1. Intro into 8 th Grade ELA LITERARY ELEMENTS & PLOT DIAGRAM

2. Exposition: The introduction introduces the characters, describes the setting and establishes the problem in the story.

3. Rising Action: is where the suspense builds and the problem gets worse and becomes more complicated. There are often multiple steps or parts in the rising action.

4. Climax: is the turning point in the story. It is usually the most exciting part in the story and the part that makes the reader want to keep reading

5. Falling Action: is the events that happen after the climax that lead to a resolution or ending to the story.

6. Resolution: is the outcome of the story. It is how things end up or turn out for the characters.

7. Internal Conflict: struggle within the mind of a character, the resolution of which creates the plot's suspense

8. External Conflict: struggle between a character and an outside force such as nature or another character.  Example: Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Man

9. Point of View: Who the author is and what information they give us

10. Setting: Where AND when the story takes place

11. Direct Characterization: when the author specifically reveals traits about the character in a direct, straightforward manner  Example: Karen is bright, energetic, and helpful.

12. Indirect Characterization: when authors indirectly portray characters using dialogue, appearance, actions, relationships, and overall place in the world Example: Gabe helps his mom with dinner after school, each day. After dinner, he takes out the trash, helps his sister with her homework, and reads to his grandmother.

13. Theme : The central idea or lessons about the story (a moral)