Part One: Meet Alane
This first episode introduces your students to the overall theme of the video series, asking them to think about what a book actually is. The segment introduces Alane to the students, giving a little bit of her background and how she became an author, and concludes with the task of students thinking about the first steps an author has to take before starting writing.
Part Two: Before Page One
In this episode, Alane discusses some of the important concepts an author has to think about before they start writing, including title, genre, setting, and world building. The segment ends with the task of students discussing the next big piece an author has to decide upon. Use classroom discussion time to make a list on the board of what the next big piece might be. Use the worksheets to reinforce the learning in Part Two.
Part Three: Heroes, Villains, Sidekicks, and Minions
Prepare for a lively discussion on the different type of characters and the steps authors take to create them. The discussion focuses on the development of the two main characters, protagonist and antagonist, and delves into the types of traits that make for great storytelling. The segment ends with the task of challenging students to determine the most important ingredient of a story. Use classroom discussion time to discuss what the next big piece might be. Use the worksheets to reinforce the learning in Part Three.
Part Four: The Super-Secret Ingredient
In this video, students are taught the importance of conflict in storytelling through the sharing of a story that has no conflict, then a short retelling of the same story with a problem added. Students are left with a deeper understanding of why a character must have a problem to resolve for a story to be interesting. Alane challenges students to piece together why most stories have happy endings. Use classroom discussion time to explore why they think happy endings are important, and consider why some stories may not end happily (like Romeo and Juliet). Worksheets reinforce learning in Part Four.
Part Five: Completing The Puzzle
In this final segment, all the pieces of a book are brought together as students learn why most stories have happy endings, delving into the bond that forms between the reader and the character as the author invites the reader into the character’s point of view. The segment finishes with a wrap-up of why authors write stories and pulls together all the pieces discussed in the video segments.