1. RL6.5 Notes
RL Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

2. Connecting Prior Knowledge
We have already learned to identify the theme, setting, and important events in the plot of a story. Now we are going to work on analyzing how an author develops these story elements.

3. Analyze – to study the details of a text in order to identify its essential features and meaning.
A good reader understand how small parts of the story fit together to create the big ideas.

4. Theme – lesson or moral that can be learned from the story.
Look for specific sentences, paragraphs, or sections that help you understand the story’s lesson. Choose evidence from the beginning, middle and end to show how the theme is developed.
Ask yourself:
How does this part of the story help me understand the lesson the author had in mind?
How would the story be different if this part of the story was removed or changed?

5. Setting – the time and place of the story.
Look for specific sentences, paragraphs, or sections that help you understand the time and place of the story. The writer uses specific sensory details to help develop the setting including
time of day
time of year
time period
weather
location
environmental surroundings
Ask yourself:
How does this part of the story help me visualize the time and/or place of the story?
Why did the writer intentionally describe the setting this way?

6. Plot – The events in a story. Think of the plot diagram.
Look for specific sentences, paragraphs, or sections that clearly establish the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution of the story.
Ask yourself:
Why is this event important?
How would the story be different if this event was removed or changed?