1. Setting The time and place of the story. –Sometimes the time is very specific (for example, Fall, 1956). Sometimes, it is general (for example, in the past). –Sometimes the place is very specific (for example, Overland Park, KS). Sometimes, it is general (for example, a city).

2. Problem/Solution What was the overall problem in the story and how did the characters solve it in the end?’ Not all stories are simple, but most have an overall problem and solution. And not everyone will agree on the problem/solution for the same story. For example, in Cinderella wants to go to the ball, but she also wants to be loved. She solves the problem by doing what she is told, but also by breaking the rules and going to the ball.

3. Author’s Purpose Why did the author write this piece? –To entertain –To inform –To persuade –To teach –To caution –To make waves

4. Conflict The opposition between two or more forces. –(person vs. person, person vs. animal, person vs. weather) Internal conflict happens within a person. You can’t see it. –For example, someone who is on a diet has is offered a cookie. They have to struggle within themselves to decide whether or not to eat the cookie. This is an internal conflict. –In Cinderella, she wants to be GOOD External conflict is a person or animal against another person or animal. This is conflict you can see. –Someone fighting someone else is external conflict. –Cinderella vs. the stepmother is external

5. Plot Structure Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Inciting Incident

6. Exposition The background information –It lets us know any important information before the story. It sets the story up so we know what is going on. –In Cinderella, it is important to know that her mean stepmother makes her do all the work.

7. Inciting Incident The first thing that happens to get the plot going. Without this event, the story would not have happened. For example, in Cinderella, the invitation to the ball is the inciting incident. If they hadn’t gotten it, they would have just gone along like normal.

8. Rising Action All of the action that takes place up to the climax. –It is best to know where the climax is before you decide what the rising action is. The inciting incident is the first thing that happens that gets the story started. –In Cinderella, the invitation to the ball is the inciting incident.

9. Climax This is the point where the action hits its peak. Things could go really well or really bad at this point. It is usually in the second half or towards the end of the story. It is rarely in the middle. –For example, in Cinderella, the climax is when the prince is trying the shoe on her. If it fits, they live happily ever after. If it doesn’t fit, they go their separate ways.

10. Falling Action This is the what happens as a result of the climax. –For example, in Cinderella, the falling action would be that the prince and Cinderella get married.

11. Resolution How we leave the characters at the end of the story. It is not ACTION. It is a statement of how it ends. –For example, in Cinderella, they live happily ever after.

12. Theme Overall lesson, or moral of the story. In Cinderella, you could say the theme is good things come to those who wait. Or good people are rewarded, bad people are punished.