Plot - Importance of Key Events

​Plot refers to the events of the story.

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​The events of a story are divided into categories: the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Multiple Choice

What is plot?

• The characters in a story

• The events in a story

• The problem of a story

• The reason an author writes a text

Each part of the plot is important because it can affect what happens later in the story.

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​For example, in The Lion King, Simba running away is important to the plot because it allows him to meet Timon and Pumba. His new friends are then able to help him reclaim his home.

Multiple Choice

Each part of the plot is important because ...

• it affects what happens later in the story.

• it reveals why the author wrote the story.

• it is necessary to understand the beginning of the story.

When asked about a specific event, paragraph, or section of a story, be sure to look at what happens AFTER. Think about:

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1. ​How is the event connected to the problem?

2. ​What does it cause the character to do?

3. ​How does the event affect the resolution or ending of the story?

Multiple Select

When I need to decide the importance of a specific event or paragraph of a story, I should think about ....?

• how the event is connected to the problem of the story.

• how the event affects the resolution of the story.

• what the event causes the character to do next.

• what happens AFTER the event.

​Time to Practice!

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​For each question, look at the comic. Decide why a specific event in the comic is important to the plot.

Multiple Choice

Why is the event in box 2 important to the plot?

• It makes the boy keep the butterfly as a pet.

• It causes the boy to release the butterfly.

• It makes the boy want to search for a rainbow instead.

• It causes the tiger to no longer be the boy's friend.

Multiple Choice

Why is the event in box 4 important to the plot?

• It shows the tiger needs to use conditioner.

• It causes the mom to become upset that a tiger is in her dryer.

• It reveals that the boy likes pretending the tiger is real.

Multiple Choice

Why is the event in box 1 important to the plot?

• The boy is able to trick his mom into skipping dinner.

• The mom looks away.

• The boy is able to eat all of his food very quickly.

• The mom is pleased by the boy's actions.

Multiple Choice

Why is the event in box 3 important to the plot?

• The boy has to run away.

• The dad is pleased with having to take another picture.

• The dad becomes upset with the boy.

• The boy has a funny picture.