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McAdams Junior High

Welcome to ELA Extras.

Just click on a tab and unlock resources that will enhance your skills. Happy Learning!

Click on each tab to learn about the different story elements.

The PLOT is a series of events through which the writer reveals what is happening, to whom, and why.

PLOT DIAGRAM:

  1.  Exposition - The exposition is the introduction to a story, including the primary characters' names, setting, mood, and time.
  2. Conflict - The conflict is the primary problem that drives the plot of the story, often a main goal for the protagonist to achieve or overcome.
  3. Rising Action - The rising action of the story is all of the events that lead to the eventual climax, including character development and events that create suspense.
  4. Climax - The climax is the most exciting point of the story, and is a turning point for the plot or goals of the main character.
  5. Falling Action - The falling action is everything that happens as a result of the climax, including wrapping-up of plot points, questions being answered, and character development.
  6. Resolution - The resolution is not always happy, but it does complete the story. It can leave a reader with questions, answers, frustration, or satisfaction.
Watch the following video for a visual explanation.

K. A. (2020, April 10). The elements of a story. Retrieved September 02, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Zr1xLtSMMLo&feature=emb_logo

Conflict - The conflict is the primary problem that drives the plot of the story, often a main goal for the protagonist to achieve or overcome. There are two forms of conflict; internal and external conflict.

  1. Internal Conflict - Internal conflict is also called man vs. self. It is a battle inside a character.
  2. External Conflict - External conflict takes place outside of the character. Listed are 5 common subtypes of external conflict.
    1. Man vs. Man
    2. Man vs. nature
    3. Man vs. Society
    4. Man vs. Machine/Technology
    5. Man vs. Supernatural

Jerram, L. (2017, November 14). Conflict in Literature. Retrieved September 02, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc7rG9U--hg&feature=emb_logo

 

The SETTING is the where and when the story takes place. 

The Importance of Setting in a Story - YouTube. (2017, April 6). Retrieved September 2, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30CPmgVQNks

 A story CHARACTER can be any person, a figure, an inanimate object, or animal. Protagonist and antagonist are two types of characters found in stories.

  1. Protagonist - The protagonist (main character) is at the center of the story, makes the key decisions, and experiences the consequences of those decisions. 

  2. Antagonist - An antagonist is a bad guy, or an opponent of the protagonist. The action in the story arises from a conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist. The antagonist can be a person, an inanimate object, an animal, or nature itself.

Class, E. (2015, February 20). Protagonist and Antagonist. Retrieved September 02, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RWsRjQQ6Ec&feature=emb_title

The THEME is the idea, belief, moral, lesson. It’s the central argument that the author is trying to make the reader understand. The theme is the “why” of the story.

Understanding theme | Reading | Khan Academy. (2020, April 6). Retrieved September 02, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAu3e5GZo4k&feature=emb_title

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What is Point of View?

Point of view is a reflection of the opinion an individual from real life or fiction has. Examples of point of view belong to one of these three major kinds:

  1. First person point of view involves the use of either of the two pronouns “I” or “we.”
  • “I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace.”
  1. Second person point of view employs the pronoun “you.”
  • “Sometimes you cannot clearly discern between anger and frustration.”
  1. Third person point of view uses pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” “they,” or a name.
  • “ Stewart is a principled man. He acts by the book and never lets you deceive him easily.”

“Point of View - Examples and Definition of Point of View.” Literary Devices, 26 Nov. 2017, literarydevices.net/point-of-view/.

              Khan Academy. (2020, April 28). A story’s point of view | Reading | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGS3NcmAZnw

Figurative Language

The main purpose of figurative language is to communicate the writer’s message as clearly as possible. We are going to look at 10 types of figurative language that add to the elements of a story in order to entertain and/or educate the audience.

  1. Simile
  2. Metaphor
  3. Personification
  4. Hyperbole
  5. Allusion
  6. Idiom
  7. Pun
  8. Onomatopoeia
  9. Alliteration
  10. Oxymoron

Click on the tabs below. You will find the definition and examples of the different types of figurative language.

After you fave familiarized yourself with the different types of figurative language, check our O.Henry. He is a famous short story author who used different types of figurative language in his stories to keep readers on their toes. He stories always have a twist in them. 

Similes are comparisons between two unlike things, using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles.
Ex: Susan is as gentle as a kitten.
 

Metaphors are imaginative comparisons between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another thing. A metaphor says that one thing is something else.
A metaphor does not use like or as.

  Ex: The boss' bark was thunder.

  Ex: The boss' orders rattled the the windows of the room.

 

Personification is giving human characteristics to things that are not human. 
An Hyperbole is an exaggeration so dramatic, no one could believe it. It is an overstatement used to emphasize a point.
An Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
Onomatopoeia is the use of a word to describe or imitate a natural sound made by an object or action. Words that sound like they mean.
Alliteration is the repeating of the same letter or sound, especially consonant sounds. Think of tongue twisters.

An Oxymoron are phrased in which contradictory or opposite terms are used together to describe something or someone.

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IRONY is  a figure of speech.

Irony is when the reality of something is different to the expectation it generates. There are 3 types of irony.

  1. Situation
  2. Dramatic
  3. Verbal

What is Irony? Three Types of Irony Lesson - YouTube. (2012, January 17). Retrieved September 2, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOnjd120MjY

 

You will see irony used in stories, advertisement, movies, songs, and in every day life. See if you can identify any type of irony today. 

 

Let us have some fun continuing our study of irony!

We are going to read a short story by O. Henry called The Ransom of Red Chief.

As you read along with the story, think about how the characters' thoughts, actions, and emotions are ironic.

 

Voa. “The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry.” VOA, VOA - Voice of America English News, 31 Dec. 2015, learningenglish.voanews.com/a/3126255.html.

 

Glatch, Sean. “Tone vs Mood Venn Diagram.” Writers.Com, 13 July 2021, writers.com/what-is-tone-in-literature/tone-vs-mood-venn-diagram. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025. 

 

 

VERB TENSE by Cheryl Tippit
Sentence Structures.pptx by Cheryl Tippit
WeWrite Writing Process by Deanna Williams

Expository Writing:

Expository writing is used to provide information. You will find expository writing in nonfiction materials. There are 5 different expository text structures. The video explains each type. Below the video are tabs that will provide examples and key words used in each text structure.

 

The 5 Types of Text Structure - YouTube. (2017, April 6). Retrieved September 2, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kWGQ-_ipBY

Description:

The author describes a topic by listing characteristics, features, attributes, and examples.

Key Words found in this type of structure are:   

For example

For instance

Specifically

In addition

Described as

To illustrate

Another

Such as

Most important

Characteristic of



    

  • Sequence: 

    The author uses numerical or chronological order to list items or events.

    Key Words found in this type of structure are:   

    First, second, third

    Before

    After/then

    Finally

    Initially

    Next

    On (date)

    When

    Preceding

    Following

    Not long after




 

  • Cause/effect: The author delineates one or more causes and then describes the ensuing effects.

    • The main purpose of this type of expository writing is to explain.
    • It explains by using examples, facts, and evidence to support the main purpose.
    • All of the information must be presented in a factual manner.

    Key words used in this text structure are:

    Because

    Consequently

    If so, then

    Since

    Therefore

    So that

    Thus

    As a result of

    No only, but

    In order to

    This led to

     

 

 

Problem/Solution:

The author poses a problem or question and then gives the answer. This structure is common in science, math and social studies as well as a wide range of informative articles.

Key words used in this text structure are: 

Problem

Answer

So that

Solution

Led to

Dilemma

fix

Issue

Puzzle

how

Result of

Advantage/disadvantage

Compare/contrast:

The author compares and contrasts two or more similar events, topics, or objects.

Key words used with this type of text structure are:

Same

Similar

Alike

Both

Instead

On the other hand

As opposed to

Different from

However

More

Less

 

 

 

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Examples: 

  • Advertisements
  • Editorials
  • Commercials
  • Blogs

Examples:

  • Non-Fiction
  • Biographies
  • News Articles
  • Textbooks

Examples:

  • Fiction
    • Short Story
    • Novel
  • Drama
  • Poetry

 

 

Kovich, Brenda. “Teaching Elements of Poetry for Kids.” Enjoy Teaching with Brenda Kovich, 19 Mar. 2025, enjoy-teaching.com/elements-of-poetry/. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025. 

 

 

Different Types of Poems by Cheryl Tippit
Comma Usage by Cheryl Tippit

Sparkle English. (2021, October 26). Basic Comma Rules. YouTube. https://youtu.be/kuBKzoPOXIg?si=MLmsxZQvvBeYOiS1 

 

 

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