Name ______________________
Class ______________________

Setting Analysis Assignment

Overview of Assignment:
If asked, “what is the purpose of a setting?” most people would respond, “to create a backdrop for a story.” As advanced readers and writers, you know this is not always true. Often the setting impacts a story’s plot, helps to develop a story’s characters, or reveals a story’s theme. Your assignment is to create a chapter for a book entitled How to Write Short Stories. The focus of your chapter is setting and its importance. Your chapter should be broken into 4 sections:
introduction to setting, including: definition of setting (time, place, mood, purpose), direct and indirect description, and strategies that may be used in describing a setting (giving specific examples from “All Summer in a Day”, with quotes to support)
the impact a setting may have on conflict and plot (giving specific examples from “To Build a Fire”, with quotes to support)
the impact a setting may have on characters (giving specific examples from “The Wild Duck’s Nest”, with quotes to support)
how a setting might help reveal theme (giving specific examples from “La Puerta”, with quotes to support)
For each section, you need to give a brief description of the story you are using (including a complete description of the setting) and the definition of any literary terms you use (for example, protagonist, conflict, elements in the plot). You have the choice of how you would like to compile your chapter - as long as it is completed in final draft format!

General notes:
avoid using “I”, “me”, or “you” (unless it is in a quote)
avoid using contractions (unless it is in a quote)
use the format found on page 150 of the Write Connection for notating quotes:
(author last name page number) or (London 7)
use the format found on page 155 of the Write Connection for “a selection from an anthology” for your bibliography:
London, Jack. “To Build A Fire.” In Elements of Literature. Anderson, Robert, et
al. Orlando, FL: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc. 1993.
use a consistent format (font, size, color, page layout)
if you want to see examples from past years, see me

Name _______________________
Class __________________
Setting Analysis Grade Sheet

Analysis of Setting
____ / 20 Introduction to setting
gives brief overview of the story being analyzed, with setting fully described
includes definition of setting: time (all 3 kinds), place, mood, purposes
direct and indirect description, including definition and examples
discusses at least five strategies used to create a setting, including definition and the impact each has on the story
gives quote to illustrate each of the above
____ / 20 Impact of Setting on Plot
gives brief overview of the story being analyzed, with setting and plot fully described
gives definitions for conflict and each part of the plotline
discusses how setting can impact conflict, including 1 quote to illustrate
discusses how setting can impact rising action, including 1 quote to illustrate
discusses how setting can impact climax, including 1 quote to illustrate
discusses how setting can impact falling action, including 1 quote to illustrate
discusses how setting can impact resolution, including 1 quote to illustrate
____ / 15 Impact of Setting on Character Development
gives brief overview of the story being analyzed, with setting and protagonist fully described
gives definition for protagonist
discusses how setting can reveal information about or affect character motives / thoughts, with at least 2 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
discusses how setting can reveal information about or affect character behavior / actions, with at least 2 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
____ / 10 How Setting Can Reveal Theme
gives brief overview of the story being analyzed, with setting and theme fully described
gives definition of theme
discusses how setting can be used to reveal theme, with at least 3 examples and 1 quote to illustrate

Format
____ / 10 Grammar and Mechanics
spelling
sentence structure (punctuation and capitalization)
unity (paragraph or essay structure)
cohesion (use of transitions; logical order)
____ / 10 Final product
follows consistent format
documentation of quotes is correct, following directions in the Write Connection
includes bibliography of stories used, following directions in the Write Connection
typed

_____ / 85 total points possible

Introduction to Setting

give overview of the “All Summer in a Day”
define setting: time (all 3 kinds), place, mood, purposes
for each of the above, state an example from “All Summer in a Day”
define direct and indirect description, giving at least 3 examples of each
for each of the above, state an example from “All Summer in a Day”
discuss at least five strategies used to create a setting, including definition and the impact each has on the story
for each of the above, state an example from “All Summer in a Day”
write in final draft format, creating unity (paragraph / essay structure) and cohesion (transitions / logical order)

Impact of Setting on Plot

give overview of “To Build A Fire”, including a thorough description of the setting and the plot
give definitions for conflict and each part of the plotline (rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)
discuss how setting can impact conflict, including 1 quote from “To Build a Fire” to illustrate
discuss how setting can impact rising action, including 1 quote from “To Build a Fire” to illustrate
discuss how setting can impact climax, including 1 quote from “To Build a Fire” to illustrate
discuss how setting can impact falling action, including 1 quote from “To Build a Fire” to illustrate
discuss how setting can impact resolution, including 1 quote from “To Build a Fire” to illustrate
write in final draft format, creating unity (paragraph / essay structure) and cohesion (transitions / logical order)

Impact of Setting on Character Development

give overview of “The Wild Duck’s Nest”, including a thorough description of the setting and the protagonist
give definition for protagonist
discuss how setting can reveal information about or affect character motives / thoughts, with at least 2 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
discuss how setting can reveal information about or affect character behavior / actions, with at least 2 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
write in final draft format, creating unity (paragraph / essay structure) and cohesion (transitions / logical order)

How Setting Can Reveal Theme

give overview of “La Puerta”, including a thorough description of the setting and the theme
give definition of theme
discuss how setting can be used to reveal theme, with at least 3 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
write in final draft format, creating unity (paragraph / essay structure) and cohesion (transitions / logical order)

Name ________________
Responder ________________

Setting Analysis Assignment Peer Conference

Introduction to Setting
1. Put a X next to any of the following definitions that are missing or incorrectly defined.
Put a next to all definitions that are okay.
_____ time (all 3 kinds) _____ place
_____ purpose (all 3 kinds) _____ mood
_____ direct description _____ indirect description
_____ strategy _____ any strategies not defined: ______________
________________ ______________
________________ ______________
2. Look at each quote used. Make sure each quote is:
a. related to the definition
b. related to the setting
c. properly documented
On the author’s paper, put a ? in the margin next to the quote that you are questioning.

Impact of Setting on Plot
1. Put a X next to any of the following sections that are missing or incorrectly defined.
Put a next to all sections that are okay.
_____ overview of the story being analyzed, with setting and plot fully described
_____ definitions for conflict and each part of the plotline
____ climax _____rising action _____ climax
____ falling action _____ resolution
_____ how setting can impact conflict, including 1 quote to illustrate
_____ how setting can impact rising action, including 1 quote to illustrate
_____ how setting can impact climax, including 1 quote to illustrate
_____ how setting can impact falling action, including 1 quote to illustrate
_____ how setting can impact resolution, including 1 quote to illustrate
2. Look at each quote used. Make sure each quote is:
d. related to the definition
e. related to the setting
f. properly documented
On the author’s paper, put a ? in the margin next to the quote that you are questioning.

Impact of Setting on Character
1. Put a X next to any of the following sections that are missing or incorrectly defined.
Put a next to all sections that are okay.
_____ overview of the story being analyzed, with setting and protagonist fully
described
_____ definition for protagonist
_____ how setting can reveal information about or affect character motives /
thoughts, with at least 2 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
_____ how setting can reveal information about or affect character behavior /
actions, with at least 2 examples and 1 quote to illustrate
2. Look at each quote used. Make sure each quote is:
g. related to the definition
h. related to the setting
i. properly documented
On the author’s paper, put a ? in the margin next to the quote that you are questioning.

Impact of Setting on Theme
1. Put a X next to any of the following sections that are missing or incorrectly defined.
Put a next to all sections that are okay.
_____ brief overview of the story being analyzed, with setting and theme fully
described
_____ gives definition of theme
_____ how setting can be used to reveal theme, with at least 3 examples and 1
quote to illustrate
2. Look at each quote used. Make sure each quote is:
j. related to the definition
k. related to the setting
l. properly documented
On the author’s paper, put a ? in the margin next to the quote that you are questioning.

Format
1. Does the author avoid using “I”, “me”, or “you” (unless it is in a quote)? Mark on the
paper places where these words are inappropriately used.

2. Does the author use proper spelling? Mark on the paper places where words are mis-
spelled.

3. Does the author use sentence structure (punctuation and capitalization)? Mark on the
paper places where corrections need to be made.

4. Does the author create unity through correct paragraph or essay structure (think about
introduction, body, conclusion in each section)? Mark on the paper places where
corrections need to be made.

5. Does the author create cohesion through the use of transitions and a logical order?
Mark on the paper places where corrections need to be made.

6. Does the author follow a consistent format (font, size, color, page layout, special
effects)? Mark on the paper places where corrections need to be made.

7. Does the author include a bibliography of stories used, following directions in the
Write Connection? Mark on the paper places where the corrections need to be made.

8. Is the setting analysis assignment typed?