SYNOPSIS?

1. DON'T SYNOPSIS? BE SCARED! PREPARED!

2. FORMATTING • If typing: 12 POINT FONT • Times New Roman, Arial, Or Calibri – DOUBLE SPACED. • If Hand-written: One side of the paper, neatly presented - USE A PEN! • LABEL SECTIONS AND SUBSECTIONS

3. For example: First Section: Identify and Explain: Main Conflict and Climax Main Conflict: In the novel The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton, there are two teenage social groups who simply do not get along. One group is called the Socs (the word “socials” shortened) and the other is called the Greasers due to the fact that they use product in their long hair. Their differences are mostly economic. This is the root cause of tension in the novel, since the two “gangs” don’t get along. The Socs are privileged bullies and act as the antagonists against the protagonist Greasers. The Socs live in the part of town with big houses and feel entitled to everything. The Greasers, in contrast, are characterized as poor, from broken homes, and are rough around the edges. They feel the need to fight to survive economically and socially. The conflict is complicated When a Greaser named Johnny kills a Soc in self-defense. Johnny and Ponyboy hide out in an old church until things “blow over.” Climax: The point that this conflict comes to an unavoidable climax is when yada, yada blah blah rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, etc. and so on until there is no more room on the slide you are looking at and I can go home or get some coffee. Coffee is really great, probably the greatest thing about it is the way it is nice and

4. NOTES • In order • Complete – labeled, etc. • From perspective of main character Date:____ up to page # ____ Characters introduced_________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Plot developments (what happened)_____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Conflicts developed__________________________________________________________________________ Literary elements (symbols, foreshadowing, irony, etc)______________________________________________ Specific example:______________________________________________________________PAGE #_______

5. First Section – 2 paragraphs total • Describe theMAIN conflict: Who vs. Whom? – Identify Protagonist and Antagonist Describe: rising action Over-arching reasons behind the conflict • Describe the Climax Include the main components of the conflict Explain WHY it is the climax

6. Second Section – 1 Paragraph • STRUCTURE Analyze how an author’s choice of structure unfolds the plot and also creates mystery, tension, surprise, etc. Is it linear? Is it circular? Are there parallel plots? Flashbacks? Foreshadowing?

7. Third Section – 2 Paragraphs • TWO different literary elements – USE YOUR NOTES! • Identify • Define • Explain (with specific examples from the book) the impact of usage on the text • USE QUOTES AND PAGE NUMBERS

8. Fourth Section – 1 Paragraph • CHARACTER ANALYSIS Explain how the main character changed over the course of the book Three major plot points/events/interactions which have influenced their change GIVE QUOTES AND PAGE NUMBERS

9. FIFTH SECTION – 2 Paragraphs • HISTORICAL CONTEXT When was it written? How does that impact the story? Do additional research – use quotes and in-text citations (include bibliography items) Reading The Giver? – also explain how it is a dystopian novel

10. Sixth Section – 12 line minimum • Creative response poem • At least one figurative element • At least two sound elements • Underline these elements • Poetic Forms?

11. Form examples: • Free Verse – no set rules or structure Buffalo Bill's defunct who used to ride a watersmooth-silver stallion and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat Jesus he was a handsome man and what i want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death

12. Acrostic • Acrostic – Spells a title, character, or concept down the left side Will you know how to choose the Right words and apt phrases In your poems? Thinking might help, but poetry comes from Inside somewhere and Nowhere at the same time. Go ahead and try. Poetic moments may be Obscured by Every day Trash. So clean up the Refuse, and You might find a poem to polish in the end.

13. Want MORE? • Try here: • www.rccsd.org • My page, under “poetry” • Click “poetic forms”

14. Now, WORK! • If you have specific questions – stay after school and ask!

15. YOUR SYNOPSIS: IF YOU DON'T DO IT, I CAN'T CHEW IT!

16. EARLY POLICY • +2 to hand it in early • Greater benefit of having me look it over before due date

17. LATE POLICY: • END OF THE DAY DUE – totally ok! • One day late (by 5:30) – 10% off • Two Days Late (by 5:30) – 20% off • And so on… • STAY IN ACADEMIC RECOVERY!!!! • BUT • More than five school days late - ZERO