Classroom Lesson Resources and Handouts:
Signpost Slideshow. Click to see the signpost mini-lessons, film examples, and Writer's Notebook topics leading up to each of our "Flash Fiction" pieces. An Overview of the Signposts: ...from the book Notice and Note, by Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst: |
Contrasts & Contradictions.
When a character does something that contrasts with what you'd expect or contradicts his/her earlier acts or statements, STOP and ask, "Why is the character doing that?"
The answers you come up with may help you analyze character motivation, question cause and effect, or make an inference about the plot and conflict.
When a character does something that contrasts with what you'd expect or contradicts his/her earlier acts or statements, STOP and ask, "Why is the character doing that?"
The answers you come up with may help you analyze character motivation, question cause and effect, or make an inference about the plot and conflict.
Aha Moments.
When a character realizes, understands, or finally figures out something,
STOP and ask yourself, "How might this change things?"
If a character figured out a problem, you probably just learned about the conflict.
If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned the theme.
When a character realizes, understands, or finally figures out something,
STOP and ask yourself, "How might this change things?"
If a character figured out a problem, you probably just learned about the conflict.
If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned the theme.
Tough Questions.
When a character asks him or herself a very tough question, STOP and ask yourself, "What does this question make me wonder about?"
The answers you come up with may help you identify conflict, make predictions about the plot, or perhaps understand the climax of the storyline.
When a character asks him or herself a very tough question, STOP and ask yourself, "What does this question make me wonder about?"
The answers you come up with may help you identify conflict, make predictions about the plot, or perhaps understand the climax of the storyline.
Words of the Wiser.
When a character (who's probably older and lot s wiser) takes the main character aside and gives serious advice, STOP and ask yourself "What's the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?"
Whatever the lesson is, you've probably found a theme for the story.
When a character (who's probably older and lot s wiser) takes the main character aside and gives serious advice, STOP and ask yourself "What's the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?"
Whatever the lesson is, you've probably found a theme for the story.
Again & Again.
When you notice a word, phrase, object, or situation mentioned over and over,
STOP and ask yourself, "Why does this keep showing up again and again?"
The answers will tell you about theme and conflict, or they might foreshadow what will happen later. They also might help you notice an important symbol in the story.
When you notice a word, phrase, object, or situation mentioned over and over,
STOP and ask yourself, "Why does this keep showing up again and again?"
The answers will tell you about theme and conflict, or they might foreshadow what will happen later. They also might help you notice an important symbol in the story.
Memory Moment.
When the author interrupts the action to tell you about a memory, STOP an ask yourself, "Why might this memory be important?"
The answers will tell you about the theme, conflict, or might foreshadow what will happen later in the story.
When the author interrupts the action to tell you about a memory, STOP an ask yourself, "Why might this memory be important?"
The answers will tell you about the theme, conflict, or might foreshadow what will happen later in the story.