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

2. Plot Graph

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

4. Exposition
Plot Graph

5. 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.

6. Exposition x
Narrative hook
Plot Graph

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

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

9. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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.