Use the paragraphs to complete the activity.

Question

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 structure of the story is centered around Patrick's commute to his uncle's bookstore and his conversations with Andrew. The setting of the bookstore serves as a backdrop for their interactions, where they talk about various topics. The structure of the story allows the reader to see the contrast between the boys' friendship and Andrew's prejudice towards people from Emoryville. This dichotomy is highlighted by the fact that Patrick keeps his hometown a secret, showing the complexity of relationships and perceptions. Overall, the structure of the story enhances the theme of friendship, rivalry, and the potential for misunderstanding.