1. CLIMBING THE PLOT MOUNTAIN…

2. What is PLOT?
The arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story.
Focuses on structure of the story and the relationships between actions in the story.

3. The parts of the plot mountain…
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution

4. EXPOSITION
The beginning of the story, when characters and setting are introduced.
Background to the story…vital for understanding of the rest of the story.

5. RISING ACTION
Characters begin to struggle and run into challenging situations.
Characters must continually overcome problems.
CONFLICT(S) become obvious to reader.

6. WHAT IS CONFLICT?
The struggle that the main character has with an opposing person or force.
May be internal, with another person, or with a force (such as nature, society, etc.)

7. CLIMAX
The story reaches a critical turning point, and the conflict is addressed head-on.
Most exciting part of the story; suspense built by rising action comes to its highest point.

8. FALLING ACTION
The tension eases and conflicts start to work themselves out.
Suspense eases, instead of builds, like in rising action.

9. You’ve made it over the mountain!
RESOLUTION
The end of the story when everything is worked out and the conflict is resolved.
You’ve made it over the mountain!