5th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 17 of 17
Stories, Responses and Evidence
Narrative techniques, creative responses, using text evidence and judging texts.
What your child practices
Your child chooses narrative techniques (openings, dialogue, pacing, sensory details, transitions, endings), creative responses to texts, evidence that supports an analysis, and criteria for judging and connecting texts.
New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 5W3; 5W4; 5W5; 5R9 · narrative technique, creative responses, drawing evidence from texts, and judging and connecting texts
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A strong opening introduces the narrator and situation right away.
- Use dialogue, sensory details, pacing and transitions to tell a story.
- Support an analysis with evidence: quote words from the text.
Example: Which opening sets up a narrator and situation: “This is a story.” or “I had ten minutes to find my homework before the bus came.”? A good opening tells who and what is happening. The second shows a narrator with a problem. Answer: I had ten minutes to find my homework before the bus came.
Stories, Responses and Evidence in New York
In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 17 of 17 in 5th grade English Language Arts, after Read Closely.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which sentence uses a precise, sensory detail?
- The campfire was there.
- The campfire hissed and popped, and smoke stung my eyes.
- It was nice.
- We had a fire.
The campfire hissed and popped, and smoke stung my eyes.
Hint: Precise details appeal to the senses.
Question 2
Which opening best establishes a narrator and situation?
- Homework is given by teachers.
- This story is about homework.
- The end.
- I had exactly ten minutes to find my lost homework before the bus arrived.
I had exactly ten minutes to find my lost homework before the bus arrived.
Hint: A strong opening introduces the narrator and a problem.
Question 3
A question asks, “What does the setting show about the character?” Which answer uses text evidence?
- Sam is my favorite character.
- The setting is in the book.
- I have a messy room too.
- The messy room “piled with half-finished projects” shows that Sam starts many things but gets distracted.
The messy room “piled with half-finished projects” shows that Sam starts many things but gets distracted.
Hint: Quote or describe a detail, then explain it.
Question 4
Which is the best conclusion for a story about a girl who overcomes her fear of the dark?
- That night, Lily turned off her lamp, smiled at the stars outside her window and fell asleep.
- Lily was afraid of the dark.
- One night, Lily woke up.
- Darkness happens at night.
That night, Lily turned off her lamp, smiled at the stars outside her window and fell asleep.
Hint: A conclusion shows how the character has changed.
Question 5
Which sentence best introduces a quote as evidence?
- Bats.
- Here is a quote.
- I read something about bats.
- The author explains that “bats use echoes to find food in the dark.”
The author explains that “bats use echoes to find food in the dark.”
Hint: Name the source, then give the quote.
Question 6
Which ending best resolves a story about two friends who argue over a science project?
- One friend had a dog.
- The project was due Friday.
- They started arguing.
- They combined their ideas, and the project won second place.
They combined their ideas, and the project won second place.
Hint: A resolution solves the conflict.