It is a “plan” that is used to organize the events in a story.

 DEFINITION  The plot is the sequence of events that make up the story.  It is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story.

 This is usually called the introduction  The author introduces:  Setting  Characters  Basic conflict

This is the event that starts the problem in the story. In a ball game, this would happen when the first pitch is thrown out. In the story “Duffy’s Jacket,” the families arrive at the cabin. In the story “Priscilla and the Wimps,” one of Klutter’s Kobras asks Melvin for a pass.

 There are more problems and complications in the story.  In the story “Duffy’s Jacket,” think about everything that happens after the moms leave the house.  Sometimes, we say, “The plot thickens.”

 This is the point of greatest suspense and highest interest.  Sometimes it is the “turning point” in the story.  In some books or TV shows, this is the “cliffhanger” that ends the story.

CLIMAX  The climax is the event in the story that the author has been “building up to.”  It is like the grand finale at a fireworks show.  Like the grand finale, the climax is near the end of the story.

 This part tells all of the action that occurs after the climax.  It leads up to the ending of a story.

 This is the final part of the story  How is the conflict resolved?  The conflict ends BUT the problem is NOT always settled.  In “Duffy’s Jacket,” Duffy’s jacket is returned, and he stops forgetting his things. BUT  We still don’t know who returned the jacket.

PLOT STRUCTUREROLLER COASTER