Story Guidelines and Annotations

A story
•	creates believable characters faced with conflict
•	establishes the point of view early in the story
•	captures and holds the reader's attention with well-ordered events
•	develops characters, setting, and plot with specific details
•	uses images and other creative language to increase interest and suspense

Annotations

•	The writer creates believable characters faced with conflict. Both Billy and the 	narrator are in a tense situation and their friendship is suffering as a result.
•	The point of view is established as first person limited early in the story. The 	narrator only describes what he sees and feels.
•	he narrator uses well ordered events to lead the reader through the story. The story 	progresses with every pitch.
•	Specific details are used to develop characters, setting, and plot. The characters of 	Billy and the narrator are developed through actions and dialogue. The narrator 	briefly describes the setting: a ball field with another game being played on a 	neighboring field. The events in the story move the plot forward. 
•	Images of other players and comments by the narrator increase the suspense.