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Lesson 3

We will review the coherence of our narratives by considering our inclusion of narrative shift, nonlinear sequencing, and theme development within our stories. We will work to improve the development of our characters by focusing on their dialogue, thoughts, and interactions and how these elements help to move the narrative forward. We will look at the imagery and language and how these help to establish the mood.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I evaluate how different literary elements shape an author’s portrayal of the plot by drafting my own narratives?

  • Can I evaluate how an author’s use of language informs and shapes the perception of readers by drafting my own narratives?

  • Can I evaluate the use of text structure to achieve an author’s purpose by drafting my own narratives?

  • Can I revise my fictional stories to improve clarity, development, organization, style, diction, and sentence fluency, both within and between sentences?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Beloved, Toni Morrison, Vintage Books, 2004

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Discuss

We will review our narratives for the coherence and balance of narrative shift, nonlinear sequencing, and theme development.

With your writer’s workshop partner or group, review your draft for its overall coherence and the connections among its elements, characters, and scenes. Consider the following review questions:

  1. How well have you made connections and transitions among scenes, events, and character interactions?

  2. Is the story well-paced? Is it strongly and evenly developed in all four of its storyline phases (exposition, complication, climax, resolution)?

  3. How well is the narrative shift employed and how does it add to the story as a whole?

  4. Where is nonlinear sequencing included and how does it propel character, setting, plot, or theme development?

  5. What is the overall theme of the story? What evidence from the narrative helps to support this theme?

Discuss these questions with your partner or group and note places in the draft where you might need to improve its coherence. Be sure to ask questions to understand the feedback and its implications for revision.

Activity 2: Read – Discuss

We will work to improve the development of our characters by focusing on their dialogue, thoughts, and interactions and how these elements help move the narrative forward.

Step 1

As a class, review your notes from the unit that focused on how Toni Morrison developed her characters. Think about how you might emulate some of these techniques in your story.

Discuss the Narratives Reference Guide and the section that addresses characterization. Use this resource to consider how you might improve the development of your characters.

Step 2

With your writer’s workshop partner or group, review your draft for how you might improve the development of your characters. Focus on their dialogue, thoughts, and interactions and how these elements help move the narrative forward.

Consider the following review questions:

  1. Who is the story about? Which characters are its central figures (protagonist, antagonist)? What, in general, are their stories?

  2. How do we come to know the characters? How are they introduced and developed?

  3. What do the characters’ actions and reactions reveal about them?

  4. What do the characters’ words and dialogue reveal about them?

  5. How do the characters interact? What do their interactions reveal about them?

  6. What do the characters seem to want or need?

  7. What conflicts (internal or external) do the characters face?

Discuss these questions with your partner or group and note places in the draft where you might improve the development of your characters. Be sure to ask questions or for additional information to understand the feedback and its implications for revision.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss

We will work to improve the vividness of our narratives by considering the imagery we have used and how the language establishes an appropriate mood.

Step 1

As a class, review examples from Beloved that represent vigorously presented actions, evocative use of imagery, and vivid language. Think about how you might emulate these models in your story.

Refer to your Mentor Sentence Journal and select a stylistic technique of Morrison’s to emulate in your narrative.

Discuss the Claims Reference Guide and the section that addresses language, specifically vigorous, active verbs and vivid, evocative descriptive language. Use this resource to consider how you might improve and invigorate the language you have used in your narrative.

Step 2

Reread your story draft. Identify the language you have used and consider how it might be made more vigorous or vivid.

Activity 4: Write

We will revise our narratives.

Independently, work to revise your narrative and improve in any areas of confusion identified by your writing partner or group.

Activity 5: Write

For homework, we will continue drafting and revising our Culminating Task narratives, focusing on the issues we have received feedback about.

Continue writing and revising your narrative, while considering the feedback you received from your teacher and peer editors.

Continue to work on your inclusion of narrative shift, nonlinear sequencing, theme development, and character development by focusing on dialogue, thoughts, and interactions.