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Our first LA Story Test will be given on Wednesday, October 1st. It will
include the general "Story Skeleton" and the first two stories we have read
so far this term. Read until the separation line.
The Story Skeleton: Know the symbol for each (see the booklet you made)
Identifying the basic elements of a plot:
Setting (time and place)
characters (the main one has a wish, minor characters can support)
conflict (the problem the character has)
inciting force (the first step to solve the problem)
rising action (attempts to solve the problem)
crisis (a critical moment)
climax (when you can see the resolution to the conflict-the winner of the
battle must be determined here - problem is solved)
closing action (wrapping up loose ends and answering left over questions).
You should know the symbols for each part of the story skeleton.
"Dragon, Dragon" by John Gardner p. 15
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You may need to reread it prior to the
test.
2.) Know the plot of the story (setting, main character and wish, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, climax, crisis, and falling action - the
Story Skeleton). Use your notes page to study.
3.) Know the vocabulary words from the story: plagued, lair, ravaged,
tyrant, reflecting, craned, flabbergasted. You should know the definitions
of these words and be able to match them to their definition. A
good resource to use when studying these vocabulary words in the Vocab.
Check Worksheet for this story.
"Greyling" by Jane Yolen p. 35
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You should have read the story twice.
Reread it again if you like or review your story skeleton notes.
2.) Know the different conflicts in this story. Know the four basic kinds
of conflicts: character vs. character; character vs. self; character vs.
nature, and character vs. society. Be able to give examples of each kind of
conflict.
3.) Know the vocabulary words for the story: sheared, kin, roiling, slough,
wallowed found on page 34. They are also on the Vocabulary Check worksheet.
____________________September 2008....Stop Here _________
For Later in the school year>>>>>
In April we begin Amelia's War, by Ann Rinaldi. We do not have enough books
for you to take one home, so all of the reading will be done in class. Study
guides will accompany most chapters. Journal entries may be completed in
class or at home. Study guides and class discussions will focus on literal
comprehension (who, what, where, when, how) and inferential comprehension
(why). Test #1 (pages 1-80) will assess students' understanding of who the
characters are, where the story takes place, and when. Students should
carefully review their study guides for this and other tests. Quizzes will
assess literal and inferential comprehension and will be open book format.
The study of this book is the culminating activity for my students, allowing
them to apply their knowledge of vocabulary, figurative language, plot,
character motivation, conflicts, and other material learned this year.
Students should complete all assignments in a timely manner so they do not
fall behind. In the event of absence, I can lend a copy of the book for short
term use. This is a great book and I hope we all expand our appreciation for
historical fiction.
We will be reading two novels together in class. In the fall we will read
The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Snyder, and in the spring we will read Amelia's
War, by Ann Rinaldi. We will also be reading several short stories from our
literature anthology: "Dragon,Dragon," "Lob's Girl," "Eleven," "Aaron's
Gift," "Mowgli's Brothers," and "The Circuit." Most likely, after
completing reading a story, students will be tested on various aspects of
the story, including its plot, vocabulary, and literary elements. Use the
guides below to determine what to study when reviewing for these tests. We
will not read all of these in this sequence; additional stories may be read
throughout the year as well. If so, this webpage will be updated.
"Lob's Girl" by Joan Aiken p. 47
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You may need to reread it prior to the
test.
2.) Know the plot of the story (setting, main character and wish, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, climax, crisis, and falling action).
3.) Know the vocabulary words from the story: decisively, atone,
resolutions, melancholy, beseechingly, intimated, aggrieved,
inconsiderateness, coma. You should know the definitions of these words and
be able to use them in your own original sentence. A good resource to use
when studying these vocabulary words in the Vocab. Check worksheet for this
story.
"Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros p. 77
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You may need to reread it prior to the
test.
2.) Know the plot of the story (setting, main character and wish, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, climax, crisis, and falling action).
3.) Know the vocabulary words from the story: raggedy. You should know
the
definitions of these words and be able to use them in your own original
sentence. A good resource to use when studying these vocabulary words in
the Vocab. Check worksheet for this story.
"Aaron's Gift" by Myron Levoy p. 83
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You may need to reread it prior to the
test.
2.) Know the plot of the story (setting, main character and wish, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, climax, crisis, and falling action).
3.) Know the vocabulary words from the story: frenzied, thrashing,
plunged,
mascot, coaxed, assassinated, consoled. You should know the definitions
of these words and be able to use them in your own original sentence. A
good resource to use when studying these vocabulary words in the Vocab.
Check worksheet for this story.
4.) Also know the additional vocabulary words given for this story in order
to understand the historical background of the story: shtetl, Cossacks, and
pogrom.
"Mowgli's Brothers" by Rudyard Kipling p. 95
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You may need to reread it prior to the
test.
2.) Know the plot of the story (setting, main character and wish, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, climax, crisis, and falling action).
3.) Know the vocabulary words from the story: scuttled, quarry, fostering,
veterans, monotonous, dispute, clamor, maimed, betray). You should know the
definitions of these words and be able to use them in your own original
sentence. A good
resource to use when studying these vocabulary words in the Vocab. Check
worksheet for this story.
4.) Know what personification is (the giving of human characteristics to a
non-human abject) and be prepared to give several examples of
personification
from the story (the animals are able to feel strong emotions like Mother
Wolf's love for Mowgli; the animals have a form of government with laws,
consequences, and pack meetings; the younger wolves were able to devise a
plan to trick Akela into failing to kill a buck; etc.).
"The Circuit" by Fransisco Jimenez p. 143
What to know for the test:
1.) Know what happens in the story. You may need to reread it prior to the
test.
2.) Know the plot of the story (setting, main character and wish, inciting
force, conflict, rising action, climax, crisis, and falling action).
3.) Know the vocabulary words from the story: drone, instinctively,
savoring. You should know the definitions of these words and be able to use
them in your own original sentence. A good resource to use when studying
these vocabulary words in the Vocab. Check worksheet for this story.
4.) You should also know the what a migrant worker is what their life can
be like.
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