1. Plot Development How to build a story

2. Differences between “Story” and “Plot” Story: a chronological sequence of events –“A” happens; then “B” happens; then “C” happens, etc. in the exact order in which they occur in time Plot: the purposeful organization of events; ordering events to reveal meaningful connections between them in telling a story –author chooses which events to tell and when to tell them –can be non-linear Flashback en media res

3. "I agree that a film [plot] should have a beginning, a middle and an end but not necessarily in that order." --Jean-Luc Godard (French-Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic—most-noted for his work in the 1960’s)

4. What You’ve Been Taught Before—  What can you infer about the structure of story from this diagram? Any inaccurate depictions?

5. A Better Depiction— Conflict Introduction Conflict Development Conflict Resolution

6.  Exposition: the narrator’s introduction to setting, characters, and opening situation  Gilligan’s Island Gilligan’s Island  The Beverly Hillbillies The Beverly Hillbillies  The Nanny The Nanny  Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Fresh Prince of Bel-Air  (just for fun ;0)just for fun Conflict Introduction— Narrative Hook: the event that introduces the central conflict of the story (aka—the inciting event)

7. Rising Action: the events in the story that twist the plot and raise tension, leading to a moment of crisis (climax) that determines the outcome of the plot Conflict Development— (aka) Nouement—(Fr.) literal translation: “knotting up” of the plot

8. Conflict Resolution— Climax/Crisis Point  the one event that determines the outcome of the conflict;  the final battle in the war that reveals the winner  the moment of crisis— the final decision with no turning back  a.k.a. epiphany — moment of recognition  the “aha!” moment  when we recognize the winner of the conflict/the outcome of the plot  perhaps when a protagonist recognizes the path he must take or his true nature or his family origins (think Oedipus)  perhaps when the protagonist’s true self or role or agenda, etc. is revealed to the other characters.

9. Conflict Resolution— Denouement/Resolution Denouement — (Fr.) literal translation: the “un-knotting” or “untying” of the plot  the fallout or consequences that unravel after the turning point/climax;  what happens after the war is won;  brings closure