This document outlines targets and assessments for teaching students to analyze how an author's choices impact elements in a story or drama. Students will analyze settings, characters, plot sequences and their development and relationships. They will determine how these elements support themes. Assessments include analyzing story elements, character analyses, determining author's purpose, and evaluating how setting impacts tone and plot supports themes. Students will also write reflections on weekly news articles. The goal is for students to understand how author choices develop a story and how elements relate.