Reading Street Unit 1 Week 4 Created by Kristi Waltke Story Structure Reading Street Unit 1 Week 4 Created by Kristi Waltke

Let’s Review

Good readers summarize Good readers summarize. As they read, they pause to sum up the important ideas or events. This helps them remember the information. As you read a story, note the main events. After you read, ask yourself what the main events were and in what order they occurred.

Author’s Purpose The author’s purpose is the reason or reasons the author has for writing. An author may write to persuade, to inform, to entertain, or to express ideas and feelings. An author may have more than one purpose within a story. You will often be asked question about why an author includes what he or she does in a story.

Sequence First Event Second Event Third Event Fourth Event  Sequence means the order in which     things happen. Dates, times, and clue words such as first, then, next, and last can help you understand the order of events. Sometimes two or more events happen at     the same time. Words such as meanwhile and during can show this. First Event Second Event Third Event Fourth Event

Story Structure in Fiction Then the conflict or problem is confronted. This is the climax of a story. Story structure is like a pattern that stories follow. In the beginning, you have a problem or goal established. Finally you have an outcome and the problem is resolved. Next, there is rising action that builds toward the climax.

Story Structure in Horned Toad Prince In the beginning, you have a problem or goal established. What is Reba Jo’s problem? She made a deal with a frog that she doesn’t want to keep.

Story Structure in Horned Toad Prince Next, there is rising action that builds toward the climax. What is The rising action in this story? Reba Jo tries to avoid the toad by galloping away and slamming the door on the toad.

Story Structure in Horned Toad Prince Then the conflict or problem is confronted. This is the climax of a story. What is the climax of this story? Reba Jo begins to fulfill her end of their bargain. She kisses the toad as part of a new bargain to get him to leave pronto.

Story Structure in Horned Toad Prince Finally you have an outcome and the problem is resolved. What was the outcome in this story? The toad turns into a hand- some young caballero! He leaves Reba Jo forever because of the final deal she made when he was a toad.

Remember that good readers use Story Structure to predict and understand a story.