20 questions
Billy is known around the city as a “tough guy”. He can usually be spotted speeding down the street on his Harley. He is covered in skull tattoos. Most people don't know Billy is a loving grandfather who spends Wednesday evenings rocking infants in the church nursery.
Words of the Wiser
Aha Moment
Tough Questions
Contrasts and Contradictions
Charlotte forgot her lunch at home. In reading class, Charlotte read about a girl trying to bake the perfect batch of cookies. In history, Charlotte’s teacher talked about food eaten during the first Thanksgiving. Even in math class, the lesson on fractions reminded Charlotte of a delicious pizza. Her stomach growled.
Tough Questions
Memory Moment
Words of the Wiser
Again and Again
Missy's best friend Penny stole the science test off of Mr. Phillip’s desk. She was offering cheat sheets to anyone who was willing to pay $5. Missy was conflicted: should she pay the money and make an A or tell the teacher and risk becoming everyone at school’s new target?
Words of the Wiser
Contrasts and Contradictions
Tough Questions
Again and Again
What question should you ask yourself when you find a contrast or contradiction?
How might this change things?
What does this make me wonder about?
Why is the character doing that?
What is the lesson?
An Aha Moment is when a character finally...
Does the opposite of what you'd expect
Get what he/she wants
Gives advice
Understands or realizes something
What question should we ask when we see a words of the wiser moment?
What does this question make me wonder about?
Why is this memory important?
Why does this keep happening again and again?
What's the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?
My older sister came over to me and let me know the secret to her success. "No matter how difficult it is, you have to keep trying. When I started at a new school it was difficult at first. Try joining a club to meet more people."
Contrasts & contradictions
Words of the Wiser
Memory Moment
Tough Questions
Suddenly I realized what I could never see before. The truth is my grandma had been there for me all along. It all made sense.
Memory Moment
Tough Questions
Aha Moment
Again and Again
Stop & Ask: What does this question make me wonder about?
Memory Moment
Again and Again
Tough Questions
Contrasts and Contradictions
Stop & Ask: Why would the character act or feel this way?
Contrasts and Contradictions
Memory Moment
One More Time
Aha Moment
Stop & Ask: Why might this memory be important?
contrast & contradictions
words of the wiser
Memory Moment
aha moment
Stop & Ask: What is the life lesson and how could it affect the character?
aha moment
words of the wiser
tough questions
again & again
The answers to tough questions will tell you about the character's
internal conflict
theme
external conflict
past
Words of the Wiser usually help you learn about the
falling action
theme
conflict
exposition