Identifying the
Elements of A
Plot Diagram
Student Notes
Plot Diagram
3
2
1
4
5
Plot
(definition)
• Plot is the organized
pattern or sequence
of events that make
up a story. Every
plot is made up of a
series of incidents
that are related to
one another.
1. Exposition
• This usually occurs at the beginning of a short
story. Here the characters are introduced. We also
learn about the setting of the story. Most
importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict
(main problem).
2. Rising Action
• This part of the story begins to
develop the conflict(s). A building
of interest or suspense occurs.
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) and
climax are
taken care of.
5. Resolution
• The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
Beginning of
Story
Middle of Story
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
End of Story
The Giver
• Read the following synopsis and answer the questions that follow.
• This film, based on Lois Lowry's book, tells the story of a
perfect world. Everyone here is happy. When Jonas is
18 years old, he's chosen to be the community's
Receiver of Memories. He enters into training with an old
man called 'the Giver' who would give Jonas memories
of the "real" world that the rest of the community is
hidden from. From the Giver, Jonas learns not only of
love and family, but also of pain, war, and all the
unhappy truths the world holds. He quickly realizes that
his community is fake. Confronted with this reality, Jonas
faces difficult choices about his own life and the futures
of many people he's become close to.
1. How does the author provide the
reader with a better understanding of
the conflict?
• A. Jona faces difficult decision for his own
life and futures of many peoples.
• B. He turns 18 and is chosen to be the
Receiver.
• C. By telling the story of a perfect world.
• D. Enters into training with “The Giver”.
2. Which quotation most strongly
suggests that Jona is conflicted?
•
•
•
•
A. He becomes “The Receiver”.
B. Learns from “The Giver”.
C. Jona turns 18.
D. He quickly realizes his community is
fake.
Runaway Video Clip
• Watch the following video clip and answer
the questions that follow:
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxbCBMan_
pQ
3. Which of the following is the
best summary of the story?
•
•
•
•
A. Boy opens up Chillie to find his latch is broken. He leaves to get another
fridge, so chillie runs away. He stops in front of an appliance store and
feels real bad.
B. Chillie’s latch is broken so he starts to cry. Chillie unplugs himself and
goes to the junk yard. Chillie then feels even worse when he see’s the
other nice new shiny fridges. Boy comes back to get Chillie and finds him
missing.
C. Boy opens Chillie and finds that Chillie’s latch is broken. Boy goes in
search of another. Chillie thinks he is going to be replaced so he runs away
to a junk yard. Boy finds Chillie and they go back home with Chillie’s latch
fixed.
D. Chillie finds himself in a junkyard after he ran away from the Boy who
broke is latch. He does not want the Boy to find him. The other
refrigerators tell the Boy where Chillie went and he eventually finds Chillie in
the junk yard.
4. What happened after the new fridges
don’t fell the Boy where Chillie went?
• A. Chllie began to cry because he wasn’t
shiny and new like the new refrigerators.
• B. Chillie sees the dead fridge.
• C. The Boy finds the pictures of Chillie
dropped.
• D. The toaster points which way to go.
5. How does the Boy deal with the
knowledge that Chillie is getting older.
• A. Boy goes out to get a new refrigerator.
• B. Boy goes out to get a new part for
Chillie.
• C. Boy gets angry with Chillie and leaves
him alone.
• D. Boy doesn’t care either way about
Chillie getting older.
Azureus Rising Video Clip
• Watch the following video clip and answer
the questions that follow:
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=agk2svo7svI
6. What happened before the
scorpion machine became on fire?
•
•
•
•
A.
B.
C.
D.
Azureus kept running away from it.
The scorpion was shooting at Azureus.
Azereus sliced one of the legs off.
The scorpion was chasing Azureus.
7. What conclusion can the
reader draw about the setting?
•
•
•
•
A.
B.
C.
D.
The setting was based in the past.
The setting is set in the future.
It was in a small town.
There are lots of people in the city.
8. What event triggered the
conflict in the video?
• A. The other human like machines
shooting at Azureus.
• B. The scorpion shooting at Azureus.
• C. Azureus having weapons.
• D. Azureus getting into the city.