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Lesson 1

We will discuss our responses to the question “What are the elements used to make a good story?” and will be introduced to the concepts of narrative structure and plot. We will then watch a short Pixar video about story structure.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use questions to guide my close viewing, initial analysis, and discussion of a speech?

  • Can I accurately write down and analyze details from a TED Talk about storytelling?

  • Can I compare and connect ideas about storytelling from a Pixar TED Talk, an instructional video, and text introductions written by authors from different cultures?

Texts

Core

  • Digital Access
    • “Introduction to Structure” from “Pixar in a Box: The Art of Storytelling,” Pixar Animation Studios, Khan Academy, 2017
    • “Story Spine” from “Pixar in a Box: The Art of Storytelling,” Pixar Animation Studios, Khan Academy, 2017
  • Unit Reader
    • “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1948

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss

We will continue to build our understanding of storytelling by discussing as a class the narrative elements that are used to make a good story.

As a class, brainstorm a list of story elements in response to the following question:

  1. What are the elements used to make a good story?

Follow along and take notes as your teacher introduces you to the elements of narration and the stories you will study in this section of the unit.

Activity 2: View

We will watch the short video “Story Structure — Introduction To Structure” to learn about structure in storytelling.

Watch the short Pixar in a Boxvideo, "Story Structure – Introduction to Structure." Use the following questions to guide your viewing:

  1. What are the different parts of a story’s structure?

  2. How does Kristen Lester define structure?

  3. What changes were made to the story structure of Finding Nemo and why?

Keep notes in your Learning Log.

Activity 3: Write

We continue to think about our own stories by considering how we might structure an opening, middle, and ending for a story.

Continue to think about a story you might write by responding to the following questions about story structure in your Learning Logs:

  1. What might happen in a story you could tell—perhaps one drawn from your own experiences?

  2. What might be the opening scene (exposition) in your story?

  3. How might you develop and complicate your story in its middle (rising action, complication)?

  4. What kind of ending (climax, resolution) might the events of your story lead to?

Activity 4: Discuss

As a class, we will discuss the pixar video “Story Structure — Introduction To Structure” and the importance and nature of a story’s overall structure.

Participate in a class discussion about "Story Structure - Introduction to Structure" by developing and sharing your response to the following question:

  1. What are the Pixar animators saying about the importance and nature of a story’s overall structure?

Activity 5: Read – Write

For homework, we will use guiding questions and complete an Attending to Details Tool as we read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.

For homework, use the questions below to guide your initial reading of "The Lottery."

Use Question 3 and an Attending to Details Tool to annotate and analyze the text.

  1. What happens in the story? What events make up the story?

  2. How does the story build to its climax?

  3. What specific clues in the text does the author provide that something unexpected might happen?

Write new or interesting words you encounter in your Vocabulary Journal.