Plot & Figurative Language Review

Read the following story.

Dan Morgan had been grinning from ear to ear about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is the major conflict in the story?

• Dan's name was called over the intercom.

• Dan was panicking.

• Dan was on a class trip.

• Dan lost his wallet.

Reread the following story if you need to.

Dan Morgan had been excited about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is the setting of the story?

• Dan Morgan

• Space Center

• Dan's pocket

• Dan's mom

Reread as needed.

Dan Morgan had been excited about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is the exposition of the story?

• Dan was going on a class trip to the Space Center in November.

• Dan has fifty dollars.

• Dan lost his wallet.

• Dan worked as a paperboy.

Reread as needed.

Dan Morgan had been excited about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is the resolution?

• Dan found his wallet.

• Dan is on a class trip to the Space Center.

• Dan was able to get a gift for his mom.

• Dan lost his wallet.

Reread as needed.

Dan Morgan had been excited about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is the climax?

• Dan found a gift for his mom.

• Dan retraced his steps.

• Dan lost his wallet.

• Dan's wallet was found with a label his mom had put on it.

Reread as needed.

Dan Morgan had been excited about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is a part of the rising action?

• Dan retraced his steps.

• Dan bought a gift for his mom.

• Dan went on a class trip.

• Dan put his wallet back in his pocket.

Reread as needed.

Dan Morgan had been excited about this field trip since his first week of school. His class would visit the Space Center in November. The day had finally arrived. It was a cool, crisp fall day. A perfect day for a class trip. While visiting the Space Center, Dan found the perfect gift for his mom at the gift shop. He reached for his wallet. It was gone! There was fifty dollars in that wallet! He started to panic. Dan decided to retrace his steps. He searched the food court. Nothing. He searched the boys’ restroom. Nothing. His heart raced. He’d worked a month as a paperboy to earn that much money. What would he do? Then he heard the announcement: “Dan Morgan, please come to the office.” Dan rushed in, and there was his wallet! He wondered how they knew it was his! Then he saw the label his mom had put on it. “Thank you Mom,” whispered Dan. He returned to the tour with his classmates. Dan was now calm. Later that afternoon, Dan left the Space Center with the gift for his mother secure under his arm. His wallet was tucked safely back in his jean’s pocket.

What is part of the falling action?

• Dan lost his wallet.

• Dan returns to the tour at the Space Center with his classmates.

• Dan retraces his steps.

• Dan hears his name on the intercom.

What is a hook?

• The reader becomes aware of the problem the main character faces as the plot becomes exciting

• The high point in the story

• The message or moral of the story

• Grabs the reader’s attention

What is a major conflict?

• Speech between two or more characters or people

• The final outcome of a story, often including how characters solve a problem.

• A struggle within a story, often the “thing” that needs to be solved or fixed

• The high point in the story

What is dialogue?

• Shows what a character is thinking

• The position from which the story is told

• The beginning of the story that introduces the characters, setting, situation, and general tone.

• Speech between two or more characters or people