Plot Structure

Exposition Gives readers background information Establishes the tone, setting, and introduces characters

Rising Action The events in a story that keep it moving forward Builds toward the turning point (climax) Should get more and more interesting as the rising action builds

Crisis Critical point during the rising action that leads to the climax

Climax Most interesting point in the story Also known as the Turning Point

Resolution/Falling Action Comes after the story’s climax Story wrap up Conflicts are resolved (usually) Some short stories might not have any resolution

Plotting the structure of a story Think of the plot structure as a mountain hike.

Climax Resolution/ Falling Action Rising Action Crisis Exposition