pdf, 387.32 KB
pdf, 387.32 KB

Give your students the tools to unlock fiction with this Short Story Reference Guide — a one-page, student-friendly resource that covers everything they need to analyze and understand short stories. Perfect for middle school, high school, and AP English, this guide makes literary analysis approachable and effective.

What’s Inside:

  • Definition of a Short Story – what makes the genre unique.
  • Plot Structure – exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
  • Core Elements – character, setting, conflict, theme, tone, mood.
  • Point of View (POV) – first person, second person, third person (limited, omniscient, objective).
  • Types of Conflict – man vs. man, self, nature, society, fate/supernatural.
  • Characterization (STEAL) – speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, looks.
  • Character Types – protagonist, antagonist, foil, flat, round, static, dynamic, stock.
  • Literary Devices – foreshadowing, flashback, irony, symbolism, imagery, allegory, motif, epiphany.
  • Narrative Techniques – in medias res, frame story, unreliable narrator, stream of consciousness, minimalism.
  • Common Themes – identity, coming of age, love, isolation, corruption, fate vs. free will, prejudice.
  • Types of Short Stories – fable, folktale, parable, tall tale, realistic fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, flash fiction.
  • Famous Writers – Poe, Hawthorne, Chekhov, O. Henry, de Maupassant, Joyce, Hughes, O’Connor, Munro, Borges.
  • Freytag’s Pyramid – visual aid for mapping plot.

Teacher Directions Included:

  • Explicit introduction strategies, modeling tips, and extension ideas (pair quizzes, exit tickets, annotation practice).
  • Suggestions for binder inserts, classroom posters, and portfolio collections.

Why Teachers Love It:

  • Comprehensive yet concise — a perfect quick-reference tool.
  • Builds a common academic vocabulary for analysis and essays.
  • Reinforces classroom instruction and supports AP-level literary analysis.
  • Works as a study guide, classroom poster, or writing workshop support.

With this Short Story Reference Guide, students will be able to confidently analyze plot, character, theme, and style — while connecting to some of the greatest short story writers in literary history.

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 40%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

English Language Arts Reference Guide Bundle

Save time and set your students up for success with this ELA Reference Guide Jumbo Bundle — over 40 pages of ready-to-use reference guides covering every major area of English Language Arts. Perfect for middle school, high school, and AP English, this bundle equips students with quick, at-a-glance tools they can use all year long. What’s Included: * Poetry Reference Guide – forms, sound devices, figurative language, movements, and Sonnet 18 with analysis. * Drama & Plays Reference Guide – elements of drama, stage directions, theatre vocabulary, devices, and traditions * Short Story Reference Guide – plot structure, conflict types, characterization, literary devices, themes, and famous authors. * Novel Reference Guide – plot, character types, archetypes, themes, POV, symbolism, and techniques. * Nonfiction Reference Guide – text features, structures, rhetorical appeals/devices, and reading strategies. * Greek & Latin Roots Reference Guide – categorized roots with definitions, examples, and student tips. * Essay Writing Reference Guide – step-by-step structure, thesis tips, transitions, sample intro paragraph, and common pitfalls. * Shakespeare Reference Guide – biography, plays, sonnets, language, archetypes, themes, and AP analysis strategies. * Edgar Allan Poe Reference Guide – biography, major works, Gothic themes, style, archetypes, quotations, and AP-level analysis prompts. * General ELA Reference Guide – academic vocabulary, grammar/conventions, literary elements, and study tips. Teacher Directions Included for Each Guide: How to introduce and model the guide in class. Best practices for projection, binder inserts, or posters. Extension ideas: exit tickets, peer quizzes, annotation practice, and portfolios. Why Teachers Love This Bundle: Covers every major ELA genre, form, and skill area in one resource. Helps students build a shared academic vocabulary for class discussions and essays. Reinforces classroom instruction while promoting independence. Works as study guides, classroom posters, binder inserts, or AP prep tools. With this 40+ page ELA Reference Guide Bundle, your students will always have the tools they need for reading, writing, analysis, and exam prep — while you save time and bring consistency to your instruction.

£12.00

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