Experimenting with Point of View
Use your understanding of point of view to transform each excerpt into the other two points
of view. Work in pairs to discuss and transform the texts.
 After you and your partner have transformed each passage, take turns reading your
rewrites to each other.
 Provide feedback to each other by studying the rewrites and answering this question:
What parts of the response make it the correct point of view?
Excerpt 1: Third-Person Limited
The city skyline covered the horizon. From the balcony of her high-priced apartment that she
shared with Jake, Sarah looked out and wondered if she was happy. Something seemed to be
missing. Jake looked over to her, and Sarah looked away quickly, hoping that she had not given
away her private thoughts.
Excerpt 2: Third-Person Omniscient
The robber looked over his potential prey for the evening. They all seemed like easy marks to
him. Who would it be, he wondered. Feeling someone’s eyes on her pocketbook, Jane held it
closer to her body. She would not be robbed again, after that last time.
Check Your Understanding
Point of view is an element of style that authors consciously choose. With another student,
answer the following questions regarding point of view.
 Which point of view gives the most information about the actions and feelings of the
characters? Why?
 Which is most limited? Why?
 Why would an author choose to tell a story in first person? In third-person limited? In
third-person omniscient?
Writing a Short Story
Writing Prompt: Return to the conflicts and characters that you created in your brainstorm.
Write an opening to a story that presents the character, the conflict (s), and/or the setting
using the point of view that you think would be best to narrate the story. Be sure to include
the following:
 a central conflict that will drive the events of the story and develop the character
 an internal or external conflict for the main character
 a consistent point of view
 an introduction to the main character through description of appearance, actions and
voice
Once you have written the opening, return to the plot diagram and use it to outline a plan of
rising action for your story. What sequence of events could occur to move your character to
the climax of the story?