The Sparrow’s plot is non-linear, meaning that while the narrative structure includes the story’s beginning, middle, and end, these components are not represented in a chronological format. Why does Russell opt to weave the present and past narratives together throughout the novel rather than beginning with the discovery of the Singers and ending with the hearings back on Earth?

Teaching Suggestion: Before composing an individual response or analyzing the question as a large group, students might meet briefly in pairs or small groups to share the ways in which the plot structure affected their reading experience; they might also discuss how authors can utilize point of view to impact tone, pace, suspense, and other storytelling elements.

The Author Learning Center has published this article, titled “How to Structure a Story: The Fundamentals of Narrative” that may be useful for thinking about plot structure.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“I Was Born for This!” 

In this activity, students will complete a close reading of the first contact scene and analyze its importance in terms of understanding Emilio, the context of missionary activity, and The Sparrow as a whole.