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Objectives
I will be able to:
Find and use details in source texts as
inspiration for a fictional narrative.
Generate ideas for the characters, setting, and
plot of the narrative.
Engage in collaborative conversations to share
and build on ideas.

What does it mean for you to draw
inspiration from a text?

Imagine you are one of the large mechanical
looms described in “Eli Whitney’s Cotton
Gin” and “Technology and the Lowell Mill
Girls.” Write a narrative about one day in
your life. What do you see, hear, think, and
feel? Use your imagination as well as
inspiration from two of your readings to
help you write your narrative.

Narrative writing tells a story. It has a
setting, characters, and a plot—events that
help the story move forward. These events
are usually arranged in chronological order.

Chronological Order
noun
the arrangement of things
following one after another in
time: Please tell me about
your
day in chronological order.

The story Mrs. Brengle and I are writing is
told from a certain perspective—the
mechanical loom. The setting for my story
will be a textile factory. My characters (other
than the loom) will be young women who have
left home for a factory job. My plot will center
on the relationship between the loom and one
of the young women. I’ll use the two readings
and bring history to life!

Tells a story
Setting
Characters
Plot

Narrative Writing Tells
A Story
My ideas…
This story will be about
a day in the life of a
mechanical loom.
Related Details or Paragraphs from
the Source Texts
“A Mill Picture,” stanza
1
“Eli Whitney”
paragraph 10

Narrative Writing
Includes A Setting
My ideas…
This story will take
place in a textile mill in
Lowell, Massachusetts,
during the 1850’s
the Source Texts
Introduction to
“Technology and the
Lowell Mill Girls”

Narrative Writing
Includes Characters
My ideas…
The characters in my
story will be the loom
and a young factory
worker from Ireland
named Eileen.
the Source Texts
Loom description in “A
Mill Picture” stanzas 1,
5
Description of worker in
“A Mill Picture” stanzas
2, 4

Narrative Writing
Features A Plot
My ideas…
 The loom waits for Eileen in the
morning.
 When Eileen arrives, the loom is happy.
 The loom watches Eileen’s face and
realizes she is sad. It wants to speak to
her, but cannot.
 The day passes in silent labor, although
the factory is noisy. The loom and Eileen
work together, giving the loom some
comfort.
 At the end of the day, Eileen leaves.
the Source Texts
 “When I set out for Lowell…” line 5: “But
now I am in Lowell, And suumon’d by the
bell…”
 Details about the factory workers
feelings in “A Mill Picture, stanzas 2-4
 Details about the weaving process:
paragraph 1 of “Eli Whitney’s Cotton
Gin”
 Photos of factory workers on pages 124
and 129 of source texts

 Work with your “W” partner.
 Reread “Writing to Sources” on page 21 of “Technology’s Impact on
Society.”
 Jot down ideas for your narrative.
 Share your ideas with your partner; listen to his or her ideas.
 Ask questions like:
 What descriptive details in the source texts might help you develop your
setting, plot, or characters?
 Do any of the background characters in the poems give you ideas for
characters.
 What historic facts from the poems will you weave into your story?

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Grade 5, unit 5, week 2, lesson 7

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Grade 5, unit 5, week 2, lesson 7