Shifting Time and Settings Through Writing Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.6.3.C

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When writing a larger body of work there will often by a need to span across several different time periods to explain the past and future roles of characters within a story. This can be achieved via a number of different methods. You can start by engaging a backstory. You can also flash forward or back to reveal unknown qualities of your character. You can also add a break that leaves the reader missing a key section of time that can be eluded to. These worksheets examine shifts in time and settings to see how they improve the overall body of work.

Shifting Time and Settings Worksheets To Print:

What The Future Holds For Me! – This is the age old first grade time capsule project we all love.

The Colosseum – How has this Wonder of the World changed?

Shifting Time and Setting – Writing something that really makes the reader feel like they are in your shoes.

On The Sea – Where do you see time just kind of fade away.

Signal Shifts – We want vivid details and for you to draw on your prior knowledge and experience.

Shifting Time in a Narrative – The following passage has had all of its transition words/phrases removed. Fill in the blanks with the transition words/phrases in the Word Bank.

Time Changes – Just go with this one.

Cutting Grass, Circus, Bedroom, and Classroom – Weave the following events and locations into a story that takes place over the course of a week.

A Little Scary – The following passage has had all of its transition words/phrases removed. On a separate page, rewrite the paragraph using the transition words/phrases in the Word Bank.

George's House – Research what it was like when George Washington lived there, and what it is like for tourists today.

A Girl and Her Dog – Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

Mom and Dad Grew Up? – Where did your mother or father grow up? How were things different then than they are for kids today?

Looking into the Future – Think about your life right now. Now imagine what your life will be like in the future.

Leaning Tower... – Today, many people visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

My House – Describe your house. Now imagine that everyone on earth disappears and there is no one there to live in and take care of your house anymore.

The Fire – For each numbered sentence in the story, state whether there is a time shift or a setting shift.

Bloody Battles – Today, the battlefields are a sort of museum where people from all over the country come to contemplate that time in American history.

On Saturday... – Explain in detail what you do on a typical Saturday.

How to Shift Time and Settings Through Writing


The shifting of time and setting through writing is a great technique of creating interest in the story. It is a technique that has been used by many writers in the past. The main reason for the shifting of time and setting through writing is to create a smooth progression of the story. It also helps in developing the storyline that creates a distinctive perspective. One of the masters of this technique of writing is William Faulkner. William Faulkner was a master at the art of shifting time and setting through writing. In many of his books, he has also shifted from decades and centuries. This shows amazing talent. By shifting through a huge time period, Faulkner created different stories in a single book. He developed several characters and communities for a single book but in a different time period. However, it does make the book a little harder to read and fathom. But for literature lovers, this technique works the best.


By shifting the time and setting of a story, the author tells different stories that relate to each other. This creates a relationship between different time periods and parts of the world. This technique allows a deeper understanding of how the world works. Readers get to demonstrate different perspectives with a hint of similarity between them. It is a wonderful technique that adds meaning to the literature. Another reason to use this technique is to create suspense. You will notice that this technique is more common in thrillers and horror genres. This is because it allows the suspense in the story.


You can use this technique in your own writing by completely defining and introducing a setting and time period. Just when you think that the interest and suspense are being built, you can shift to an entirely different setting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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