8th Grade Module 1: First Things First

Labelling

Label the elements of plot by dragging the terms to their correct place on the diagram.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Climax

Rising Action

Resolution

Exposition

Falling Action

Open Ended

In your own words, what is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?

Categorize

Options (6)

"Her face was slender and milk-white."

"Her head was half bent to watch her shoes stir the circling leaves."

"Her dress was white and it whispered."

"He almost thought he heard the motion of her hands as she walked"

"He moved his eyes quickly away."

"She had a very thin face"

Organize these examples into either Direct Characterization or Indirect Characterization.

Direct

Indirect

​Exposition

The first few chapters of a novel are very important because they provide the story’s exposition.

The exposition provides details on
- the setting (time and place)
- main characters (protagonist and/or antagonist
- the conflict

​Importance of Exposition in Historical Fiction

• Readers expect to notice details about when the story’s events take place.

• The characters, setting, and events are described in ways that reflect how people lived during that time in history.
  

​Dialect

• dialect--words and expressions that convey aspects of a speaker’s background, such as when and where they were raised, how much education they’ve had, and the kind of personality and attitude they want to project.

​Southern Dialect

“Y’all”

• Explanation: “Y’all” is a contraction of you all and is used as the plural form of “you.”

“Fixin’ to”

• Explanation: “Fixin’ to” means preparing or getting ready to do something soon.

“Bless your heart”

• Translation: Depends on context—

  • Genuine sympathy: “I feel sorry for you.”

  • Sarcasm: “You poor fool.”

​Dialect

• Authors use dialect to make a story seem historically accurate.
  

Multiple Select

Choose examples of American dialect from the statements below.

• "Aint it?"

• "Park the car."

• "Youse guys!"

• "Fuhgetaboutit!"

• "It's over there!"

Multiple Choice

What is dialogue in a work of fiction?

• A written or spoken conversation between two or more characters

• A detailed description of a character’s thoughts and feelings

• A list of events that happen in a story

• The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience

​Dialogue

Dialogue helps build characterization.

• You can tell a lot about fictional characters from what they say and how they say it.