Question

Use the paragraphs to complete the activity.

Patrick lived in Emoryville, but every Saturday morning he rode two city buses to his uncle’s bookstore in Northview where he worked. He didn’t mind the commute because he loved his job. He loved spending time with his uncle, but he also loved going to work because he had become friends with Andrew, one of his co-workers. The boys would talk about everything from baseball scores to movies to favorite pizza toppings.

So this Saturday, when Patrick got to work, he and Andrew got to talking as they always did.

“Hey, Pat,” Andrew said casually.

“Hey,” said Patrick. “Did you have a good week?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Great week. My basketball team made it into the semifinals. The game is tonight. We’re playing Emoryville, our nemesis.”

Before Patrick could say another word, Andrew continued. “I don’t like Emoryville. I don’t think I could ever be friends with someone from that town. Our schools are such rivals.”

Patrick was speechless.

“Where are you from, Pat? I can’t believe I’ve never asked you that before!”

Patrick fumbled over his words. “Not too far from here,” he said before he quickly changed the subject to the new shipment of graphic novels.

Write a paragraph explaining the structure of the story and how the structure contributes to the meaning of the story.

(4 points)

Answer 1

The story is structured around a Saturday morning at Patrick's uncle's bookstore, where Patrick works with his friend Andrew. The dialogue between the two characters reveals Andrew's prejudices against people from Emeryville, which puts Patrick in an uncomfortable position because he is from Emoryville. The story's structure, with its focus on a single day and a specific setting, helps to create a sense of intimacy between the characters and allows the reader to witness the tension that arises between them. The structure also reinforces the story's message about the danger of judging people based on where they come from, as Andrew's assumptions about Emoryville almost cost him a friendship with Patrick. Overall, the structure of the story helps to create a compelling narrative that explores themes of friendship, prejudice, and the importance of empathy.