Theme, Plot, and Character Development

Read the following excerpt from a story: "As the sun dipped below the horizon, the shadows lengthened, casting an eerie glow over the abandoned house." What question could you ask before reading further to deepen your understanding of the setting's influence on the plot?

• What time of day is it in the story?

• How does the setting contribute to the mood of the story?

• Who are the main characters in the story?

• What is the main conflict in the story?

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5B

Based on the excerpt, "The protagonist hesitated at the door, feeling a chill run down their spine," what inference can you make about the character's feelings?

• The character is excited.

• The character is indifferent.

• The character is nervous.

• The character is angry.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5F

Evaluate the following details from a text: "The garden was overgrown, the windows were shattered, and the paint was peeling." What key idea can you determine from these details?

• The house is well-maintained.

• The house is abandoned.

• The house is newly built.

• The house is expensive.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5G

Synthesize the information from the following sentences: "The character found an old diary in the attic. The diary contained secrets about the house's past." What new understanding can you create about the plot?

• The diary is irrelevant to the story.

• The diary will reveal important information about the house.

• The diary belongs to a neighbor.

• The diary is a fictional element.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5H

What question could you ask during reading to deepen your understanding of a character's motivation in a story?

• What is the character's favorite color?

• Why does the character choose to stay in the house despite the danger?

• How old is the character?

• What is the character's name?

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5B

After reading a story, what question could you ask to gain more information about the resolution of the plot?

• What was the main character's favorite food?

• How did the character resolve the main conflict?

• What was the weather like in the story?

• Who was the author's favorite character?

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5B

Make an inference about the character's decision to leave the house after finding the diary. What evidence supports your inference?

• The character is curious about the diary.

• The character is afraid of what the diary reveals.

• The character is uninterested in the diary.

• The character is happy about the diary.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5F

Evaluate the following details: "The character's hands trembled as they turned the pages of the diary." What key idea can you determine from this detail?

• The character is bored.

• The character is calm.

• The character is anxious.

• The character is sleepy.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5G

Synthesize the information from the following sentences: "The diary mentioned a hidden room in the house. The character decided to search for it." What new understanding can you create about the character's actions?

• The character is uninterested in the hidden room.

• The character is determined to uncover the house's secrets.

• The character is planning to leave the house.

• The character is afraid of the hidden room.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5H

What question could you ask after reading to evaluate the effectiveness of the plot's development?

• What was the main character's favorite hobby?

• How did the plot's twists and turns affect the story's outcome?

• What was the setting of the story?

• Who was the author's favorite character?

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.5G