PLOT: The sequence of events of a story, with each event causing or leading to the next.

Plot Graph

Exposition: setting up the story by introducing people, places, and situations the reader will need to know for the story.

Exposition Plot Graph

Narrative hook: the point at which the author catches the reader’s attention. This is the signal that the exposition has ended, and the rising action has begun.

Exposition x Narrative hook Plot Graph

Rising action: adds complications or problems to the story, and increases our interest; the sequence of events which continue story toward the climax.

Plot Graph x ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Rising action (events of the story) ___ ___ ___ ___ Exposition x Narrative hook Plot Graph

Climax: the point of highest interest for the reader; this is when the reader will know how all the problems or complications will be resolved.

Plot Graph x Climax ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Rising action Exposition x Narrative hook Plot Graph

Falling action: relates the events which are a result of the climax of the story.

Plot Graph x Climax ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Rising action Falling action ___ ___ ___ ___ Exposition x Narrative hook Plot Graph

Resolution: ends the falling action of a story by telling or implying the final outcome.

Plot Graph x Climax ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Rising action Falling action ___ ___ ___ ___ Exposition Resolution x Narrative hook Plot Graph

Relating to plot: Conflict: the struggle between two opposing forces. Foreshadowing: the use of clues of hints by the author to prepare readers for events which will (or might) happen later in the story. Conflict: the struggle between two opposing forces. external conflict: person against person; person against nature. internal conflict: person against himself or herself

Kinds of conflict - Character vs. Character: One character in a story has a problem with one or more of the other characters. - Character vs. Society: A character has a conflict or problem with some element of society – the school, the law, the accepted way of doing things, etc. - Character vs. Self: A character has trouble deciding what to do in a particular situation. - Character vs. Nature: A character has a problem with some natural happening: a snowstorm, an avalanche, the bitter cold, or any of the other elements of nature. - Character vs. Fate (God, etc.): A character has to battle what seems to be an uncontrollable problem. Whenever the problem seems to be a strange or unbelievable coincidence, fate can be considered as the cause of the conflict.