ERHARD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

Bulaklakan, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro

ENGLISH 10
Quarter 1 – Module 3 : Week 5 & 6

TEACHER’S MESSAGE
Hi, welcome to Junior High School/ Senior High School! I am so delighted to
see you all!
To all freshmen, You must have been experiencing a lot of adjustments now
that the classes are on again! Well I want to let you know we are happy to
see you and will help you get through with your new learning adventure.
Through this module, your learning ride will be easier and more fun!
While we are still in the middle of the Pandemic. It has difficult for us to do
face-to face classes. However, it does not mean we have lost the capacity to
reach out to you, our dear students. We continue to find ways to give you a
Quality Education despite of the situation we are in.
This module will help you understand the importance of good communication
skills at home, schools, and at work. It will also provide you with opportunities
to continually improve your skill in the acquisition and application of
communicative skills through active and interactive engagement in the
activities prepared for you.
We are so grateful for choosing our beloved institution to be part of your
learning venture. We assure you to improve more our learning modality and
supplement the lesson to keep you on track.
We hope that this self-learning module will give you courage to work
independently. We promise that we will continue to guide and help you
throughout your journey. Keep learning and have fun!

Your EnglishTeacher:
Ms. DANICA LA MADRID

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Week 5 & 6 : ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY
3.1. Personal Characteristics
3.2. Connotation and Denotation
3.3. Observing the key events of short story
3.4 Characterization and Author’s Purpose

KEY TERMS
• Connotation
• Denotation
• Character
• Setting
• Plot
• Tone
• Style
• Characterization
• Author’s Purpose
• Persuade
• Inform
• Entertain

GENERAL OBJECTIVES
What You Will Learn
In this chapter you will:
• know the elements of short story or fiction
Skills You Will Use
In this chapter you will:
• Appraise the unity of plot, setting, and characterization in a material viewed to achieve the writer’s
purpose (EN10VC-IVc-29)
Why it is important?
These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a
logical way that the reader can follow.
PRE-ACTIVITY
Directions: Watch the short clip entitled “The necklace”. Answer the following questions.
1. Who are the major characters in the story?
2. Who are the minor characters in the story?
3. When and where did the story happened?
4. What is the conflict in the story?
5. What type of conflict is presented?
6. Why do you think the character arrived to that decision?
7. If you were Madam Loisel will you do the same? Why?
8. What is the moral of the story?
9. What is the author’s purpose in writing it?
10. What is your realization after watching it?
11. Why is telling the truth really matters?
12. Are you satisfied with the ending or will you change it?
13. If No, then why? If yes, what would be the new ending?
14. What is the denotation of the necklace?
15. What is the connotation of the necklace?

INTRODUCTION
What is fiction?
- is deliberately fabricated account of something. It can also be a literary work based on
imagination rather than on fact, like a novel or short story.

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 -is a narrative form, in any medium, consisting of people, events, or places that are imaginary—in
other words, not based strictly on history or fact. In its most narrow usage, fiction refers to written
narratives in prose and often specifically novels, though also novellas and short stories. More broadly,
fiction has come to encompass imaginary narratives expressed in any form, including not just writings but
also live theatrical performances, films, television programs, radio dramas, comics, role-playing games,
and video games.
Forms of Fiction

NOVE

NOVEL

SHORT STORY
Novel- Is an invented prose narrative of considerable length and a certain complexity that deals
imaginatively with human experience, usually through a connected sequence of events involving a group
of persons in a specific setting. Usually a novel extends up to 250 pages.
Novela- Is a fictional prose narrative that is longer and more complex than a short story. It is also
considered as a short novel. It is composed of 150 pages.
Short story- Is a fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel. Edgar Allan Poe, in his
essay “The Philosophy of Composition,” said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anyway from
a half hour to two hours. In contemporary fiction, a short story can range from 1,000 to 20,000 words
A short story typically takes the form of a brief fictional work, usually written in prose. The earliest
precursors to the short story can be found in the oral storytelling tradition, as well as episodes from
ancient Mediterranean epics, such as 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' and Homer's 'Iliad.
Over time, genres and writers all around the world have influenced the development of the short story. For
example, Norse legends, Irish ballads, and Gothic ghost stories have all played a major role in directing
both its structure and subject matter.
3.0 Elements of Short Stories
Setting- Is the physical and social context in which the action of a story occurs. The major elements of
setting are the time, place, and the social environment that frames the characters. These elements
establish the word in which the character act. Sometimes the setting is lightly sketched, presented only
because the story has to take place somewhere and at some time. Often, however, the setting is more
important. Giving the reader the feel of the people who move through it. Setting can be used to evoke a
mood or atmosphere that will prepare the reader for what is the outcome.
Characters- In fiction can be classified as major and minor. A major character is an important figure at the
center of the action or theme. The major character is called a protagonist and with an antagonist may
sparks the stories conflict. Supporting the character are one or more secondary or minor characters
whose function is to illuminate the major characters. Minor characters are often static or they remain the
same from the beginning of a work to the end. Dynamic on the other hand, exhibit some kind of change-of
attitude, purpose as the story progresses
Characterization- Is a means by which writers present and reveal-by direct description, by showing the
character in action, or by the action of the characters who help to define each other.

Characters
Dynamic- A developing character, usually at the center of the action, changes or grows to a new
awareness of life (the human condition).
Static- These can be either round or flat characters, but they do not change during the story.
Universal- Character with problems and traits common to all humanity
Flat- A one- dimensional character, typically not central to the story
Stereotype- A character so little individualized as to show only qualities in occupation, or national, ethnic,
or other group to which s/he belongs
Individual- A more eccentric and unusual and unusual representation of character
Round- A complex, fully-developed character, usually prone to change.

Point of View
Refers to who tells the story and how it is told. The possible viewing a story are many, and more than one
point of view that storytellers draw upon into two broad categories:

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Objective: The narrator does not see into the mind of any character; rather he or she reports the action
and dialogue without telling the reader directly what the characters feel and think.
a. Omniscient: The narrator is all-knowing and takes the reader inside the character’s thought,
feelings and motives, as well as shows what the character say and do.
b. Limited Omniscient: The narrator takes the reader inside one but neither the reader nor the
character(s) has access to the inner life of any of the other characters in the story.

Style is the way a writer chooses words (diction), arranges them in sentence and longer units of discourse
(syntax) and exploits their significance. Style is the verbal identity of a writer, as unmistakable as his or
her face or voice. Reflecting their individuality, writer’s style convey their unique ways of seeing the world.
Tone is the author’s implicit attitude toward the reader, subject and/or the people, places, and events in a
work as revealed by the elements of the author’s style. Tone may be characterized as serious, or ironic,
sad or happy, private or public, angry or affectionate, bitter or nostalgic, or any other attitudes and feelings
that human being experience.
Theme is the central idea or meaning of the story. Theme in fiction is rarely presented at all; it is
abstracted from the details of characters and action that compose the story. It provides a unifying point
around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols and other elements of a story are
organized. Be careful to distinguish theme from plot- the story’s sequence of actions- and from subject-
what the story is generally all about. 3.1 Personal Characteristics

Length: Short stories typically range from 1,600 to 20,000 words.

Although authors and critics have debated the length of the short story throughout literary history,
most agree on a minimum of 1,600 and a maximum of 20,000 words. In his own contribution to the
debate, Edgar Allen Poe suggested that a short story should take 30 minutes to two hours to read.
Subject: Short stories usually focus on a single subject or theme.
Subjects or themes may range from something as mundane as a daily errand or as thrilling as a
ghost tale. A single, easily contained plot is one of the hallmarks of the short story and helps shape its
other characteristics.
'In medias res': Short stories usually take place in a single setting and begin 'in medias res', which
means 'into the middle of things' in Latin.
In general, short stories tend to begin and end abruptly, with little to no prior information and no
major lapses in time. As they involve just one plot line and are limited in word length, there is little room or
need for the extended developments we frequently find in novels.
Limited number of characters: Due to the limitations of the genre, short stories typically focus on
just one or a couple characters.
As short stories usually cover such brief periods of time, even a single character may never be fully
developed. However, historical examples, like some of Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales,' may find
interesting ways of involving many different people, as we'll discuss next.
Examples
'Canterbury Tales'
Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' may very well be the first collection of short stories in English
literature. Composed in Middle-English verse or prose and written in the early 14th century, Chaucer's
collection revolves around a storytelling contest among pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.
'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'
'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,' a ghoulish account of a headless horseman and an ambitious,
superstitious schoolmaster, was published by Washington Irving in 1820. Adapted from a German folktale,
the story owes much of its style and form to the Gothic horror tradition found in the German novellen, or
little novels, of the 18th century.
3.2 Denotation and Connotation

defined as: associated with:

A stocky seed or innocence
fruit-eating bird gentleness
with a small head, tenderness
short legs, and peace
pointed tail and a love
cooing voice. harmony
tranquility

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 Has anyone ever asked you if you "catch their meaning"? If so, they were probably using a connotation.
Denotation is more of a literal meaning. To keep them straight, learn the difference between connotation
vs. denotation through definitions and examples.
White doves are an exemplary example to show that one word can have two different meanings,
denotation
and connotation. This is an effective image because it clearly states the denotation and connotation (literal
vs. emotional) of the white dove. It is also an example that most are familiar with but may not have
recognized this rhetorical device.
Denotation is the literal meaning of a word. For example, take the word "vintage." By its very definition,
when you say that something is vintage, it means that it was made a long time ago. Perhaps your friend's
dad drives a vintage Corvette. That's denotation.
Connotation, on the other hand, is an indirect or implied meaning or feeling. Take the word "vintage"
again. It has a separate connotation.
A lot of women love to shop for vintage clothing. That doesn't mean they're looking for something simply
made a long time ago. In fact, popular brands make "vintage" clothing every day. It just means it's an old
style that's making a comeback, such as headscarves or Mary Jane shoes. The word carries a nostalgic,
desirable quality.

Here's another way to look at it. Denotation is the standard definition of a word, whereas connotation is
the feeling evoked by a word. Let's consider another word: gritty.
The definition of gritty is "having a rough texture." So, in a literal sense (denotation), we might say:
This sandpaper is gritty. It'll make that countertop nice and smooth.
But, consider this sentence:
That side of town is pretty gritty.
In that sense, we're not saying that section of the city has a "rough texture" in a literal sense.
Instead, we're saying it's a tough neighborhood, perhaps with issues related to crime and poverty. As
such, you'll want to have your wits about you when walking through its streets. That's connotation.

Check out these examples of how you can use the same word in a denotative and connotative way.
Cheap: to cost very little
Denotation: This shirt is cheap enough for me to afford.
Connotation: That t-shirt was so cheap, it pilled in a matter of weeks.
The second sentence suggests that the t-shirt wasn't just a bargain buy. Rather, it was of poor quality.
The implication is that a higher-quality garment wouldn't have pilled.
Dabble: to show a superficial interest
Denotation: I dabble in painting.
Connotation: You should never dabble in drugs
When someone says you should never dabble in drugs (or anything harmful), they mean you shouldn't
touch them, never mind a superficial interest or momentary experimentation. The connotation of "dabbling
in drugs" is to "stay back." Don't even go there.

Jabber: speak in quick, often nonsensical talk

Denotation: The baby jabbers.
Connotation: I thought he would never stop jabbering.
To wish someone would stop talking can mean anything. Perhaps you want quiet; maybe they're not
letting you get a word in. But, saying that someone is jabbering carries the negative connotation of
someone who's talking nonsensically and is starting to annoy you.

Knockout: a harsh blow that knocks someone unconscious

Denotation: The boxing match ended in a knockout.
Connotation: Julia Roberts was a knockout in that red dress.
This is a term for an extremely beautiful man or woman. It's supposed to conjure up images of people
passing out at the sight of a stunner. Of course, this never actually happens, but the connotation is total
enchantment.

Mutt: a mixed-breed dog

Denotation: Since he is a mix of beagle and terrier, he's a mutt.
Connotation: That mutt is always barking.
In this example, "mutt" carries a negative connotation. It's a term used in anger or frustration to reference
an inferior, annoying dog. The implication is that, if the dog wasn't a mutt, it would be better behaved.

Pour: to flow freely or rain heavily

Denotation: Do you want me to pour you a glass of water?
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Connotation: His work continued to pour in.
If anything is "pouring in," the connotation is that you can't keep up. When something drips or drops in,
that carries a slow connotation. But, when something pours in, it's coming in at a rate that's too fast.

Twinkle: to shine with quick flashes of light

Denotation: The stars twinkle in the sky.
Connotation: There was a twinkle in her eye whenever she smiled.
To say someone twinkles when they smile or they have a twinkle in their eye connotes an element of
positivity and goodness. If someone has a twinkle in their eye, they're usually thinking positive thoughts
(and, perhaps, wanting to share them with you).

Wave: a swell of water

Denotation: The wave crashes against the beach.
Connotation: She grieved in waves of sadness.
Imagine an ocean wave literally crashing down on you. If you're not prepared, it's unpleasant. So, for
anything in life to come upon you in waves that means it's more than you're able to handle - until you find
a way to swim to the proverbial shoreline and catch a breath.

Innocent: free from guilt or wrongdoing

Denotation: The court said she was innocent.
Connotation: What does she know? She's so innocent.
In this context, the implication is that she's not just free from guilt; she's lacking in worldly knowledge or
experience. She's naive. It carries a derogatory connotation, implying that the speaker has more "smarts"
than the woman she's talking about.
Feelings and Literal Meanings
Without question, words have meaning. That's why words can sometimes cause more damage
than physical violence. To call someone "cheap" is quite different than saying they're "frugal" or "smart
with money." These terms may all have the same literal meaning (denotation), but the connotation of each
term is very different.
So, we must be careful not only in our speech but also in our prose. The descriptors you use for
your characters, setting, and plot will tell readers what they need to know, so be sure to be precise. For
more, enjoy these connotations in literature examples. Watch the pros insert subtle meaning into their
prose through the gentle use of connotative words
3.3 Observing the Key Events of a Short Story

PLOT-the action element in fiction,

is the arrangement of events that
make up a story
-Many fictional plots turn on a
conflict, or struggle between
opposing forces, that is usually
resolved by the end of the story
-Typical fictional plots begin with an
exposition that provides the
background information needed to
make sense of the action, describes
the setting and introduces the major
characters.
These plots develop a series of complications or intensifications of the conflict that lead to a crisis or
moment of great tension.
The conflict may reach a climax or turning point, a moment of greatest tension that fixes the outcome;
then the action falls off as the plot’s complications are sorted out and resolved (the resolution or
denouement)
Be aware, however, that much of twentieth-century fiction does not exhibit such strict formality of design.

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Conflict
Conflict in a story is a struggle between opposing forces. Characters must act to confront those forces
and there is where conflict is born. If there is nothing to overcome, there is no story. Conflict in
a story creates and drives the plot forward.
Five Commonest Types of Conflict in Literature

These are internal battles that characters wage within themselves; these are internal issues that affect
their actions, motivations and interactions with other characters. The conflict can be a recurring theme
throughout the story or at a particular point in time. In Julius Caesar, Brutus constantly struggles with his
feeling towards his friend Caesar and his country.

Example of Man Versus Self Conflict

The below excerpt from Gora by Tagore is an example of a momentary internal conflict.
“…as the cab drove away, the girl joined her hands in a brief namaskar. Utterly unprepared for this
gesture, Binoy remained frozen, unable to respond. Back home, he repeatedly cursed himself for this
minor lapse. Scrutinizing his own conduct in their company from their first encounter to the moment of
parting, he felt that his manner had been rather uncivil. He tormented himself with futile thoughts of what
he could have said or done at specific moments.”

Man Versus Society

These are conflicts where your characters’ firm beliefs are against norms that the entire society as a
whole endorses. It could be social evils or discrimination practiced by society that is opposed by a
minority.

Example of Man Versus Society Conflict

The excerpt below is from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is the story set in a fictional town in
America at a time when racial discrimination was at its height.
“Scout,” said Atticus, “nigger lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything. It’s hard to explain
– ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody is favoring Negroes over and above
themselves. ..”
“You aren’t really a nigger lover are you?”
“ I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody. It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a
bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you
down…”

Man Versus Man

These sort of conflicts are the most common. Your characters will be opposed by or will oppose the
actions, reactions, motivations of another character or characters. As a writer you can choose to use this
sort of conflict to provide comic relief to your narrative.

Example of Man Versus Man Conflict

Consider the example below; an excerpt from one of my favorites – Swami and Friends by the legendary
R.K.Narayanan.

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“Oh wretched idiots!,” the teacher said, clenching his fists, “Why do you worship dirty, lifeless, wooden
idols and stone images? Can they talk? No. Can they see? No. Can they take you to heaven? No. What
did your Gods do when Mohammed of Gazni smashed them to pieces, trod upon them, and constructed
out of them steps for his lavatory?...
Now see our Lord Jesus. He could cure the sick, relieve the poor, and take us to Heaven. He was a real
God. …
Did our Jesus go about dancing with girls like your Krishna? Did our Jesus go about stealing butter like
that arch-scoundrel Krishna? “
The teacher paused for breath. Swaminathan’s blood boiled. He got up and asked, “If he did not, why was
he crucified?”

Man Versus Nature

Nature serves as the obstacle for characters. You could choose to write a particular scene around a
natural calamity such as a typhoon or tsunami. There are many stories waiting to be explored because, in
my opinion, an inspirational story such as the triumph of human spirit over adversity will never go out of
fashion.

Example of Man Versus Nature Conflict

The excerpt below is from Life of Pi by Yann Martel and a great part of the book is set in the middle of the
sea.
The ship sank. It made a sound like a monstrous metallic burp. Things bubbled at the surface and then
vanished.
Everything was screaming: the sea, the wind, my heart. From the lifeboat I saw something in the water.
I cried, "Richard Parker, is that you? It's so hard to see. Oh, that this rain would stop! Richard Parker?
Richard Parker? Yes, it is you!"
I could see his head. He was struggling to stay at the surface of the water.
"Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu, how good to see you, Richard Parker!
Don't give up, please. Come to the lifeboat. Do you hear this whistle? TREEEEEE! TREEEEEE!
TREEEEEE!

Man Versus Supernatural

Supernatural elements are typically those that defy the laws of nature and are beyond scientific
understanding. Such a setting adds gravitas and drama to the story. If you are using super natural
elements you might want to make sure what genre you are writing in.

Example of Man Versus Supernatural Conflict

Excerpt from Vikram and Baital, an Indian fairytale.
Remember the old saying, mighty Vikram!" said the Baital, with a sneer, "that many a tongue has cut
many a throat. I have yielded to your resolution and I am about to accompany you, bound to your back like
a beggar's wallet.
But pay heed to my words, as we set out upon the way. I am in talkative mood, and it is well near an
hour's walk between this tree and the place where your friend sits. Therefore, I shall try to distract my
thoughts, which otherwise might not be of the most pleasing nature, by means of sprightly tales and
profitable reflections.
The great king nodded.

3.4 Characterization and Author’s Purpose

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I. What is Characterization?
Characterization is a writer’s tool, or “literary device” that occurs any time the author uses details to
teach us about a person. This is used over the course of a story in order to tell the tale.
Aristotle first defined characterization in the 15th century, speaking of the importance of plot over
character in Poetics, “Tragedy is representation, not of men, but of action and life.” What he means here is
that “tragedy” (or drama, meaning a story) is not centered on the thoughts, and histories, and dreams of
the characters. The story is centered on what happens to them (the plot), so writers employ
characterization to relay information about those thoughts, histories, and dreams, without drifting away
from the action.

II. Examples of Characterization

The way a character speaks can inform us of their background and personality, like how educated they
are, or what they consider to be important. Even the way other characters speak to and about our
characters is a form of characterization.
Example 1
In the Harry Potter series, Dobby refers to Potter as “the noble Harry Potter,” or “good Harry Potter,” which
shows us how the house elf adores the young wizard. It might also be a hint of how Dobby would show
affection for other people he admires.
Example 2
The way a character reacts to a certain scene also teaches us about them. For example, a character who
snubs a beggar has is different from a character who opens their wallet and hands over a wad of
hundreds, and still there are more differences from a character who works directly with the homeless
population in a city. Characterization can happen in many, many ways.

III. Types of Characterization

a. Direct/Explicit
This is clearly informative, and often uses the narrator, the protagonist, or the character themselves. The
narration, “Clara had always been a smug, wicked little princess,” is a form of direct or explicit
characterization, as is the line of dialogue, “Nicholas will never stop until he gets what he wants! He’s
crazy!”
b. Indirect/Implicit
This more subtle method of characterization relies on you, the reader, to decide for yourself what it
means. Indirect or implicit characterization uses behavior, speech, and appearance, as well as the
opinions of other characters. Although other characters can be used to make direct characterization
(“Nicholas is crazy!”), they can also be used to make indirect characterization about themselves.
Figuring out what it all means is most of the fun, and it’s the reason fans of certain books, shows, and
movies can argue about whether or not a certain character is good, or evil, or in love. They’ve interpreted
the characterization differently.
c. The Importance of Characterization
Modern storytelling usually emphasizes characterization even more than classical literature. This is
because characterization is a major tool in the plot-driven narrative. They can quickly connect the reader
to the character, without taking them out of the action. When you’re busy moving characters from one
place to another, making things happen to them, it’s clumsy to suddenly stop, get inside of Tom’s head,
and drift around with his thoughts for a while. On the other hand, no one is going to truly care about a
story if they don’t care about its characters, whether by love or hate or even just amusement or pity.

IV. Characterization in Literature

Many of the most famed manuscripts are beloved for their “strong characters,” which is another way of
saying characterization. Harry Potter has already been mentioned and has many beloved characters such
as Hermione or Hagrid. From The Great Gatsby to A Christmas Carol, characterization is a major facet of
both classical and popular fiction.
Example 1
In The Great Gatsby, the location of lower upper-class characters (East Egg) compared to the location of
upper upper-class characters (West Egg) serves to characterize their financial boundary.
Example 2
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge tells a charity collector that, if the poor would rather die (than go to poor-
houses), they’d better do it, and “decrease the surplus population.” This line tells us a lot about how
Scrooge sees both other people and his own good fortune.

Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization
is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.
Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is.
Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well-mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
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Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children.
The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.” Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the
personality of a character.

There are five different methods of indirect characterization:

Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts What is revealed through the character’s private thought s and feelings?
Effects on others What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other
towards the characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Character
Actions What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other
characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE
Purpose is the reason an author writes about a topic. An author writes to share the main idea
about a topic. An author’s main idea is directly related to the author’s purpose. One of the three following
purposes will drive the main idea: to inform, to entertain, and to persuade.
• To persuade – to convince the reader to agree with the author’s point of view on a subject.
Authors with this purpose may give facts, but their main goal is to argue or prove a point to
readers. Example:
• THE DEATH PENALTY IS DEEPLY FLAWED AND SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
• To inform – to give information about a subject. Authors with this purpose wish to provide facts
that will explain or teach something to readers. Example:
• PAIN IS A NORMAL PART OF A PHYSICAL PROCESS THAT LETS US KNOW SOMETHING
IS WRONG.
• To entertain – to amuse and delight; to appeal to the reader’s senses and imagination. Authors
with this purpose set out to captivate or interest the audience. Example:
• “YES, I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT. I WEIGHED ONLY 8 POUNDS WHEN I WAS BORN.”
To figure out the author’s purpose, the reader must consider the main idea, thought pattern, and tone. For
example:
Topic Sentence: Spanking must be avoided as a way to discipline due to its long-term negative effects
on the child.
Consider what the author is going to write about spanking.
• Is the author going to discuss the disadvantages of spanking?
• Is the author going to argue against spanking as a means of discipline?
• Is the author going to make fun of those who use spanking as a means of discipline?
The tone words “must‟ and “negative” indicate the author’s point of view is against spanking. The phrase
“long-term effects” indicates that the details will be organized as a list of effects. We can conclude that the
author is going to argue against spanking as a means of discipline.

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