Plot Elements

The purpose of narrative writing is to tell a story. You describe an experience, event, or sequence of events in the form of a story. You move the event through time.

Determine how the story begins, what happens in the middle (where the bulk of the action will take place) and how the story ends. 1.Jem broke his arm. 2. Miss Maudie’s house burns. 3. Dill was under Scout’s bed. 4. Atticus guarded the jail. Place the events in order

Identify the event or experience. TELL: Who, What, Where, Why and How Event Who WhyHow WhereWhat Scout and Jem spend the summers with Dill. Jem, Scout, Dill children Become friends Neighbors during the summer Devising ways to make Boo Radley come outside. Maycomb, Alabama They are intrigued by the stories they have heard about Boo Radley.

Event WhoWhyHowWhereWhat Scout and Jem spend the summers with Dill. Jem, Scout, Dill children Become friends Neighbors during the summer Devising ways to make Boo Radley come outside. Maycomb, Alabama They are intrigued by the stories they have heard about Boo Radley. Details Jem and Scout meet Dill when he comes to Maycomb to stay with his aunt Scout and Jem live next door to Dill’s aunt. Scout and Jem live with their widowed father, Atticus. Dill lives in Meridian, Mississippi with his mother. Dill is a scrawny boy with blond hair. They all live in the South.Boo Radley has fangs and glowing red eyes. His breath is ice cold and deadly to garden plants. Scout and Dill dare Jem to touch Boo Radley’s house. They were surprised to find that Boo Radley was leaving them gifts in the Oak tree.

Scout and Jem live in Maycomb, Alabama with their widowed father. One summer they meet a scrawny blond boy, Dill who lives in Meridian, Mississippi with his mother. Dill is staying the summer with his aunt who lives next door to Scout and Jem. They quickly become friends and share a common interest. They are intrigued by the stories of their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley. They believe that he has red eyes, fangs and ice cold breath that is deadly to garden plants. They spend the summer devising ways to make Boo Radley come out of his house like daring Jem to touch Boo Radley’s house. They were later surprised to find that Boo Radley was leaving them gifts in the Oak tree.

One way to move an event through time is by choosing words that reflect this movement. Some words that show movement through time are first, then, next, finally, meanwhile, before, after, during, and suddenly. Choose the ones that make the most sense for your story.

2. Miss Maudie’s house burns. 3. Dill was under Scout’s bed. 4. Atticus guarded the jail. 1.Jem broke his arm. First, the novel opens with Scout describing the summer that Jem broke his arm. Then, Miss Maudie’s house burns. Suddenly, Dill was under Scout’s bed. Finally, Atticus guarded the jail.

Use the elements of a story and include necessary background information. Include dialogue. Use sensory details. When revising make sure the following is clear: The significance of the event What actually happened If you find yourself losing interest as you write, you probably chose the wrong memory. Remember the following as you draft:

Focus on a clearly defined and well- developed incident. The incident may consist of a series of closely related incidents. Provide background information. Include the elements of a narrative: plot, characters, setting, conflict.

Organize events clearly. Chronological order works best. Use dialogue, if appropriate. Include appropriate word choice. Explain the significance of the incident. Maintain a consistent point of view.