Fiction Story

This weeks blog is different.  Instead of answering questions about what you are reading, I am asking you questions about the fictional story you are writing.

1.Who is the main character?  Tell me about him or her.
2.Tell me about the setting of your story?  Where and when does it take place?
3.What is the main plot of your story?

General questions

Answer at least 3 questions from any of the sections.

Characters:
Do any of the characters, in the book you are reading, change?  In what way?
Who is the most important character in your book?
Do any of the characters do things you think are good/bad?  What? Why do you think it is good/bad?

Plot:
Who has a problem? Is there one problem or more than one?  Explain.
What is one of the main things that happened in your book?

Mood:
What was the funniest/saddest/strangest thing that happened in your book?
How did you feel while reading this book?  Why did it make you feel that way.

Style:
What did you like or dislike about the way the author has written this book?

Theme:
1. Do you think there was a message in this book?  What is it?

Get Ready for Your Book Talk

You are going to write a booktalk  and share it with our class.  Here are some questions you need to answer that will get you started.

1.Tell me the title of the book you are reading and who is the author.
2.What is the genre of your book?
3. Is your book part of a series?  If yes, where in the series does it fit in?
4.What is the strong point of your book? 
    Does it have a surprise ending?
    Does it have a really likable main character or a bad guy who is easy to hate?
    Does your book have the ability to make the reader laugh or cry?
    Does your book have a really detailed description of the setting?

About Your Book

Tell me about the book that you are reading right now.  What is the name of the book and who is the author?   Answer one set of questions.

Characters
1.Who are the main characters in the story?
2.Do you like or dislike them?  Why?
3. Who is the most important character in the story?

Settting
1.Where does this story take place?
2.When did this story take place?  How do you know?

Plot
1.What are the main things that have happened in the story?
2.What is the problem in the story?

Questions about The Witches

1. How would you have tricked the witches? Which of their weaknesses would you have played on? Could you come up with a plan better than the narrator's?

2. Grandmamma sure is chatty when it comes to witch-related information. What would have happened if she had never told our narrator all about witches?

3. Other than his starring role in a Roald Dahl book, what do you admire most about the narrator? Why?

Point of View

The story of The Witches comes from one narrator. He speaks in the first person because he is telling a story that has happened to him. This kind of narration works for a few reasons. First, we get to hear the story from the point of view of a kid.  The first-person narration adds to the childlike wonder of the whole thing.  Also, it gets us as close to the story as we can possibly be. The person who lived it is the one telling it.  In class we talked about the point of view of this story and other stories that you are reading independently.
A story can also be written in third person where all different characters are telling the story.  This is probably the most popular way a book is written.  There is point of view which is the rarest way to write a book, it is a story written in second person.  In second person the narrator refers to the reader as a character, making you feel like you are in the story.
Now tell me about the story you are reading.  Tell me what is the point of view of this book and give me examples that proves it.

The Witches

The book The Witches starts with a discussion about its own genre.  We discussed this in class and decided that the book is an adventure and a fantasy.  Adventure and fantasy can go hand in hand.  Adventure is something exciting where there is a risk involved.  The story is also a fantasy because it takes place in a world that is not like our own. 

Tell me what the genre is, in the book that you are reading independently, and give me examples from the story.

Characters

The development of characters is usually very important to a story. Some characters will be main characters and others will be minor characters. A main character has an important role in the story. Another way to classify characters is to look for the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist is the main character of a story. Sometimes the protagonist is the “good guy,” but not always. The antagonist is the character who causes problems for the protagonist. Think of a book you have read recently and the development of the characters. Choose a character from the book and tell me if this character is a protagonist or antagonist and explain why. Make sure you tell me the name of the book first.

You as a reader

Please share with your classmates what your favorite genre of books is and what you are currently reading. Also, tell us where is your favorite place to read.

The Best Worst School Year Ever

Herdman Havoc!: The Herdmans are known for being “outlaws” and creating havoc wherever they go. Think about all of the different ways the Herdmans created trouble for others and make a list of these misfortunes. Answer this question: What would you do if you ever encountered one of the Herdmans? Write ways in which people might be able to handle the Herdmans’ mischievous behavior.