RETELLING
What is retelling?
What information should you convey when
you retell a story?
Warm-Up
Look carefully at the pictures.
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Discuss Responses
What do the pictures show? What happens first? Second? Next? Last?
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These pictures show the steps in making M&M cookies. First, mix the dough. Next,
add the M&Ms. Then, scoop the dough onto a cookie sheet. Finally, you
have the baked cookies.
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What is “retelling”?
Retelling is giving relevant information about the main points of a story, poems, or event.
After that, Helen served the most delicious cookies I
have ever tasted.
When you retell, you give the reader or listener
relevant information
about the main points of
a story, poem, or event.
Retelling fictional stories
If your teacher asks you to retell a fictional story such as “Little Red Riding Hood,” you should focus on the setting, characters, and plot.
“Little Red Riding Hood” takes place at the grandmother’s cottage in the
woods. The story is about a wolf who tries to eat Little Red Riding Hood.
Setting: where the story takes place Characters: who is in the story
Plot: the order of events
Retelling nonfiction events
If your teacher asks you to retell the events leading up to the Great Depression or some other real event, you should focus on the sequence of events, the key people involved, and the setting.
The Great
Depression began after the stock market crash of 1929. It affected all Americans.
President Franklin Roosevelt led the country’s economic recovery.
Sequence of events:
the order in which the events happened People: the key
people involved in the events
Setting: where the events took place
Key terms associated with retelling
First, the stock market crashed.
In the beginning, …
At the start, …
First, …
Example
After that, many companies
closed down and people lost their jobs.
Second, …
Next, …
After that, …
Example
Key terms associated with retelling
Finally, President Franklin
Roosevelt created programs to get Americans working again.
Then, …
Last, …
Finally, …
Example
