SAT Narrative Structure

What is a narrative structure?

The way a story is organised.

What are the parts of a narrative?

Orientation, Problem, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution

What happens in the orientation?

Characters and setting are introduced.

What happens in the problem?

A problem or conflict appears

What happens in the rising action?

Events build tension and make the problem bigger.

What happens in the climax?

The most exciting or significant moment of the story.

What happens in the falling action?

Events after the climax start leading towards the ending.

What happens in the resolution?

The problem is solved and the story ends.

Which stage usually has the highest tension?

Climax

What is imagery?

Language that creates vivid pictures in the reader’s mind using senses.

Why do authors use imagery?

To help readers imagine a scene or experience in a story.

Identify the imagery: “The icy wind howled through the dark forest.”

Icy wind, howled, and dark forest

Which sentence contains imagery?

The golden sun melted into the sparkling ocean.

What is a simile?

A comparison using “like” or “as.”

What words usually signal a simile?

Like and as.

Is this a simile?: “He was as fast as a cheetah.”

Yes.

Which sentence is a simile?

He ran like the wind.

What is a metaphor

A direct comparison that does not use like or as.

Is this a metaphor?: “The classroom was zoo.”

Yes.

What is being compared in this metaphor?: “Time is a thief.”

Time and a thief.

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

Similes use like or as; metaphors do not.

What is characterisation?

How an author shows a character’s personality.

Name four ways authors show characterisation.

Actions, speech, thoughts, appearance.

What does this suggest about Mia?: “Mia stayed behind after school to help clean the classroom.”

Mia is helpful and responsible.

Which is an example of characterisation?

Jack gave his lunch to a hungry student.

What is dialogue?

Conversation between two or more characters.

What punctuation is used around dialogue?

Quotation marks (“ ”)

Why do authors use dialogue?

To reveal character and move the story forward.

Identify the dialogue: “Let’s go to the beach,” said Sarah.

“Let’s go to the beach.”

What is a biography?

A factual text about a person’s life written by someone else.

What tense is usually used in biographies?

Past tense

What point of view is usually used in biographies?

Third person.

Give examples of third-person pronouns

He, she, they.

Name three features commonly found in biographies.

Any of these: Dates, facts, achievements, important events, quotes.

Which sentence is most likely from a biography?

She was born and raised in Adelaide in 2010 until 2013.

What is inferencing?

Using clues and prior knowledge to work out information that is not directly stated.

What two things are needed to make an inference?

Text clues and prior knowledge

Infer: “Ben was shivering and wrapped a blanket around himself.”

Ben is cold.

Infer: “Emma couldn’t stop smiling after hearing the news.”

Emma is happy or excited.

Which is the best inference for this sentence?: “Liam’s umbrella was dripping wet.”

Liam is probably wet because it was raining.

What is paraphrasing?

Rewriting information in your own words while keeping the same meaning.

Why do we paraphrase?

To show understanding and avoid copying.

Paraphrase this sentence: “The dog ran quickly across the grassy field.”

The dog sprinted across the field.

What should stay the same when paraphrasing?

The meaning.

Which is the best paraphrase for this sentence?: “The beach was crowded with tourists.”

Many visitors filled the beach.

Is this a simile or metaphor?: “Her smile was sunshine.”

Metaphor; there is no like or as.

Is this a simile or metaphor?: “The rumours were spreading like wildfire.”

Simile; there is a like.

Which language feature creates pictures in the reader’s mind?

Imagery.

Which language feature uses clues to understand hidden meanings.

Inferencing.

Is this a simile, metaphor, or neither?: “The lake was a mirror.”

Metaphor.

Is this a simile, metaphor, or neither?: “The lake was as smooth as glass.”

Simile.

What can you infer?: “Olivia slammed her book shut and crossed her arms.”

Olivia is probably angry, annoyed, or frustrated.

Which part of the narrative structure is this?: “Tom discovered that his bike had been stolen.”

Problem.

Which part of the narrative structure is this?: “Tom rode home happily and locked his bike safely away.”

Resolution.

Which language feature is being used?: “The scorching sun beat down on the cracked earth.”

Imagery.

What picture does this imagery create?: “The scorching sun beat down on the cracked earth.”

A very hot, dry environment.

What does this reveal about the character?: “Jake helped a younger student carry their books.”

Jake is kind, helpful, or caring.

Which language feature is being used?: "I can't believe we won!" shouted Mia.

Dialogue.

Which biography feature is shown?: “He was born in Adelaide on 12 June 2012.”

Date (12 June 2012) and fact (he was born in Adelaide).

Which biography feature is shown?: “She became the youngest player to win the tournament.”

Achievement.

Which narrative stage comes immediately before the climax?

Rising Action.

Which narrative stage comes immediately after the climax?

Falling Action.

Which language feature is being used?: “The stars were diamonds scattered across the sky.”

Metaphors.

Explain why this is a metaphor: “The stars were diamonds scattered across the sky.”

It compares the stars to diamonds without directly using like or as.

Explain why this is a simile: “The stars shone like diamonds.”

It uses the word like.

What is wrong with this paraphrase?:

Original: “The dog ran across the field.”

Paraphrased: “The dog ran across the field.”

It copies the original wording instead of changing it.

Which is the best paraphrase for this sentence?: “The storm damaged many houses.”

Many homes were harmed by the storm.

Infer: “Sarah checked the clock every few seconds while waiting outside.”

Sarah is nervous, excited, impatient, or eager.

Which language feature is most important in this sentence?: “The icy rain stung my face as the wind howled around me.

Imagery.

Which feature is being tested?: What can the reader conclude about the character’s feelings?

Inferencing.

Which feature is being tested?: Rewrite the sentence in your words.

Paraphrasing.

Which feature is being tested?: What does the character’s actions reveal about them?

Characterisation.

Which feature is being tested?: Identify the most exciting or important part of the story.

Climax.

Which feature is being tested?: What happens after the climax before the resolution?

Falling Action.

Which narrative stage is this?: Jack lived in a small coastal town with his grandmother.

Orientation

Name two topics that could be identified in this sentence: As the black clouds gathered overhead, Emma tightened her grip on the umbrella.

Imagery and Inferencing.

Name one topic that could be identified in this sentence: “We’re going to be late!” yelled Sam.

Dialogue.

Name the language feature in this sentence: The football was a rocket flying across the field.

Metaphor.

Name the language feature in this sentence: The football flew like a rocket across the field.

Simile.