1. Plot
Plot is the chain of related events that tells you what happens in a story.
Bet I can ride Diamondback Trail faster than you can!
EVENT 1
EVENT 2
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Jen and Rick meet on the trail.
Bet you can’t!
What do you think happens next?

2. Plot How are the two events linked together? cause/effect
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Jen and Rick meet on the trail.
cause/effect
Like links in a chain, each event “hooks” our curiosity and pulls us forward to the next event.

3. Plot Most plots are built on these structural elements:
basic situation
EXPOSITION
conflict
complications
RISING ACTION
climax
resolution 3

4. Plot
The basic situation (exposition) is the part of the story in which you meet the main characters and find out what they want.
The main characters are Jen and Rick.
Jen wants to have a bike race with Rick.

5. Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Plot
The main character then faces a conflict.
Jen’s challenge presents a problem to Rick:
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Should he try to impress Jen by accepting her challenge?
Should he avoid defeat or losing her friendship by choosing not to race? OR 5

6. Plot Conflicts in stories may include
forces of nature, such as gravity or strong head winds,
or a character’s own feelings.

7. Types of Conflicts Conflicts may be or
internal: firefighter vs. his or her fear or
external: firefighter vs. fire

8. Plot What if we add more events to the chain?
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Jen and Rick meet on the trail.
Rick’s bike chain slips off.
Event 3 has made the plot chain more complicated.
The outcome of the race is no longer a matter of who can bike faster.

9. Plot If Rick can’t repair his chain quickly, he will lose the race.
If Jen rides off and leaves Rick stranded, she may win the race but lose Rick’s friendship.
EVENT 3
Rick’s chain slips off.
Event 3 is called a complication because it makes the plot’s conflict more difficult to resolve.

10. Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Plot
What other complications might Rick or Jen face?
EVENT 3
? ? ? ? ? ?
EVENT 1
EVENT 2
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
Jen and Rick race.
What would make the story interesting, exciting, or suspenseful?

11. Plot
A story’s climax is the point at which the outcome of the conflict is decided—often in a surprising way.
Rick’s chain is off his bike.
Jen is circling back to check on him.
Suddenly, Rick remembers what he learned from his Uncle Eduardo:
1. how to replace a slipped chain
2. how to impress a girl

12. Plot Where does a story’s climax fit into the plot chain?
The story reaches its climax when the obstacles created by complications are overcome.
The climax makes the ending possible.

13. Plot
The resolution is the end of the story. It tells how the conflict turned out.
How was the conflict in this story resolved?
Neither Jen nor Rick won the race, but . . .
they took many more bike rides together.
[End of Section]

14. Sequence in Stories
Many stories are told in chronological order, the order in which events occurred.
One event leads to another.
Like links in a chain, events follow each other.

15. Rick tries to impress Jen by agreeing to a bike race.
Plot: Subplots
In addition to the main plot, some stories have subplots.
Subplot
Rick thinks little of his uncle’s advice—until Rick finds that he really can use it.
Main plot
Rick tries to impress Jen by agreeing to a bike race.
A subplot is a minor plot that is part of the larger story but not as important. The prefix sub- means “under” or “less important than.”
[End of Section]

16. Sequence in Stories
Many stories have subplots, or minor story lines, too.
EVENT 1
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
EVENT 2
Jen and Rick race.
EVENT 3
Jen (or Rick) wins the race.
SUBPLOT 1
Jen’s sister borrows her bike.
SUBPLOT 2
Rick’s uncle asks him to work.
[End of Section]

17. Plot: Parallel Episodes
Some plots contain parallel episodes: repeated events in a story. A writer addresses a similar event several times throughout a plot’s development
Episode 1
Rick’s chain slips off.
Rick replaces the chain, and the race continues.
Episode 2
Rick’s front tire goes flat.
Rick patches the tire, and the race continues.
Episode 3
Jen’s brake cable snaps.
Rick invites Jen to his uncle’s bike-repair shop.

18. Plot
Where in the plot would this scene occur? Justify your answer with evidence from the text.
exposition
rising action
climax
resolution
Quick Check
Paul packed his last pair of jeans in his duffel bag and carried it out to the car. It was time to leave for college. His mom and dad—and Miranda—were waiting with sad smiles on their faces. Paul placed his lucky bottle cap in Miranda’s hand and climbed into the car after saying goodbye.
He was surprised to find a little box on the seat next to him. Inside it, on a cushion of cotton balls, was Miranda’s lucky letter charm—M for miracles.
[End of Section]

19. Plot
Where in the plot would this scene occur? Justify your answer with evidence from the text.
Quick Check
Paul packed his last pair of jeans in his duffel bag and carried it out to the car. It was time to leave for college. His mom and dad—and Miranda—were waiting with sad smiles on their faces. Paul placed his lucky bottle cap in Miranda’s hand and climbed into the car after saying goodbye.
He was surprised to find a little box on the seat next to him. Inside it, on a cushion of cotton balls, was Miranda’s lucky letter charm—M for miracles.
This scene would occur during the resolution. Paul and Miranda part as friends when he leaves for college.

20. Relevant Setting
The setting of a story is the time and place in which the events occur. A story’s setting deals with:
time and place
customs of the time
details that convey tone and mood

21. The Inn of Lost Time Literary Skills Focus: Setting and Mood
Writers use setting to build background for a story.
Coach Rivera scanned the dusty baseball field for signs of her players as the sun beat down overhead. The 2 p.m. game was going to be a hot one. Daisy and Lucy warmed up on the sidelines. They were excited to be part of their town’s first all-women team.
Coach Rivera scanned the dusty baseball field for signs of her players as the sun beat down overhead. The 2 p.m. game was going to be a hot one. Daisy and Lucy warmed up on the sidelines. They were excited to be part of their town’s first all-women team.
location
time
weather
time period
customs
When writers create a setting, they include details that help you visualize the surroundings.

22. Relevant Setting
The dark sky, filled with angry, swirling clouds, reflected Greg Ridley’s mood as he sat on the stoop of his building.
from “The Treasure of Lemmon Brown” by Walter Dean Meyers
What clues about the story are revealed from these setting details?

23. Relevant Setting
Setting is not simply the place where the plot develops. Writers create settings that are relevant, or important, to the meaning of a text.
Sometimes the setting can create conflict for the characters.
Around nine o’clock the temperature had risen to almost one hundred degrees. I was completely soaked in sweat and my mouth felt as if I had been chewing on a handkerchief. I walked over to the end of the row, picked up the jug of water we had brought, and began drinking.
What can you infer from this passage?

24. Relevant Setting
The customs, or way of life, that the characters follow are also relevant to the meaning of a story.
While the girl served the wine, the host looked with interest at my swords. From the few remarks he made, I gathered that he was a former samurai, forced by circumstances to turn his house into an inn.

25. Literary Skills Focus: Setting and Mood
Mood is the overall feeling (atmosphere) you get when reading a story.
lonely
thrilling
gloomy
A story’s setting and the writer’s word choice help create mood.

26. Literary Skills Focus: Setting and Tone
Tone is the writer’s attitude toward characters and events. Writers reveal their tone by carefully choosing words that convey how they feel about the setting.
What tone to these words convey?
When the sun had tired and sunk behind the mountains, Ito signaled us that it was time to go home.
When you read a story with a vivid setting, look for words that help you use your senses. Find words that let you see, hear, smell, taste and feel the setting of a story.

27. Your Turn
Read the passage below. Then, read it a second time and identify the details that reveal the conflict the characters face. List and analyze details that help you visualize the setting.
While we stood talking, a smell reached our noses, a wonderful smell of freshly cooked rice. Suddenly I felt ravenous. From the way Tokubei swallowed, I knew he was feeling just as hungry.
“The Inn of Lost Time” by Lensey Namioka from Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, edited by Donald R. Gallo. Copyright © 1989 by Lensey Namioka. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of Ruth Cohen, Inc., Literary Agent. 27

28. Retelling
Retelling, or restating, a story’s events will help you understand its plot.
First, you read the story as the author tells it.
Then, you tell the story in your own words.

29. Retelling When you retell, you don’t repeat the whole story.
That would be like packing far too many clothes for a very short trip.
Instead, you provide only the most important information from the story.

30. Retelling Retelling Tips Start by stating the title and author.
This is the story of “The Three Little Pigs.” No one knows who first told this story.
Identify the main characters.
The main characters are three pigs and a wolf.

31. Retelling Retelling Tips Describe the setting.
It’s a bright, sunny day in the fields—perfect for building houses.

32. Retelling Retelling Tips
Retell the basic structural elements of the plot by using a strategy called Somebody Wanted But So.

33. Retelling Retelling Tips three little pigs
Somebody
Wanted
But So
three little pigs
to build their houses and live safely in them
the wolf wants to blow the houses down
the pigs make a plan to defeat the wolf
You might need more than one Somebody Wanted But So statement to sum up the story’s events.

34. Retelling Retelling Tips Explain how the story ends.
The wolf climbs down the chimney of the brick house and falls into a pot of boiling water. He runs out the front door and never bothers the pigs again. The three pigs live happily ever after.

35. Retelling
Quick Check
What information from this paragraph would you use in a summary?
This is the story of “The Magic Hat.” My brother and I wrote it after going to a magic show. It takes place a long time ago in a castle in the mountains of Austria. The main characters are an absent-minded king, a cruel queen, a weak prince, the ladies of the court, and a mysterious traveling magician named the Amazing Victor.
[End of Section]

36. Retelling
Quick Check
What information from this paragraph would you use in a summary?
This is the story of “The Magic Hat.” My brother and I wrote it after going to a magic show. It takes place a long time ago in a castle in the mountains of Austria. The main characters are an absent-minded king, a cruel queen, a weak prince, the ladies of the court, and a mysterious traveling magician named the Amazing Victor.
This paragraph includes the title, author, setting, and main characters.

37. Analyzing Details Details are the facts and information in a story.
location
time period
characters
events
customs

38. Analyzing Details Analyzing, or studying, details helps you
understand the plot
get to know the characters
visualize, or picture, the setting

39. Analyzing Details
When you visualize what is happening and where it is happening, you bring a story to life.
As you read, create mental images of the story’s characters, setting, and action.

40. Analyzing Details
If you analyze details, you can learn more about the plot and setting.
Plot
Setting
conflicts
complications
climax
time and place
customs of the time
details that convey tone and mood

41. Tips for Analyzing Details
In our wonderful past, kids gathered for pickup baseball games. Anyone could play. Parents watched—or didn’t. The point was to have fun.
Look for clues in the author’s word choice.
Words like wonderful and fun hint at the author’s view of what playing sports was like for children in the past.

42. Tips for Analyzing Details
Four-year-olds try out for the Pee Wee Baseball League. Gymnastics lessons begin at age three. Two-year-olds take soccer class.
Think about what the author includes.
The author includes information about numbers of very young children competing in sports.

43. Tips for Analyzing Details
Consider what the author leaves out.
Sports have become too competitive, and too many parents see their children as the next Tiger Woods. ?
The author doesn’t mention how sports help develop self-esteem, build leadership, and improve social skills.

44. Analyzing Details Quick Check
Do details in this paragraph describe the plot, or do they describe the setting of the story?
Lucy settled onto the bench seat of the old wooden train. A few lonely raindrops splatted against the glass windowpane as Lucy snuggled into her coat.
She was going to visit her grandmother in the country. The train whistle sounded as thunder rumbled in the distance. It was time to leave the station.
[End of Section]

45. Analyzing Details Quick Check
Do details in this paragraph describe the plot, or do they describe the setting of the story?
Lucy settled onto the bench seat of the old wooden train. A few lonely raindrops splatted against the glass windowpane as Lucy snuggled into her coat.
She was going to visit her grandmother in the country. The train whistle sounded as thunder rumbled in the distance. It was time to leave the station.
This paragraph includes details of the story’s setting.

46. Sequence in Stories
Many stories are told in chronological order, the order in which events occurred.
One event leads to another.
Like links in a chain, events follow each other.

47. Sequence in Stories
Sometimes stories are a bit more complicated than you might expect.
To keep track of events
pause after every few paragraphs
briefly restate what has happened

48. Sequence in Stories
To track a story’s events, you might also make a chart like this.
EVENT 1
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
EVENT 2
Jen and Rick race.
EVENT 3
Jen (or Rick) wins the race.

49. Sequence in Stories
Many stories have subplots, or minor story lines, too.
EVENT 1
Jen challenges Rick to a bike race.
EVENT 2
Jen and Rick race.
EVENT 3
Jen (or Rick) wins the race.
SUBPLOT 1
Jen’s sister borrows her bike.
SUBPLOT 2
Rick’s uncle asks him to work.
[End of Section]

50. Apply Reading Skills Your Turn
Read the passage below. Then, read it a second time and identify the details that reveal the conflict the characters face. List and analyze details that help you visualize the setting.
While we stood talking, a smell reached our noses, a wonderful smell of freshly cooked rice. Suddenly I felt ravenous. From the way Tokubei swallowed, I knew he was feeling just as hungry.
“The Inn of Lost Time” by Lensey Namioka from Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, edited by Donald R. Gallo. Copyright © 1989 by Lensey Namioka. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of Ruth Cohen, Inc., Literary Agent.
[End of Section] 50

51. The End

52. Analyze Plot
Your Turn
Conflict (what keeps the characters from getting what they want):
Major Story Events: 1. 2. 3.
(and so on)
Climax (how the conflicts are resolved):
Resolution:
Characters:
Map out the structural elements of the plot of a story from a book, a TV show, or a movie with which you are familiar. Use a story map like the one at the right.
Make note of any parallel episodes.
If you can find subplots in your story, complete another chart just like this one.
[End of Section]

53. Apply Reading Skills Your Turn
Read the passage below. Then, read it a second time and identify the details that reveal the conflict the characters face. List and analyze details that help you visualize the setting.
The second day of our journey was a particularly grueling one, with several steep hills to climb. As the day was drawing to its close, we began to consider where we should spend the night. I knew that within an hour’s walking was a hot-spring resort known to have several attractive inns.
“The Inn of Lost Time” by Lensey Namioka from Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, edited by Donald R. Gallo. Copyright © 1989 by Lensey Namioka. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of Ruth Cohen, Inc., Literary Agent.

54. Apply Reading Skills Your Turn
Read the passage below. Then, read it a second time and identify the details that reveal the conflict the characters face. List and analyze details that help you visualize the setting.
But Tokubei, my employer, said he was already very tired and wanted to stop. He had heard of the resort and knew the inns there were expensive. Wealthy as he was, he did not want to spend more money than he had to.
“The Inn of Lost Time” by Lensey Namioka from Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, edited by Donald R. Gallo. Copyright © 1989 by Lensey Namioka. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of Ruth Cohen, Inc., Literary Agent. 54