Story Devices

Carlos laughed when he thought about how scared he was in the haunted house at the carnival last year. He had no way of knowing that he was about the face a fright that wasn't meant to be fun.

• Foreshadowing

• Flashback

• Suspense

• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

The family gathered around the television to watch the lottery drawing. the TV announcer drew the first number and said, "6." Mom yelled, "Six! We have six." The announcer drew the second number, "10." Mom yelled again, "Yes! We have 10!" The announcer said, "And the final number is..." Suddenly the TV went black and the room plunged into darkness. "The last number! What is the last number?" exclaimed Mom.

• Foreshadowing

• Flashback

• Suspense

• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Joyce watched the clock. The minute hand seemed frozen over the ten. The slow tick tock seemed to promise that time was moving forward, but Joyce had no sense of it. All she knew was that she had to wait until 8:00

• Suspense

• Cliffhanger

• Foreshadowing

• Flashback

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Cassie poised at the end of the diving board, ready to plunge into the water. Suddenly, she was five years old again, standing on the edge of a dock and falling backward, unable to control her fall, and unable to swim.

• Flashback

• Suspense

• Foreshadowing

• Cliifhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

As she walked through the empty halls on the last day of elementary school, Selma thought back to the day she'd first entered the building. She had been just five years old and a little bit frightened about going to school. Mrs. Abbot, her kindergarten teacher, met her as she got off the bus. Reading her name tag, she exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Selma! I'm so glad you're here." It had been a wonderful year, and Selma still missed Mrs. Abbot. She decided to wander over to the kindergarten wing to say good-bye.

• Suspense

• Foreshadowing

• Flashback

• Cliffhanger

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Jimmy knew it was just a matter of time before his dad saw the dent in the car. He watched his dad get together supplies to wash that car that Saturday morning, watching through the g nervously through the window. His dad started hosing down the car, walking around it without looking closely at any point. Then, he added soap and started to wash the front fender in careful circles. Slowly but surely, his dad moved the sponge closer to the back door where the dent was. Jimmy closed his eyes. He couldn't bear to watch the moment his father saw the dent.

• Suspense

• Cliffhanger

• Foreshadowing

• Flashback

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

After surviving a winter on her own in the Canadian wilderness, Julia was certain she was up to any challenge. What happened next would test that certainty.

• Cliffhanger

• Suspense

• Flashback

• Foreshadowing

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Orson loved the last day of school He loved the idea of summer and the long, lazy days of freedom that stretched before him. Little did he know that this summer would be especially memorable.

• Suspense

• Cliffhanger

• Flashback

• Foreshadowing

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5