What Is Plot?

What Is Plot?

Why do we need to know?

So What Is It?

"Plot" is simply the series of events in a story.

Why Do We Need to Know?

Learning about plot can help us understand stories better.

And stories help us better understand the human experience.

EVERY story has the same pattern:

• Problem starts

• Problem worsens

• Problem gets solved

Multiple Select

1. So why do you need a conflict or problem?

• Drives the story

• Makes the story interesting

• Creates tension

• Meh

Tenets of Plot

• Exposition (intro)

• Inciting Incident

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Falling Action

• Resolution (End/Denouement)

Exposition

• Beginning of the story

• Introduces characters, setting, and conflict

• Not very exciting yet

• A few events

• (Usually the first chapter of a book)

Multiple Choice

2. What is the purpose of the exposition?

• To introduce the characters, setting, & conflict

• To make the story more exciting

• To bring the story to a conclusion

Inciting Incident

• The event that starts the problem or conflict

• First thing to go wrong

• ONE event (one sentence - or paragraph in a book)

Multiple Choice

3. How is the inciting incident related to the problem, or conflict, in the story?

• It starts the problem.

• It makes the problem worse.

• It solves the problem.

Rising Action

• Events that make the problem get worse and worse

• Story gets more exciting with each event

• Takes up MOST of the story

• (Majority of events in a story)

Multiple Select

4. During the rising action ...

• Tension gets started

• Tension gets worse and worse

• Story gets more exciting

• Tension Is solved

Multiple Choice

5. The rising action takes up how much of the story?

• A little bit

• Half

• Most of it

Climax

• The turning point

• Problem is at its worst - after this, things will start getting better

• Can be the most exciting part

• ONE event near the end of the story

Multiple Choice

6. How is the climax related to the problem of the story?

• The problem is just getting started

• The problem is at its worst (turning point)

• The problem is solved

• The problem is getting worse

Multiple Choice

7. Where in the story would the climax be found?

• At the beginning

• In the middle

• Near the end

Falling Action

• Problem is wrapping up

• Story gets a little less exciting

• A few events

• (last chapter or two of a book)

Multiple Choice

8. How is the falling action related to the problem of the story?

• The problem is getting started.

• The problem is getting worse.

• The problem is starting to wrap up, or come to a solution.

• The problem is solved.

Resolution

• Solution to the problem

• Very end of the story

• Not always "Happily ever after"

Multiple Choice

9. How is the resolution related to the problem of the story?

• The problem is getting started.

• The problem is getting worse.

• The problem is starting to wrap up, or come to a solution.

• The problem is solved.

Open Ended

10. What's one thing you learned from today's mini-lesson?

(Please be honest! This helps me plan!)