Novel Key moments Date: Objectives Understand how sections of a novel are defined. Be able to discuss the key moments in your novel. Warm-up – summarising a story – solo written task Everyone choose a movie, episode of a TV show, novel, computer game or a song with a story in it that you remember clearly. Explain the story with the following three sentences. It begins with........... Then............ In the end..............

Every story can be divided into the following: Exposition Initial incident(s) Rising action Crisis / climax Falling action / dénouement Catastrophe / conclusion Key moments we can discuss appear at these intersections.

Exposition – note it down The introduction of the story. Prepares the reader for the initial incident. Must answer where, who, what and how questions. What is the greatest introduction of a character you can remember? Is it John Wick? Trump? How do stories begin?

Initial incident. The action that gives rise to the conflict that will drive the plot. It can be external or internal, from a event or an idea. Question: Pretend this image is the incident. Create two conflicts that could arise for a character related to this image (One external or physical conflict and one internal or mental conflict).

Rising Action These are the complications, actions or re-actions caused by the incident. We learn a lot about the characters and world here. (Can be one or many events) Respond to this scenario: A shady figure arrives in the schoolyard and starts giving first years cigarettes. What do you do? What does this tell us about you and the school.

Crisis / Climax This is the highest point of the action in the story. It is the outcome or end, derived from all that has happened to that point. Often the bad guy is defeated in the crisis. Can you name a villain or antagonist who’s defeat you enjoyed. How’d it happen?

Falling action Wraps up the narrative and leads to the conclusion. It is an event or events caused by solving the main problem in the story. What could happen next: Imagine this school is your story. Exposition is first year, second to fifth year is the rising action and Leaving Cert is the climax. What events could happen after.

Catastrophe/conclusion The end result of the story. Could be a question, a cliff-hanger, summary, evaluation or re-iteration of what happened. A good story wants two things; for you to imagine what happened next and for you to want to be there when it does. Name a sequel to a story you would like to see and why?

Cooldown: think of splitting what you’ve read so far of your novel into exposition and events. What are the key moments?