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

1 answer

The structure of the story follows a typical narrative arc, starting with an introduction of the main character, Patrick, and his love for his job at his uncle's bookstore. The conflict arises when Andrew, Patrick's friend and co-worker, expresses his prejudice against Patrick's hometown, Emoryville. This conflict builds tension as Patrick struggles to reveal his true origins, leading to a climax where Patrick tries to avoid the topic by changing the subject. The resolution comes with Patrick's inability to fully open up about where he's from, highlighting the impact of prejudices and assumptions on relationships. The structure of the story underscores the theme of preconceived notions and the difficulty of honest communication when faced with discrimination.