Spotting the Problem in a Story

Find the trouble or challenge the main character faces.

Most stories have a problem. The problem is something that goes wrong or something a character wants but cannot get yet. The problem makes us want to keep reading.

Read: 'Nora wanted to play in the school show, but she was too shy to sing in front of people. ' Nora's problem is that she is too shy to sing. To find a problem, look for words like 'but,' 'could not,' 'lost,' or 'wanted.

' Ask yourself, 'What is wrong? What does the character need? '

• 1A problem is something that goes wrong.
• 2It can be something a character wants but cannot get.
• 3Look for clue words like but, lost, and could not.