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Lesson #2:  Conflict

 

Instructional Objective:  Students will outline the action in their narrative writing assignments by brainstorming about conflict.

Do Now:  In your own words, define the word “conflict.”

Materials Needed:  Student notebooks, chart paper, sticky notes

 

Mini-Lesson:  Conflict

-Ask for volunteers to read their definitions of conflict, and write down some key words or good definitions on chart paper.

-Tell students that conflict is often the driving force toward the story goal (this can be illustrated by referencing a common text that the class has read together and determining the main conflict.)

-The conflict in a story depends on age, sex, genre, and special interests.  The specific types of conflicts your characters face may be unique to that character.

-The need to overcome a conflict is often the central focus of the hero.  In terms of your writing assignment, the conflict will be the driving force and the central focus.

-Discuss the different types of conflict (try to elicit these from the class):

*conflict with self  *conflict with others  *emotional conflict *physical conflict

*mental conflict

-Ask each group to come up with a specific conflict that has either happened to them, or they’ve read about in a novel.  Give each group a sticky note to write the conflict on, and have one member of the group place the sticky note under the proper type of conflict.

 

Work Period:

-Look at the conflicts listed on the chart, and think about other conflicts that you have faced in your life.  Do a quick 3-5 minute free-write listing those conflicts (for example, fight with your big brother, fight at school, having to move, being accused of cheating, etc.)

-Walk around the room and check on the students’ progress, asking them to add, or explain their entries.

 

Closing:

-Ask for volunteers to read some of their lists, and tell the other students that they can add anything that they think is important to their own lists.

-List some of their ideas on another sheet of chart paper as “Possible Conflicts in Your Narrative Writing Assignment.”

-Think about the character whose point of view you’re writing from.  Look over your list of conflicts and the ones that we’ve listed on the board.  Circle any that you think would be appropriate for your character.

Homework:  Write a 5 paragraph journal entry in which your character deals with one of those conflicts you circled.  How does he/she react or respond to this conflict?

 

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