Plot Notes Some basics that every good story must have ….

Every story needs characters People Animals Or Creatures

The protagonist is the “good guy”

The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force

The time and place of the story is the setting

Plot is the sequence of events in a story linked by cause and effect. Every story must contain a PLOT! Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Conclusion/ Resolution

Plot Diagram

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.

The climax is the most exciting part!! It is often the turning point of the story!

4. Falling Action  All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

5. Conclusion  The story comes to a reasonable ending.

Great stories have a conflict Conflict is the problem in a story. Man vs. Man Man vs. NatureMan vs. Society Man vs. Himself

Theme Each story has a theme, which is the meaning behind the events and the character’s actions. Think of it as the insight into life revealed by the story.

Mood  Mood is the feeling created in the reader by a passage.

Tone  Tone is the attitude of the author or speaker toward the subject or audience.

Dialogue  Dialogue is a written or spoken conversation between two characters. Dialogue can be identified in writing by quotation marks. Sarah: “I am a 6 th grader at Apex Middle School.” Laura: “No way!! Me too!”