Common Core ELA2nd GradeReading: Literature

RL.2.5: Describe the Structure of a Story

Also written as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5 · Cluster: Craft and Structure.

The Official Wording

Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.

Common Core State Standards, Grade 2, Reading: Literature · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What RL.2.5 Means in Plain English

Second graders describe how a story is built: the beginning sets things up with who, where and the problem, the middle is where the tries happen, and the ending wraps it all up. Naming the parts is easy. Saying what each part does is the skill.

In 1st grade (RL.1.5) children told storybooks apart from books that give information. Now they look inside one story at how it is put together. In 3rd grade (RL.3.5) students use words like chapter, scene and stanza and show how each part builds on the last.

RL.2.5 I Can Statements

I can tell who, where and what problem the beginning shows.
I can tell what happens in the middle of a story.
I can explain how the ending solves the problem.

RL.2.5 Worked Example

A five-part story with a clear setup and a clear finish, and two answers about what each end of it does.

Read the Story

On the first hot day of summer, Rafa set up a lemonade stand on his quiet street. Nobody came.He made a bigger sign. Nobody came. He shouted, “Ice-cold lemonade!” Still nobody.Then he saw a crowd of hot, thirsty people walking toward the park.Rafa piled everything into his little red cart and set up again by the park gate.By sunset the pitcher was empty, and Rafa pulled a very light cart home.

A short passage written for this page.

Question: What does the beginning of the story do? How does the ending finish it?

Not Yet“The beginning is when Rafa makes lemonade, and the ending is when he goes home.”It points to the first and last parts but never says what they do: no who, where or problem at the start, and no solved problem at the end.

Meets the Standard“The beginning tells who, Rafa, when, the first hot day of summer, and the problem: his stand is on a quiet street and nobody comes. The ending wraps it up: the pitcher is empty, so moving to the park worked.”It says what each end of the story does and links the ending back to the problem set up at the start.

Question Stems to Use

The beginning tells us who…, where… and the problem…In the middle, the character tries…The ending solves the problem by…How does the ending connect to the beginning?What would be missing without the beginning?

Common Mistakes with RL.2.5

Retelling instead of describing

“First he made lemonade, then he made a sign, then he shouted…”

Try this: Ask “What job does this part do?” instead of “What happens?” and give three job words: sets up, tries, solves.

An ending that is just the last sentence

“The ending is he went home.”

Try this: Have children hold the beginning’s problem card next to the ending and say how the last part answers it.

Missing the problem in the beginning

“The beginning is about summer.”

Try this: Teach a three-question check for every beginning: Who is it about? Where are they? What is wrong? Answer all three before moving on.

Where RL.2.5 Fits

Comes BeforeRL.1.5Tell storybooks apart from books that give information.

AlongsideW.2.3Write a story with events in order and an ending that gives a sense of closure.RL.2.2Recount a story in order and find its central message.

Comes NextRL.3.5Talk about chapters, scenes and stanzas, and show how each part builds on the one before.

Practice RL.2.5

Quick Check

What is Rafa’s problem at the beginning?
His lemonade stand is on a quiet street, and nobody comes.
What two things does Rafa try in the middle before moving?
He makes a bigger sign, and he shouts “Ice-cold lemonade!”
How do you know the problem is solved at the end?
By sunset the pitcher is empty, and he pulls “a very light cart home.”

RL.2.5: Other Names

RL.2.5CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5