1. Identifying the Elements of A Plot Diagram
Student Notes

2. Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

3. 1. Exposition This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story.
Here the characters & setting are introduced.
We are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

4. 2. Rising Action
This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s) with complications.
Complications are events that test the characters.
A building of interest or suspense occurs.
Suspense is the growing feeling of excitement/anxiety in a story – makes you want to keep reading!

5. 3. Climax
This is the turning point of the story – most exciting part of the story.
Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict.
The main character will change in some way.

6. 4. Falling Action All loose ends of the plot are tied up.
All of the events that occur after the climax.

7. 5. Resolution The story comes to a reasonable ending.
Conflict is resolved.
Also called the denouement.

8. Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
Beginning of Story
Middle of Story
End of Story

9. Remember: The PLOT of a story moves like a roller coaster
Rising Action/Excitement builds
Climax of the story is at the most exciting point
Falling Action

10. Think about the story diagram as you read short stories.
What is the sequence (order) of events in the plot?
What does the exposition tell the reader at the start of the story?
What are the complications faced by characters during the rising action?
What happens during the falling action of the story?
What is the resolution at the end of the story?

11. Story Elements: Flip Book
You will need:
5 sheets of colored paper – each one a different color
A stapler
Pencil/Pen
Your brain
Let’s get started….follow me as I show you how to fold and staple your paper!

12. Story Elements: Flip Book
1. First Flap:
your name
Title:
Story Elements
6th Grade ELA

13. Label each of the Story Elements Flaps like this….

14. This is what your 2nd Flap should look like:

15. Story Elements: Flip Book3
Flap 2: Plot Diagram
3. Climax
2. Rising Action
4. Falling Action 4 2 5 1
5. Resolution
1. Exposition

16. Plot (definition)
Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story.

17. Story Elements: Flip Book Make sure you write SMALL – there’s a lot to fit on each flap!
Flap 3: Short story terms:
1. Exposition/introduction – beginning part of story, sets up story, explains
Setting – when/where story takes place
Characters – people, animals, creatures, and sometimes things in a story

18. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 3: Short story terms:
Conflict – a characters struggle with opposing forces in a story
2. Rising action – part of the story where complications are added – to test character
Suspense – a feeling of excitement/anxiety in a story
Complications – events that test characters in a story

19. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 3: Short story terms:
3. Climax – the most exciting part of the story
4. Falling action – events that occur after the climax
5. Resolution/dénouement - final part of a story where conflict is resolved

20. This is what your 3rd Flap should look like:

21. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 4: Point of View/Theme:
Tone – author’s attitude towards subject
Mood – how the author makes the reader feel
Narrator – one telling the story
Point of view – perspective from which a story is told
First person – narrator tells story (part of story); uses pronouns - I, me,we

22. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 4: Point of View/Theme
Third Person (limited)-narrator is on outside of story – uses they, he, she, it, etc..; observing
Third Person (omniscient) – narrator sees all – even into characters’ minds – all knowing/God like

23. A little trick to remember Point of View…

24. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 4: Point of View/Theme
Foreshadowing – technique of hinting about what will eventually happen in story
Flashback – a interruption in the order of events in a story; usually for info; memories – not events
Theme –the message of a story; usually a life lesson

25. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 5: Characters / Conflict:
Protagonist – the main character (hero)
Antagonist – one who opposes the main character (anti-hero)
Characterization – technique used by an author to create characters for the reader
Static character – a character that stays the same during a story

26. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 5: Characters / Conflict:
Flat character – a character that is one sided; usually a stereotype
Dynamic character – a character that changes during a story
Round character – a well-developed character with many faults and virtues
Internal conflict – when a character struggles with forces inside himself/herself

27. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 5: Characters / Conflict:
External Conflict - when a character struggles with an outside force (another person, society, weather, natural events, etc…)
Types of conflict –
Man vs. Man (Man vs. Society) (External)
Man vs. Nature (External)
Man vs. Self (Internal)

28. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 6: Genres/Symbols:
Genre – term used to identify different types of literature
Biography – a story written about a person’s life
Autobiography – a story about a person’s life which is written by that person
Fantasy – a type of fiction that is highly imaginative and could not happen

29. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 6: Genres/Symbols
Science fiction – fiction that takes place in the future or in another galaxy/universe
Historical fiction - fiction that takes place in a factual historic setting; realistic for time
Realistic fiction – fiction that takes place in a realistic setting and could actually happen in the modern world

30. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 6: Genres/Symbols
Symbol – a person, place, thing that represents something other than itself – usually an idea
Examples:
love
peace

31. Story Elements: Flip Book
Now, you should have 4 flaps left – save them for later
Label them Story 1, Story 2, Story 3, & Story 4
Your flip book will come in handy during your next quiz!

32. Finally, your Flip Book should look like this:

33. Story #1: The Dog of Pompeii
Author: Louis Untermeyer
Genre: Historical Fiction

34. Story #1: The Dog of Pompeii
Setting: Pompeii, 79 AD
Characters:
Tito – young, blind homeless boy; depends on Bimbo for survival
Bimbo – Tito’s dog; feeds Tito everyday
Other residents of the city

35. Story #1: The Dog of Pompeii
Point of View:?
Conflict: ?
Theme: ?
Mood:?

36. Story #1: The Dog of Pompeii3
Label the Plot Diagram: 4 2 5 1

37. Finally, your Story #1: Flap should look like this:

38. Now, complete the same process for the next 3 stories!