1. Plot – the series of events PARTS OF THE PLOT

2. Exposition The conditions present at the beginning of the story Background information Setting

3. Inciting Incident The first evidence of conflict in the story Where the action starts

4. Rising Action Sequence of events occurring between the inciting incident and the climax Events in the rising action should relate to the conflict

5. Climax The highest point of interest or emotion in the story The point where the two opposing forces are strongest

6. Falling Action Events leading to the end of the conflict The outcome of the conflict

7. Resolution / Denouement The end of the conflict Events that end the story

8. OTHER SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

9. Conflict A. What is it? 1. The struggle between two opposing forces 2. The problem in the story B. Types 1. External conflict – involves an outside source 2. Internal conflict –goes on within the character

10. Protagonist The main character Often the hero The character that the reader becomes emotionally involved with

11. Antagonist The character who goes up against the protagonist in the conflict Often the villain

12. Setting Role of setting : Background for action Adds details necessary to the story Drives the action of the plot (The story couldn’t take place in a different setting)

13. Setting includes: Time – when story occurs (could be as specific as second or as broad as year, decade, century, era, etc.) Place – where the story takes place (could be as specific as a particular building, or as broad as a solar system) Conditions/context – what is the social or political situation Setting

14. Theme The--So What! 1. What the protagonist learns 2. What the reader can take and apply to his/her life (lesson learned) Different from topic which is what the story is about. For example, the topic of the movie Rudy is “football”, but the theme is “never give up.”