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Elements of Fiction
Simple discussion of the elements of fiction with a specific section devoted to Freytag's Pyramid (aka "basic plot structure"). A good place to start for gathering information on the structure of narrative.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Science Fiction
This slideshow introduces the genre of science fiction. It presents background information, common elements, common themes, pop movies (from books) showing diverse examples, and three specific examples: "Time Machine," "I, Robot," and...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Interactives: Elements of a Story
Explore the elements of a story using the well-known Cinderella story as source material. Learn about setting, character, sequence, exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Historical Fiction
This slideshow lesson features the genre of historical fiction. It provides background information, common elements, literary examples, and practice. The practice consists of viewing pictures of Stonehenge and the Pyramids and thinking...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Ninth Literature and Composition: Short Stories
This lesson provides and introduction to a short story unit. It focuses the lessons and morals taught by short stories and the use of literary elements in fiction. I provides a list of essential questions.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Literature: The Modern Short Story
This lesson is an introduction to the modern short story including defining the short story, how the modern short story differs from the classic short story, the elements of a short story, and what is to be expected in this unit.
Other
Fiction Factor: The Importance of Setting
An interesting article concerning the importance of setting to any piece of fiction. Gives good information about how setting affects characters and "world-building."
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Nonfiction: Elements of Nonfiction
This lesson focuses on the elements of nonfiction including types of nonfiction such as biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, newspaper editorials, speeches, and essays. It features links to a chart of the types of nonfiction and an...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyze the Central Characters in Literary Text/fiction
In this lesson, students will learn some ways that writers reveal the complexity of their characters. By closely analyzing one author's characters, they will come to see how their words, actions, and interactions with one another can...
Other
Lifestream Center: Lessons: Literary Concepts: Elements of a Story
This site offers a basic understanding of the elements of a story. It clearly defines each literary term.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyze Linear Plot Developments in Literary Texts/fiction
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] You will learn how to use the elements of linear plot development to determine whether and how conflicts are resolved.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Mystery
This slideshow focuses on the genre of mystery; it provides background, compares and contrasts mystery and crime fiction, lists the common elements of mystery, and provides literary examples with Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie novels.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Ursula K. Le Guin
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin tells the intimate coming-of-age story of the Portland, Oregon, housewife and mother of three who forever transformed American literature by bringing science fiction and fantasy into the literary mainstream....
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Thriller
This slideshow focuses on the genre thriller by providing background information, listing key elements, and providing two examples: "The Riddle of the Sands" by Erskine Childers and "The Bourne Identity" by Robert Ludlum.
Other
Chulalongkorn University: Elements of Fiction Irony
This site contains four different definitions of irony.
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
This is an online study guide/notes for the non-fiction book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis. The book retraces the steps of...
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
This is a complete online study guide/notes for the short story collection Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Story Elements
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the five main elements of a fiction story using the example of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "Washington Square" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
"Washington Square" 36-page teacher guide features in-depth background materials, genre studies, suggested themes, and elements of fiction. Also includes discussion questions, vocabulary studies, post-reading activities, and group and...
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde"
Analyze literature through the study of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Made specifically for students preparing to take the GCSE test, this site is beneficial to all students learning about Stevenson or the elements...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Elements of Literature: Guide to the Sign of the Beaver [Pdf]
This Holt Literature guide in .pdf format, offers some background on the novel, a chapter-by-chapter summary, and some post-reading suggestions.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Popular Culture: What Makes a Book Popular?
This lesson focuses on the elements that makes a book popular and provides links to lists of Goodreads popular books and NPR's "Your Favorites: 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels."
Other
Brock University: Critical Reading: A Guide
In addition to thoroughly exploring the purposes and functions of an analytical essay, this resource provides students with step-by-step instructions for reading and analyzing poetry, prose-fiction, and fiction. The site also offers...
Read Works
Read Works: Plot 1st Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A series of three lesson plans designed to teach students to identify problems and solutions in fiction text and to retell a story's problem and solution in sequence. Students learn to identify the plot...