Understanding Plot Structure

Understanding
Plot Structure

The foundation of every great story.

What is plot?

The sequence of events in a story.

It's the "what happens" in a narrative.

Includes actions, conflicts, and resolutions.

The Elements of Plot

• Exposition: Introduces characters, setting, and background.

• Conflict: The inciting incident, the issue the character has to face

• Rising Action: Events leading to the climax; builds tension.

• Climax: The turning point; highest emotional intensity.

• Falling Action: Events after the climax; moving towards resolution.

• Resolution: The story’s conclusion; conflicts are resolved.

Exposition

• Introduces the story’s world.

• Key Questions: Who? (Main Character) Where? When? (Setting)

• Background

• Example: Finding Nemo: The Great Barrier Reef, where Marlin, a clownfish, and his wife, Coral, live happily with their newly laid eggs. Tragically, Coral is killed by a predator, and Marlin is left to care for their sole surviving egg, which hatches into Nemo.

Multiple Choice

The beginning of a plot/story is called?

• Exposition

• Climax

• Conflict

• Resolution

Conflict

• Conflict in a story is the problem or struggle that the main character faces.

• It can happen between characters, within a character's own mind, or between a character and something in their environment.

• Conflict drives the story forward and will change the main character.

• Example: Nemo gets fish-napped by the diver.

Multiple Choice

What element is the problem or struggle that the main character faces?

• Conflict

• Climax

• Setting

• Exposition

Rising Action

• Builds suspense and develops conflict.

• Introduces smaller obstacles or challenges.

• Example: Marlon and Dory encounter the sharks.

Multiple Choice

What story element is after the conflict and builds in suspense

• Climax
• Exposition
• Resolution
• Rising action

Climax

• The most intense and exciting moment.

• Key Questions: How does the main conflict reach its peak?

• The turning point away from the conflict

• Example: Nemo bravely enters the net where the fish were trapped to rescue the fish.

Multiple Choice

The most intense, exciting moment of a story, also the turning point.

• resolution
• exposition
• climax
• prologue

Falling Action

• Conflict starts to resolve.

• Leads toward closure.

• Example: Nemo and Marlin reunite, they return home and Marlin seems to have changed.

Multiple Choice

When the story begins to wrap-up and the conflicts starts to resolve.

• Resolution
• Exposition
• Climax
• Falling action

Resolution

• Brings the story to a satisfying end.

• Ties up loose ends.

• We see how the conflict has been resolved.

• Example: Marlin becomes a more confident and supportive father. Life returns to normal.

Draw

What does the plot structure look like?

Make sure to label each section.