Name: ____________________________
RESPONSE ELEMENTS
CONSTRUCTING MEANING
ELEMENT DEFINITION
Point of View 1st person-narrated by I: reader can see
into the heart and mind of the one character
that is telling the story and can only gather
information about the other characters from
the narrators point of view.
3rd person He/She: reader gathers
information about the hearts and minds of
characters from a narrator who is not
necessarily central in the story..like God.
The writer decides which characters are
exposed.
Conflict The situation creating tension or a problem
for the key character.
Character vs Character
Character vs Self
Character vs Society
Character vs Nature
Overall The big idea that the writer is writing about
Message in life. It is a message that everyone can
connect to. It is not a clich.
You should../We should and the audience?
Characterization Motivation: The reasons why the
characters choose to act or react to
situations.
Plot Exposition: The event or character that
triggers the conflict. The facts gathered at
the beginning (i.e. setting, central
characters)
Rising action: A series of events that build
from the initial conflict. Begins with initial
conflict and ends with climax. The moments
that cause the plot to thicken.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Discuss which point of view
was used and the impact on
the narrative. How would a
different point of view have
changed the text?
How did the writer develop
conflicts?
How did the situations get
worse?
How was the conflict
resolved?
How did the author use the
characters to communicate a
message about life to you
What is important about the
message?
What motivates the
characters to react to
situations the way they do?
Use the plot diagram to
analyze how the plot was
developed. Use all the key
terms in the diagram.
Name: ____________________________

Climax:
The result of the crisis.
The moment of highest interest or
emotion.
The point at which the outcome can
be predicted.
The moment of the crucial
realization (character or reader).

Falling action: The events after the climax.

Resolution: Rounds out and concludes the

action. The facts the author leaves you with
to imagine what happens after the last page.

FEATURES

FEATURE DEFINITION QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Hook The moment that the readers attention is
acquired. It creates the desire to continue
reading. May be a word, sentence, scene
or image. May incorporate suspense
and/or an initial conflict.
Symbol An object, colour, or image that represents
an important abstract idea in the text. Is
often recurring throughout a text
Metaphor/Simile Comparing an object to something unusual
and Extended in order to create a new meaning. Simile
Metaphor uses like and as; metaphor does not.
Alliteration Two words next to each other that begin
with the same letter or sound. Typically an
adjective or adverb next to a noun or verb.
Never prepositions and articles, like to
the or then the. Used to draw the
readers attention to the subject.
Title The carefully selected name of a text.
What strategy did the writer use
to create the hook?
What impact was created for the
reader?
Name the symbol. What does it
represent?
What role does it play in the
text?
How does it affect the way you
read the text?
What is being compared?
How does the comparison
create a deeper meaning for the
novel?
Why did the author want your
attention drawn to these
moments?
Why did the writer select this
title? Where is it referred to in
the text? What is the impact on
you when you first read it and
when you finish the story?
Name: ____________________________

CONNECTIONS

Connection Definition Connect Questions for

Discussion
Feelings List all of the feelings Choose one of these How does your feeling
(emotional, not experienced by the feelings that you help you to
physical) characters have felt. understand the feeling
of the character in the
text?
Dilemmas (To do List all of the dilemmas Choose one of these How does your
something or faced by the characters dilemmas that is dilemma help you to
not) similar to a dilemma understand the
you have faced. dilemma faced by the
character in the text?
Actions (state as List all of the actions taken Choose one of the How does your action
a relatable by the character actions that is similar help you to
action.to kill to an action you have understand the action
can be to taken taken by the character
destroy) in the text?

JUDGEMENT

ELEMENT QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Significance of a Why is this text important?
Text Why is this text an example of great writing?
Why was it published?

Universal Theme These are the general ideas in the text to which everyone
can relate. A topic is not a theme. A theme narrows down
a topic.
Why can all readers relate to this theme? Why is it
universal?
Name: ____________________________