1. Story Elements Flipbook Project
Student Notes
2. EQ: What are the different elements of a story? Why is it important to understand the author’s choice of how to structure a text?

2. Identifying the Elements of A Plot Diagram
Student Notes

3. Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

4. 1. Exposition This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story.
Here the characters & setting are introduced.
We are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

5. 2. Rising Action
This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s) with complications.
Complications are events that test the characters.
A building of interest or suspense occurs.
Suspense is the growing feeling of excitement/anxiety in a story – makes you want to keep reading!

6. 3. Climax
This is the turning point of the story – most exciting part of the story.
Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict.
The main character will change in some way.

7. 4. Falling Action All loose ends of the plot are tied up.
All of the events that occur after the climax.

8. 5. Resolution The story comes to a reasonable ending.
Conflict is resolved.
Also called the denouement.

9. Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
Beginning of Story
Middle of Story
End of Story

10. Remember: The PLOT of a story moves like a roller coaster
Rising Action/Excitement builds
Climax of the story is at the most exciting point
Falling Action

11. Think about the story diagram as you read short stories.
What is the sequence (order) of events in the plot?
What does the exposition tell the reader at the start of the story?
What are the complications faced by characters during the rising action?
What happens during the falling action of the story?
What is the resolution at the end of the story?

12. Story Elements: Flip Book
You will need:
3 sheets of computer paper –A stapler
Pencil/Pen
Your brain
Let’s get started….follow me as I show you how to fold and staple your paper!

13. Story Elements: Flip Book
1. First Flap: your name Title: Story Elements

14. Label each of the Story Elements Flaps like this….

15. This is what your 2nd Flap should look like:

16. Flap 2: Plot Diagram
Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. 3
Climax 4 2
Falling Action
Rising Action 5 1
Exposition
Resolution
Title - Author

17. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 3: Short Story Terms

18. Flap 3: Short story terms:
1. Exposition/introduction – beginning part of story, sets up story, explains
Setting – when/where story takes place
Character – people, animals, creatures, and sometimes things in a story

19. Flap 3: Short story terms:
2. Rising action – part of the story where complications are added – to test character
Suspense – a feeling of excitement/anxiety in a story
Complications – events that test characters in a story

20. Flap 3: Short story terms:
3. Climax – the most exciting part of the story
4. Falling action – events that occur after the climax
5. Resolution/dénouement - final part of a story where conflict is resolved

21. This is what your 3rd Flap should look like:

22. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 4: Point Of View/Theme

23. Tone – author’s attitude towards subject
Flap 4: Point of View/Theme:
Tone – author’s attitude towards subject
Mood – how the author makes the reader feel
Narrator – one telling the story
Point of view – perspective from which a story is told
First person – narrator tells story (part of story); uses pronouns - I, me, we

24. Flap 4: Point of View/Theme Third Person (limited)-narrator is on outside of story – uses they, he, she, it, etc..; observing Third Person (omniscient) – narrator sees all – even into characters’ minds – all knowing/God like

25. A little trick to remember Point of View…

26. Flap 4: Point of View/Theme
Foreshadowing – technique of hinting about what will eventually happen in story
Flashback – a interruption in the order of events in a story; usually for info; memories – not events
Theme –the message of a story; usually a life lesson

27. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 5: Characters/ Conflict

28. Flap 5: Characters / Conflict: Protagonist – the main character (hero) Antagonist – one who opposes the main character (anti-hero) Characterization – technique used by an author to create characters for the reader Static character – a character that stays the same during a story

29. Flap 5: Characters / Conflict:
Dynamic character – a character that changes during a story
Flat character – a character that is one sided; usually a stereotype
Round character – a well-developed character with many faults and virtues

30. Motive: a character’s reason for doing/wanting something (usually causes the problem) Conflict: when a character struggles with an opposing force (a problem) Internal conflict – when a character struggles with forces inside himself/herself External Conflict - when a character struggles with an outside force (another person, society, weather, natural events, etc…)

31. Flap 5: Characters / Conflict:
Types of conflict –
Man vs. Man (External)
Man vs. Society (External)
Man vs. Nature (External)
Man vs. Self (Internal)

32. Story Elements: Flip Book
Flap 6: Genres/Symbols

33. Flap 6: Genres/Symbols: Genre – term used to identify different types of literature Biography – a story written about a person’s life Autobiography – a story about a person’s life which is written by that person Fantasy – a type of fiction that is highly imaginative and could not happen

34. Flap 6: Genres/Symbols
Science fiction – fiction that takes place in the future or in another galaxy/universe
Historical fiction - fiction that takes place in a factual historic setting; realistic for time
Realistic fiction – fiction that takes place in a realistic setting and could actually happen in the modern world

35. Flap 6: Genres/Symbols
Mystery – a type of fiction in which a puzzling event must be solved
Symbol – a thing that represents something other than itself – usually an idea
Examples:
love
peace

36. Now, you should have the back of the flip book left to write your story choices elements…

37. Finally, your Flip Book should look like this:

38. Finally, your Story Back Flap should look like this:

39. Due
Period 2, 4, & 6
Friday 2/13