Once upon a time…
 Plot is the sequence of related events that tells us what
happens in a story. A good plot:
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Has characters who experience a problem/conflict
Has a conflict that is resolved in some way
Includes interesting details that add depth to the story
Takes place in a specific span of time
Building Blocks of Plot
Basic situation (exposition)
Introduces the main character and setting (time and place) of the
story. Often the character wants something very much and
encounters a conflict while trying to get it
Conflict
Struggle between a character and something or someone else
 External conflict: a struggle between a character and something
outside himself/herself (another character, nature, God, fate,
society, etc.)
 Internal conflict: a struggle between a character and himself or
herself (a struggle inside the character’s mind)
Building Blocks of Plot
Complications
Problems that arise during a story that keep
the main character from getting what he/she
wants
Climax
The story’s most exciting or suspenseful
moment, when something happens that
decides the outcome of the conflict. Usually
occurs toward the end of the story.
Building Blocks of Plot
Resolution (denouement)
The last part of the plot where the conflict is
resolved, and the story ends. A good
resolution makes the story feel complete.
Structured Pair Share
What is plot, and what makes a good plot? What are
the two types of conflict and how are they different?
A: Plot is _______________. A good plot __
_______________________________.
B: The two types of conflict are _________.
They are different because _____________.
Playing with Time
Chronological order
The author begins at the beginning of the story, then tells
about each event in the order in which it happens
Flashback
The present action in a story is interrupted with a scene or
scenes from the past
Flashforward
The present action in a story is interrupted with a scene or
scenes from the future
En media res
The author begins in the middle of the story and the beginning
is filled in later (through flashbacks, dialogue, etc.)
What Happens Next?!?
Foreshadowing
The writer plants clues that hint at something
that will happen later in the plot
Suspense
The quality in a story or play that makes the
reader eager to discover what happens next
and how it will end
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Authors often manipulate time and use
techniques such as foreshadowing in order to
build suspense (and keep us reading)
Structured Pair Share
What are the ways that authors play with time when
telling their story? How do authors create suspense?
A: Authors use _____, _____, _____, and _____ to play
with time in a story.
B: Author’s create suspense by _________
_____________________.
…in a land (or galaxy) far, far
away…
Setting
Where and when a story takes place. Setting:
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Puts us in the situation with the characters
Includes customs (food, dress, behavior)
Gives the story a truth or believability
Allows us to visit faraway places and times without
ever leaving home
Does Setting Matter?
Setting helps create a story’s:
 Mood: how the story makes the reader feel while
reading
 Tone: how the author feels about a given subject
(a character, society, an idea, the reader, etc.)
 Characters: Our environment affects in one way
or another, so setting can provide clues as to what
a character is like.
 Conflict: In some cases, the setting can provide
the conflict for the main character, or reflect the
character’s internal conflict.
Structured Pair Share
What is setting? Why is setting important in a story?
A: Setting is _________________________.
B: Setting is important because _________
_________________________________.
Summary
 Define plot. Why is it important for a story to have a
good plot?
 What are the two types of conflict and how are they
different?
 When does the climax of a story usually occur? What
is the purpose of the climax?
 What is setting and how does it affect a story?