Module 2: The Storyline-Language Arts 5 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, learners will learn to identify the basic elements of a narrative. They will learn how to distinguish between internal and external conflict and apply the concept of conflict to a specific story. They will identify the stages of a plot, define and identify examples of themes, and relate the plot to the theme. Learners will learn about collaborative discussion. Learners will understand character traits and direct and indirect characterization. Learners will be able to distinguish between first and third-person points of view. They will analyze how a story's setting affects other parts of the story and analyze how a story's elements work together to develop a theme.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 The Parts
  1. Identify the basic elements of narrative.
  2. Analyze a story, identifying its parts and explaining how they work together.
2 The Problem
  1. Define <em>conflict</em> as a literary term.
  2. Distinguish between internal and external conflict.
  3. Apply the concept of conflict to a specific story.
3 The Solution
  1. Identify the stages of plot in a story.
  2. Apply the concept of plot (and plot elements) to a specific story.
4 The Message
  1. Define and identify examples of themes.
  2. Relate plot to theme.
  3. Apply the concept of theme to a specific story.
5 The Conversation
  1. Define collaboration and collaborative discussion.
  2. Distinguish between helpful and nonhelpful contributions to a discussion.
  3. Apply the concept of collaborative discussion to interactions with peers.
6 Watch and Listen
  1. Identify character traits of characters in a story.
  2. Distinguish between direct and indirect characterization.
  3. Draw conclusions about characters based on an author's use of characterization techniques.
7 Look Who’s Talking
  1. Define the terms <em>narrator</em> and <em>point of view</em>.
  2. Distinguish between third-person and first-person point of view.
  3. Analyze a story's point of view, connecting point of view to selection of details.
8 Imagine the Difference
  1. Compare and contrast similar stories narrated from different points of view.
  2. Identify and apply strategies for reading stories written in first-person point of view.
9 See the Possibilities
  1. Apply the concept of setting to a specific story.
  2. Analyze how a story’s setting affects other parts of a story.
10 Read the Signs
  1. Analyze how a story’s elements work together to develop a theme.
11 Far Out Fiction
  1. Identify elements of science fiction, including in a specific example of the genre.
  2. Apply reading strategies to a specific genre of fiction.
12 Fate of the Future
  1. Compare and contrast how stories in the same genre approach similar topics.
13 Flawed or Fabulous?
  1. Support an opinion with reasons and examples.
14 Order in the Court
  1. Organize and group ideas logically to support an opinion.
  2. Create sections of an opinion essay, including introduction, body, and conclusion.
15 The Finer Points
  1. Revise an essay, expanding or combining sentences to eliminate sentence fragments.
  2. Revise an essay, using academic vocabulary to connect reasons to opinions.
  3. Edit an essay using a checklist.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
narrative
characters
setting
plot
conflict
external conflict
internal conflict
exposition
rising action
climax
resolution
theme
collaboration
character traits
direct characterization
indirect characterization
narrator
point of view
first-person
genre
science fiction
reading strategies
compare
contrast
opinion
book review
claim
paragraph
topic sentence
details
revision
sentence fragments
transition words
editing
commas

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
2 The Problem 7 Elements of Narrative Assignment – Section 2
4 The Message 6 Elements of Narrative Assignment – Section 4
10 Read the Signs 8 Analyzing Stories Assignment – Section 5
15 The Finer Points 8 Reviewing Stories Assignment – Section 5

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 The Parts After completing this lesson, ask your learner to explain the parts of the story and the steps involved in analyzing a story.
2 The Problem After completing this lesson, ask your learner to explain what the conflict of the story is, why it is important, what is included in the conflict of the story, and external and internal conflict.
3 The Solution After completing this lesson ask your learner to explain the stages of a story's plot to include the exposition, rising action, falling action, resolution, and climax. Ask your learner to share a story with you and identify these stages in the story they share.
4 The Message After completing this lesson, ask your learner to explain what the theme of a story is and how they can find clues to the theme of a story. Ask them to share a story with you that they read recently and explain the theme of the story. What clues in the story told them what the theme was?
5 The Conversation After completing this lesson, ask your learner to share the steps that should be followed when participating in a collaborative discussion. Practice a collaborative discussion with your learner using the steps.
6 Watch and Listen After completing this lesson, ask your learner to explain how writers develop characters through the use of character traits. Ask them to explain direct and indirect characterization. Discuss with them a favorite story and have them describe the characters in that story. What character traits did the author use for the characters? Did the author use indirect or direct characterization?
7 Look Who’s Talking After completing this lesson, ask your learner to explain who a narrator is, what point of view is, and the difference between first-person and third-person points of view in a story. Ask them to explain why the second-person point of view is rarely used.
8 Imagine the Difference After completing this lesson, ask your learner to describe stories they have read that were in the first-person point of view and also the third-person point of view. Ask them to describe the difference between the two stories.
9 See the Possibilities After completing this lesson, ask your learner to explain the purpose of the setting of the story and how it impacts the characters, the events, and the problem. Have them describe the setting of a story they are currently reading and explain its impact on the story.
10 Read the Signs Have your learner read a favorite story. Ask them to explain what the theme of the story is and what elements of the story helped them to identify the theme.
11 Far Out Fiction Go to a local library and ask your learner to find a science fiction book that interests them. After reading parts of the story ask them to identify why it is science fiction.
12 Fate of the Future Ask your learner to read a science fiction story or an excerpt of one and compare the elements of the story to what everyday life is like.
13 Flawed or Fabulous? Ask your learner to provide an opinion on their favorite book and explain what makes their book so great.
14 Order in the Court Ask your learner to explain what needs to be included in an opinion essay.
15 The Finer Points Ask your learner to explain ways to make a sentence more solid in their writing.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
The Parts
  1. What are the parts of a story?
The Problem
  1. What is included in the conflict of a story?
The Solution
  1. What are the stages of a story's plot?
The Message
  1. What is the theme of a story?
The Conversation
  1. Why are collaborative discussions important?
Watch and Listen
  1. What are character traits?
Look Who’s Talking
  1. Who is the narrator of a story and why are they important?
Imagine the Difference
  1. What is the difference between stories written from the first-person point of view and the third-person point of view?
See the Possibilities
  1. How is a setting connected to what happens in a story?
Read the Signs
  1. What is the theme of a story?
  2. What elements of a story can help you identify the theme?
Far Out Fiction
  1. What are the elements of a science fiction story?
  2. What are some other genres of fiction stories?
Fate of the Future
  1. How is science fiction similar to everyday life?
Flawed or Fabulous?
  1. What are some keywords used when giving an opinion?
Order in the Court
  1. What are the elements of an opinion essay?
The Finer Points
  1. How can you avoid sentence fragments in your writing?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 A Wrinkle in Time Madeline L'Engle 740L
2 Sci-Fi Stories for Curious Kids Opal Hansen

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing