Standard 3: Critical Reading and Writing

Students will apply critical thinking skills to reading and writing.

4.3.R.3  Students will describe key literary elements:

• setting

• plot

• characters (i.e., protagonist, antagonist)

• characterization

• theme

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will describe the setting (where and when it takes place, or descriptive) of a text.
• Students will describe the plot (sequence of events or actions) of a text.
• Students will describe characters (protagonist-central character/antagonist-character who stands directly opposed to the protagonist) of a text.
• Students will describe the characterization (the creation or construction of a character) in a text.
• Students will describe the theme (central meaning) of a text.
• Students can explore the concept of character development through focused experiences with picture books. The class searches the text and illustrations for cues to character development and uses a graphic organizer to complete a structured analysis of character in the picture books.

• Teachers review and model how to describe the setting of a text.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to describe the setting of a text.
• Teachers review and model how to describe the plot of a text.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to describe the plot of a text.
• Teachers explain and model  how to describe characters (protagonist/antagonist) of a text.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to describe characters (protagonist/antagonist) of a text.
• Teachers review what characterization in a text is.
• Teachers model how to describe characterization in a text.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to describe characterization in a text.
• Teachers review and model how to describe the theme of a text.
• Teachers provide opportunities for students to describe the theme of a text.
• Teachers can use fables to introduce stated theme is an effective way to scaffold instruction towards identifying implied theme and can be used to model how to find textual evidence.

Supporting Resources

Teacher Insights

elaokframework:literacy progression/literary elements (webpage)

Lesson on Elements of Plot (webpage)

Lesson on Setting Development (webpage)

Lesson on Three Elements of Characterization (webpage)

• Literary elements are the essential parts used in storytelling in almost all types of literature.  Definitions of these elements listed above are found in the OSDE Glossary; they are further explained along with numerous other literary elements on the following site: literarydevices.com.

• Setting

• Plot

• Characters are any person, animal, or figure in story.

• Protagonist: central character

• Antagonist: adversary of protagonist

• Characterizationinvolves how an author describe a character’s appearance and personality.

• Character traits are revealed how they act, speak, and think, or they are explicitly stated by the author.

• Theme

• Most themes are not directly stated but rather are implied. Theme is a life lesson, not just one word.

• Many students will confuse topic, theme, and main idea.

• Teachers emphasize that theme is bigger than the story and is a lesson for everyone, and not just the characters in the book. A useful guiding question is: What did the main character learn? or How did the character change?

• There can be more than one theme in a text.

• Students must locate and describe literary elements in a text.

• This may involve answering questions such as:

• What is the setting?

• Describe the conflict?

• What happens in the story?

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.