1. Broken Chain by Gary Soto
Objectives:
Evaluate the plot’s structure and development, and the way conflicts are resolved.
Analyze influences on characters and the way those influences affect the plot.
Be able to summarize a story’s plot.

2. Literary Focus: Conflict
The main ingredient of plot is a conflict of some kind. The conflict can be external or internal.

3. Reading Skills: Summarizing Plot
You can summarize plot by using the Retelling Strategy.

4. “Broken Chain” Activities for Monday, September 21, 2015
You will do a first read of the passage, “Broken Chain.”
You will make sure that you stop and can answer questions at each open book.
You can use your plot foldables and plot diagram template to assist you as you read.
You can use sticky notes to take down important information.

5. “Broken Chain” Group Activity – Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Assign the following group roles: Discussion leader, Time Keeper.
Review your notes as you read by using the open-book sign at certain points in the story. Stop at these points, think about what you’ve just read, discuss your thoughts with your partner, and take additional notes to help you write your summary.
Group Roles
Discussion leader: Makes sure that everyone participates by reading and joining in the group discussion to answer questions.
Time Keeper: Ensures that partnership is aware of the time limitations.

6. Individual Activity – Summarizing the plot using the Retelling Strategy
Yesterday in class, you had the opportunity to collaborate with a partner(s). Your goal was to discuss the passage focusing on the development of the plot.
Today, you will write your summary of “Broken Chain” using your notes and your interactive notebook so you can successfully write a summary.
Retelling Tips
State the title and author
Identify the main character
Describe the setting
Relate the main events
Use time-order words like first, next, and finally
Keep events in the correct order
Explain how the story ends

7. Retelling Rubric Use the following checklist to rate your retelling.
0= Not at all 1=A Little 2=Some 3= A lot
Does this retelling
Have a good beginning that cites the title and the author and describes the setting?
Cite characters’ names and explain how the characters are connected?
Tell what the character wants?
Identify the conflict or problem?
Include the main events?
Keep those main events in order?
Explain how the conflict was resolved?