Screenplay: Explore Setting, Characters, Plot, and Dialogue

Using chart paper or a whiteboard print the text reference to the story. Under that print title, setting, characters, action, dialogue, props. As a group, fill in the story elements: time and place; names/identities of characters; plot movements; conversation, which might include a discussion of feelings to identify tone of voice and gestures; plants, animals or things significant to the story. Then decide on a title.  The resulting “screenplay” can stand as an exercise on its own or be used as the basis for dramatizing the story or to create an “on-the-spot” news show interview about the story event.