Narrative Elements

Sammy couldn’t help but laugh as he watched the younger boy try to keep up with the rest of the team during practice. He didn’t realize he’d be in that situation himself soon enough. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Jane heard a noise in the backyard. She switched on the light and peered out the window. There was nothing there, yet the sound grew louder, as though something was moving closer to her. She went to the back door and put her hand on the knob. She turned it slowly and pulled open the door. She heard the scratching sound again and looked down to see a small dog sitting at her feet. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Christina stood on the bow of the boat, watching the sun sink over the horizon. She remembered the first time she’d been out on the bay. It was years ago, and she wasn’t an experienced boater. She recalled how she’d become seasick and how scared she was whenever they passed another boat. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.5.3

Lenny checked his watch. It was midnight and he was more than two hours late getting home. He circled the house, trying to see if any lights were on, indicating his parents might be up, waiting for him. Convinced they had gone to bed, Lenny slipped in the back door. Suddenly, he heard the creak of a foot on the stairs. Would his parents catch him? 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.5.3

Krista coasted down the steep hill, her hands hovering on the brakes on her bicycle. She had heard that one or two kids had lost control of their bikes on this hill, and one ended up with a broken wrist when he jumped off before he coasted into traffic. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Tyler walked onto the football field, thinking of the first day he’d attended practice. He remembered how nervous the coach made him, and how long the practice seemed to go on for – it must have been hours. Now, in his last year of middle school, Tyler looked forward to football practice and thought the coach was one of the nicest adults he’d ever met. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The teacher called each student to her desk to receive his or her final grade. Kim Zimmerman sat on the edge of her seat, waiting for her turn. Kat Ahmet, Jim Bilboa...Casey Huong...Solema Martinez... Some students went back to their seats smiling, while others were very quiet. Kim thought about her last assignment, the vocabulary quiz she hadn’t studied for, and wondered how many points she lost for late work. The teacher called Steven Silverstein and Miguel Santoro. Kim continued to wait. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Most of the kids in the eighth grade knew that Kyle and Brent had never been friends, but some of them could recall one day, back in the fifth grade, when it seemed like they were the best of buddies. It was Field Day, the day all different classes compete against each other in games like the potato sack race and tug of war. Some kids could remember seeing Kyle and Brent exchanging high-fives and huddling together to strategize. Kyle and Brent had joined forces and propelled their team to victory. 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

The last two contestants stood on the stage, waiting as the judges deliberated. They would be judged on their singing ability, the songs they chose, even on how they moved around while they sang. When the judges turned to face them, both contestants stood up a bit taller. The first judge began to speak, “We know it isn’t easy performing in front of a crowd, and we definitely take that into consideration.” The second judge broke in, “Oh, we certainly do. Both of you should think of yourselves as successful, just for being here today.” The third judge interrupted, “Can we get to the point and tell them the results?” The first judge nodded, “All in good time. First, let’s talk about what both of them did well...” 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.5.3

Pursued by the sheriff, the bank robber, on horseback, galloped through the desert. If he could just make it to the border, he’d be safe. He looked behind him and urged his horse to go faster. Suddenly, his horse stopped – so abruptly that he almost flew off. There, in front of them, was a deep canyon. The bank robber looked behind again. The sheriff was fast approaching. What could the bank robber do? Would he escape? 

• Foreshadowing
• Flashback
• Suspense
• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.3