chronicle and story
chronicle and story
The queen died. The king died
The queen died. The king died of grief.
chronicle and story
The queen died. The king died
The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly
died of laughter.
chronicle and story
The queen died. The king died
The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly
died of laughter. The princess had always liked her brother, but
not now.
chronicle and story
The queen died. The king died
The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly
died of laughter. The princess had always liked her brother, but
not now. Now she would love him forever.
chronicle and story
The queen died. The king died
The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly
died of laughter. The princess had always liked her brother, but
not now. Now she would love him forever.
In the village, Thomas, the orphan boy who worked for
the blacksmith, knelt down, said a prayer for the king and
queen, and wept.
Drama, theme, & plot:
Writing history
Drama
• The conflict that motivates the text’s plot.
Drama
• The conflict that motivates the text’s plot.
Theme
• The “big idea” that gives the text a shape and a purpose; it’s
deeper meaning.
Drama
• The conflict that motivates the text’s plot.
Theme
• The “big idea” that gives the text a shape and a purpose; it’s
deeper meaning.
Plot
• The selection and sequencing of details.
• Through plotting, the text’s dramatic conflict is developed and
its theme unfolded.
Historical narrative
• The plot connects “small picture” conflict to “big picture”
change in power relations, thus revealing the theme
dramatically, rather than arguing it as a thesis.

Chronicle, story, drama, theme, & plot

  • 1.
  • 2.
    chronicle and story Thequeen died. The king died The queen died. The king died of grief.
  • 3.
    chronicle and story Thequeen died. The king died The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly died of laughter.
  • 4.
    chronicle and story Thequeen died. The king died The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly died of laughter. The princess had always liked her brother, but not now.
  • 5.
    chronicle and story Thequeen died. The king died The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly died of laughter. The princess had always liked her brother, but not now. Now she would love him forever.
  • 6.
    chronicle and story Thequeen died. The king died The queen died. The king died of grief. The prince nearly died of laughter. The princess had always liked her brother, but not now. Now she would love him forever. In the village, Thomas, the orphan boy who worked for the blacksmith, knelt down, said a prayer for the king and queen, and wept.
  • 7.
    Drama, theme, &plot: Writing history
  • 8.
    Drama • The conflictthat motivates the text’s plot.
  • 9.
    Drama • The conflictthat motivates the text’s plot. Theme • The “big idea” that gives the text a shape and a purpose; it’s deeper meaning.
  • 10.
    Drama • The conflictthat motivates the text’s plot. Theme • The “big idea” that gives the text a shape and a purpose; it’s deeper meaning. Plot • The selection and sequencing of details. • Through plotting, the text’s dramatic conflict is developed and its theme unfolded.
  • 11.
    Historical narrative • Theplot connects “small picture” conflict to “big picture” change in power relations, thus revealing the theme dramatically, rather than arguing it as a thesis.