English 8 -How to write on plot Page 31

Writing a Plot Summary The Plot Develops from Conflict The plot of a story is made up of a series of events. These events are usually driven by some type of conflict, or struggle between opposing forces. The protagonist, the main character in a story, may struggle against another character, his or her environment, a supernatural force, or against an inner conflict concerning a difficult choice he or she must make. Conflict causes the characters to engage in actions and to make decisions which directly influence the outcome of the story. The events in a story are usually not random or accidental; one action follows another because of what has happened before. As we plot the story we trace both the causes and effects of the characters’ decisions. A well-written plot draws us into the story, making us want to find out what is going to happen to the characters. Conflict is central to plot, because without it nothing much would happen. Uncertainty about the outcome of the protagonist’s success or failure in dealing with the conflict creates interest for the reader.

Start with a Plot Diagram Before writing a plot summary it is helpful to organize your thoughts by creating a story map or outline in point form. You should do this as you read (or re-read) the story. On your story map note the title and make brief notes about the setting and main characters. Then identify the problem or conflict in the story. Because the events listed on your plot diagram must all relate to the main conflict, you must clearly understand the problem and who is involved in it. In many stories there will be more than one type of conflict, however, there is usually one central conflict the protagonist must face. Ask yourself, “What problems does the main character experience?” and “Which of these problems is most important?” After identifying the main conflict, or problem, list the events related to the problem in the order in which they happen. Be careful to avoid describing everything the protagonist does in the story. In deciding whether an event in the story should be included in the story map ask yourself, “Does the event develop from the central conflict?” If it does, include it, if not, it is not a key plot element. Finally, in the section for the solution, indicate whether or not the conflict has been resolved in favour of the protagonist or the antagonist, or whether it is left unresolved.

Writing Your Plot Summary The story map contains all the information you need to write a plot summary. The next step is to use your notes to write a well-developed paragraph. At the beginning of your paragraph state the title and author of the short story. To give the reader some background on the story you may then include a brief description of the setting and main characters, but make sure to avoid lengthy descriptions. Identify the conflict or problem the characters are engaged in, and then summarize the events related to the problem in the order in which they occur in the story. Make sure to re-tell the events in your own words and use transition words to demonstrate how one event causes or leads to another. In your final sentence, indicate how the problem in the story has been resolved. Your paragraph should be at least eight sentences long.

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English 8 -How to write on plot Page 32

Sample Student Writing

Will F. Jenkins “Side Bet” Plot Summary (Meets Expectations Minimal Level)

The story “Side Bet’ is about a man and a rat stuck on an island after the ship they are on sinks in a storm. The island is made of rock. There are no trees or animals living on the island and so there isn’t any source of food for the man. The sun is very hot and there is no shade for the man. At night the stars are very bright and the man feels like they look like the eyes of a snake staring down at him. The only food on the island is a bag of biscuits and some water the man saved from the ship. The rat eats some of the man’s food and this makes the man really mad. The man doesn’t think he will ever be rescued but he tries to live for a long time anyway. He even decides to try to kill and eat the rat, but he is too weak and can’t catch him. The man makes a fire to keep the rat away from him when he is starving to death and a ship sailing by sees the smoke and rescues the man. The man pays the people on the ship to leave fifty kilograms of biscuits for the rat so he will live longer.

1.

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The central conflict in the story “Side Bet’ concerns the struggle for survival between a man and a rat shipwrecked on a rocky island, lacking both vegetation and water. Thrown upon the barren island in a storm, the man manages to rescue from the wreckage of the ship only a keg of water and a canvas bag filled with twenty-two biscuits. The conflict between the two adversaries begins when the man finds a hole gnawed in the canvas bag and realizes a rat has eaten part of his precious food stores. The man tries to outwit the rat by tying the bag of biscuits to a stick, but the rat proves his cunning by first chewing through the rope attached to the bag to get to the food and later dragging the bag away from the man in an attempt to hide the food himself. The man develops an intense hatred for the rat, but also respects his resourcefulness. He realizes that he must kill the rat and eat him. By doing so he will prevent the loss of any more biscuits and increase his life for days. The man comes to see the conflict between he and the rat as a game; with the victor winning the “side bet” of life. In playing this game the man becomes obsessed with thinking of how to capture the rat. He makes a bow and arrow, but is so weak from starvation that when he shoots the rat, the arrow merely bounces off. After finishing the last of the food, the man concedes that he has lost the bet, and will die. He uses the last of his effort to make a fire to repel the rat, who eagerly waits for the man’s death so he can feed on his body. At the climax of the story the man’s life is saved when a passing ship sees the man’s fire and comes to rescue him. During the falling action the man decides to honour his bet to the rat, who without the ship’s intervention would have been the last survivor. The man pays the ship’s crew to leave fifty kilograms of biscuits for the rat. At the conclusion of the story the man sails away reassured by the thought that he paid the side bet.

2. Will F. Jenkins “Side Bet” Plot Summary (Exceeds Expectations)

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Quick Scale: Grade 8 Writing A Plot Summary

Writing is usually required to be carefully revised, edited, and proofread.

Aspect Not Yet Within Expectations

Meets Expectations (Minimal Level)

Fully Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations

SNAPSHOT The writing features problems with style, form, and mechanics that make it difficult to determine the purpose and meaning. Reflects little knowledge of plot and writing conventions and techniques.

The writing is generally clear, with a beginning, middle, and end. Develop-ment may seem uneven. The writer has difficulty controlling the form and style. Tends to tell about events rather than “show” them.

The writing is clear and carefully developed, with some sense of audience and purpose. Some variety and engaging features. May overexplain in places, telling rather than showing.”

The writing creates an impact, with a sense of vitality, economy, and finesse. Features some complex, engaging ideas, language, structures, and techniques. Relies on “showing,” not telling.

MEANING

• sense of audience • understanding of the topic • plot • conflict • main incidents/ events• development• support

• little sense of audience or purpose (unfocussed)

• inadequate or inaccurate retelling of the story

• lacks chronological sequencing

• details, examples, or quotes not clearly linked to the plot

• some sense of audience; little impact

• includes most incidents of the plot

• easy-to-follow, chronological development with a simple understanding of conflict and elements of plot

• simple details, examples, or quotes sometimes linked to plot incidents

• good sense of audience• includes all the major incidents of the plot

• clearly and chronologically developed demonstrating good understanding of the main elements of plot

• relevant details and examples

• strong sense of audi- ence; engaging

• includes all the major incidents of the plot with possible interpretation/inference

• efficiently developed around relatively mature understanding of elements of plot; attempts to interpret

• well-chosen details, examples, and quotations

STYLE

• voice and tone • syntax • word choice • techniques

• voice and tone inconsistent

• simple sentences and coordination; limited range

• basic vocabulary; may make errors; repetitive as well as colloquial

• immature style

• voice and tone may be inconsistent

• some sentence variety; often problems with subordination

• some variety in word choice; not concise

• direct, conversational; difficulty expressing abstract ideas

• appropriate voice and tone

• varies sentences

• varied word choice; some complex vocabulary

• some risk-taking to create effects; uses a variety of stylistic or rhetorical techniques

• creates and sustains effective voice and tone

• syntactic maturity

• effective, economical word choice

• takes risks, often showing originality and inventiveness

FORM

• beginning • structure and sequence • transitions • ending

• beginning unclear

• sequencing is often confusing

• few transitions; may seem disjointed

• weak ending

• organization adequate but ineffective• connections among ideas often unclear

• transitions awkward

• conclusion often short or formulaic

• organization carefully and logically structure

• transitions make connections clear

• explicit, logical conclusion

• structure appears natural and spontaneous

• well-chosen transitions create unity

• ending has some “punch”

CONVENTIONS

• spelling • sentence structure and punctuation • usage

• frequent noticeable errors in basic sentence structure, spelling, and usage that distract the reader and may interfere with meaning

• noticeable errors that may cause the reader to pause or reread; often surface errors could be fixed by careful proofreading

• few errors; these do not affect meaning; appears to have been carefully edited and proofread

• few errors; these do not distract the reader (may only be noticeable when the reader looks for them)

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