This document contains notes from an 8th grade language arts class. The agenda includes independent reading, discussing literary terms and devices, and poetry. Assignments given include final drafts of poems to present, a vocabulary packet, a spelling post-test, and commenting on two classmates' responses. The notes then define and provide examples of various literary elements and terms such as theme, characterization, conflict, setting, and point of view. Students are prompted to identify elements in short descriptions and stories.

1. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
11/7/13
8th Grade Language Arts
Agenda:
1. Independent Reading
2. Literary Terms/Devices
3. Poetry
Assignments:
-Final Draft of poemPRESENTED to the class (F)
-Vocabulary Packet (F)
-Spelling Post Test (F)
-Comment on 2 students'
responses (F)
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2. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
Theme
November 07, 2013
The theme is the main lesson that
the author wants the reader to
understand.
Hmmm.
Pull
Pull
To identify the theme, ask
A good friend is a true treasure.
yourself, "What is the most
important thing that I can
learn from this story?"
gamequarium.com
Crime doesn't pay.
allthingsd.com
Back to
Bookshelf
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3. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Discuss the common themes listed below.
Can you explain what they mean and give examples?
Don't quit. Hard work can be rewarding.
One's life can be rich without money.
What is
the theme of your
favorite book?
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4. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Identify the elements of fiction. Press on the clue to reveal the answer.
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5. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
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8. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Erase to find the answer to each literary term.
problem or struggle in a story
the most important characters in the story
conflict
main characters
time and place of a story
moral or message about life from a story
setting
theme
plot
series of events
the person place or thing that works agains the protagonist
perspective in which the story is told
the part where the author describes how the problem is solved
antagonist
point of view
resolution
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9. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Write the short story element that matches the description below.
Plot
Theme Characters
Setting
Point of View
1. a house at the beach during a hurricane __________________________________
2. an athlete who struggles to make the team ­________________________________
3. a boy who enjoys studying dinosaurs _____________________________________
4. sisters who learn the meaning of friendship ________________________________
5. events that lead to the capture of a criminal ________________________________
6. Emilia narrates her adventures to the zoo __________________________________
7. a museum in the early morning ­­­­­­­­­­__________________________________________
8. a boy who learns to respect his parents ___________________________________
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10. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Write the short story element that matches the description below.
Plot
Theme Characters
Setting
Point of View
1. I explain the events at my grandma's party __________________________________
2. a beautiful blue jay with determination ­____________________________________
3. the tortoise and the hare _______________________________________________
4. a family moves to California to start a new life ________________________________
5. a young girls learns the importance of human dignity ____________________________
6. New York City during the Great Depression __________________________________
7. two mischievous boys ­­­­­­­­­­__________________________________________________
8. children playing hide­and­seek discover a magical wardrobe_____________________
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11. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Elements of Fiction
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12. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Answer true or false.
False
A novel can be a work of non­fiction.
True
A novel is a long story.
True
A novel can contain poetry.
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13. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Elements of a Story
Grade: 8th
Subject: Language Arts
Date: 11­7­13
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14. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
1 The time and place of a story or play
A Scene Design
B Climax
C Setting
D All of the Above
E
None of the Above
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15. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
2 When an author is trying to convince you of something, his or her purpose is to
A persuade
B entertain
C inform
D explain
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16. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
3 When an author is sharing knowledge or facts, his or her purpose is to
A
B
C
D
persuade
entertain
inform
explain
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17. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
4 When an author wants to give reasons or make something clear, his or her purpose is to
A persuade
B entertain
C inform
D explain
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18. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
5 When an author wants to keep readers amused or interested, his or her purpose is to
A persuade
B entertain
C inform
D explain
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19. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
6 A writer's or speaker's choice of words.
A Dialect
B
Speaking
C Word Choice
D Both A and B
E Both A and C
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20. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
7 Scene in a movie, play, short story, novel, or narrative
poem that interrupts the present action of the plot to
flash backward and tell what happened at an earlier
time
A Foreshadowing
B Foretelling
C Flashforward
D Forward
E Flashback
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21. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
8 Series of related events that make up a story or a
drama
A exposition
B
rising action
C climax
D plot
E resolution
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22. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
9 The voice telling the story
A Narrator
B
Character
C Actor
D Writer
E
None of the Above
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23. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
10 A story's atmosphere or the feeling it evokes
A Setting
B Feeling
C Mood
D Tone
E All of the Above
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24. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
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11 Central idea of a work of literature
A Style
B Mood
C Tone
D Theme
E
Title
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25. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
12 Person in a story, poem, or play
A Actor
B
Character
C Stage Hand
D Author
E
None of the Above
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26. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
13 Author gives us clues about the character, so that we
can make our own judgement
A Characterization
B Indirect Characterization
C Direct Characterization
D Both A and B
E Both A and C
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27. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
14 Struggle or clash within a person
A Internal Conflict
B Extrenal Conflict
C Struggle
D Problem
E
None of the Above
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28. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
15 Vantage point from which the story is being told. Three
kinds: omniscient, first person, and third person
limited.
A Narrator
B
Point of View
C Speaker
D Actor
E
Seat
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29. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
16 The category that a work of literature is classified
under. Five major ______ are nonfiction, fiction, poetry,
drama, and myth.
A Filing Systems
B Generations
C Areas
D Types
E Genres
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30. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
17 Main character in fiction or drama
A Leading Actor
B Subordinate Character
C Protagonist
D Anti­hero
E
Static Character
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31. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
18 The moment in a plot full of great emotional intensity or
suspense, when we learn what the outcome of the
conflict is going to be.
A Exposition
B Rising Action
C Climax
D Falling Action
E
Resolution
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32. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
19 The character or force that blocks the protagonist
A Foil
B Antitrust
C Antigony
D Antagonist
E
None of the Above
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33. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
20 The use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in
the plot
A Flashback
B Foreshadowing
C Foretelling
D Throw Back
E Prediction
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34. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
21 The story's basic situation
A Expostiion
B Rising Action
C Climax
D Falling Action
E
Resolution
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35. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
22 The author tells us directly what to think about the
character
A Characterization
B Indirect Characterization
C Direct Characterization
D A and B
E A and C
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36. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
23 A symbol must operate on which two levels?
A symbolic and figurative
B literal and symbolic
C literal and figurative
D symbolic and abstract
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37. Lit Elements 11­7­13.notebook
November 07, 2013
Poetry Contest:
poeticpower.com
-Click on "Poetry Contest"
-Click on "Students Enter Poetry Contest"
-Fill out the required information (you do not HAVE to fill out the
home address if you do not want to)
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