Transcript Teaching Plot Structure Through Short Stories

Thinking Prompt
1.
2.
3.
Take out your tracker and record your homework.
Read and think about a response to the question below.
Prepare to discuss with the class.
Billy resolves several internal and external conflicts during
the course of the novel. Think about one of the conflicts Billy
faces and how he resolves it.
Question: How the story might change if the main character,
Billy, did not face any challenges or obstacles in the story.
Would it still be an interesting story?
Elements of a story
Identifying the plot and its
effect on a story.
Plot Defined
Plot is the literary element that
describes the structure of a story. It
shows the order of events and actions
within a story.
Four Basic Parts of a Story
Five Plot Components within
those story parts
Climax: the turning point, the
most intense moment—either
mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of
conflicts in the story that
lead to the climax
Exposition or Introduction:
Characters are introduced,
setting is established, and initial
conflict exposed.
Falling Action: all of the
action which follows the
climax
Resolution: the conclusion,
the tying together of all of
the threads
Putting It All Together
Turning
Point
Falling Action
Rising Action
Exposition
The End.
1. Exposition

Here the characters are introduced. We also
learn about the setting of the story. Most
importantly, we are introduced to the initial
conflict.
2. Rising Action

This part of the story begins to develop the
conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense
occurs.
Conflict
• Conflict is the dramatic struggle
between two forces in a story.
• The protagonist is trying to reach a
goal.
• The antagonist stands between the
main character and the goal.
• Without conflict, there is no plot.
Types of Conflict
Man vs. Man
Man vs Nature
Man vs Society
Internal Conflict
Man vs Self
Every plot is made up of a series of incidents
that are related to one another.
Climax
High point/turning point
Billy trains his dogs
well.
Billy hikes to
Tahlequah.
Plot Triangle
Billy saves to buy his
dogs.
© Walt Disney
Introduction
Resolution
Setting &
Characters
Or conclusion.
3. Climax

This is the turning point of the story.
Usually the main character comes face to
face with a conflict. The main character
will change in some way.
4. Falling Action

All loose ends of the plot
are tied up. The
conflict(s) are taken care
of.
5. Resolution

The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.
Definitions
Climax: the turning point,
the most intense moment—
either mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series
of conflicts in the story that
lead to the climax
Exposition or
Introduction: Characters
are introduced, setting is
established, and initial
conflict exposed.
Falling Action: all
of the action which
follows the climax
Resolution: the
conclusion, the tying
together of all of the
threads
Sources
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www.readwritethink.org/
http://www.ozarksnaturalistsnotebook.com/PA
GE040112-ozarks.html
Identifying Elements of a Plot Diagram,
alex.state.al.us
Wilson, R.(1961). Where the Red Fern Grows.
New York:Bantam
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