Narrative Architect Worksheet Narrative Architect
Unit 6: Short Story Blueprint
Name:
Period:
Planning: Build your story foundation. Your narrative must follow one of these paths: Character Transplant, Suffering then Solving, or Randomness Changes Everything.
1
Beginning: Setup
Point of View
Who is telling the story (1st person "I" or 3rd person "He/She")?
Characters
Who is the main character? What is one complex detail (a secret or biggest fear)?
Setting & Mood
Where/when are we? List 3 sensory details (sight, sound, smell). What is the vibe?
2
Middle: Conflict
Internal Conflict
What is the struggle inside the character's heart or mind?
External Conflict
What outside force is stopping the character? (Person or situation)
3
End: Resolution
Fixing the Problem
How does the character face the problem? What is the final action they take?
The Aftermath & Theme
How is the character different now? What is the big lesson (Theme)?
Story Blueprint Presentation Slides Home Narrative Blueprint
Architecture for your American Literature Short Story
01
The Beginning: Foundation
POV
Who is telling the story? Is it the main character ("I") or an outside narrator?
Characters
Who is the main character? What is their biggest dream or secret?
Setting
Where and when are we? Use the 5 senses to describe the "mood."
02
The Middle: Conflict
Internal Conflict
What struggle is happening inside the character's heart or mind?
External Conflict
What outside force (person or situation) is stopping the character?
03
The End: Resolution
Fixing the Problem
What final action does the character take? Do they succeed or fail?
The Aftermath (The Result)
How have they changed? What is the Theme (the big lesson) of the story?
Facilitation Guide Teacher Guide Facilitation Guide
Lesson: Narrative Blueprint
Teacher Resource
Instructional Goal
Ensure students have a structural roadmap for their 3-page story. For 11th-grade ELL students, focus on clarifying motivation and the conflict arc .
Suggested Pacing
10 min
Model: Use the slides to walk through an example using a well-known story.
25 min
Drafting: Students work on their worksheet. Check for clear internal/external conflicts.
10 min
Peer Review: Have students share their "Aftermath" with a partner.
ELL Scaffolding Strategies
Sentence Starters
• "My character wants... because..."
• "The biggest problem happens when..."
• "By the end, the character feels..."
Visual Mapping
Encourage sketching character traits or setting details before writing descriptions.
Differentiated Check-Ins
For Struggling Planners
Focus only on the Beginning . Ensure they have one clear main character and a distinct setting.
For Advanced Writers
Encourage Foreshadowing . How can the Beginning hint at the conflict coming in the Middle?
Rubric Alignment
POV (Proficiency 3.0)
Setting (Proficiency 3.0)
Conflict (Proficiency 3.0)
Resolution (Proficiency 3.0)