impress his classmates, to
save her mother from becoming
a slave, to feel good about
herself, to get revenge, etc.
SENSORY DETAILS
• Details about the characters, settings, actions,
and objects make a story seem real and vivid to
readers. A believable setting (the time and/or the
place in which a story takes place) is created
using sensory details. Sensory details use the five
senses to help readers experience the story.
Explanation
Examples
Specific, unique information about
the characters, settings, actions,
and objects (things) in a story.
Action verbs to describe
actions, sensory details to
describe objects and
settings, etc.