1. Plot

2. Plot Describes the events of a story Events are related
Events are told in order

4. Plot diagram Exposition Initiating Event Rising Action Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

5. Exposition Introduces characters, setting, background information
EXAMPLE: Cinderella
Main characters are Cinderella, her dad, her step-mom, her step-sisters
Setting is in a house in a small village in the past
Background information: Cinderella’s mom died and her dad remarried a woman who had two daughters of her own.

6. Initiating Event
This is the event that gets the story started. If this didn’t happen, nothing else would.
EXAMPLE: In Cinderella the initiating event is that her dad dies and Cinderella is forced to live with her step-mom and step-sisters.

7. Rising Action Where the conflict occurs
The main character’s efforts to achieve a goal are complicated
EXAMPLE: Cinderella’s step-mom and step-sisters treat her terribly. The Prince is holding a dance to meet his future wife, and Cinderella wants to go, but her step-mom gives her a long list of chores to complete instead. While doing her chores, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother appears and helps her get to the dance anyway.

8. Climax The point of greatest intensity, excitement Turning point
EXAMPLE: Cinderella arrives at the ball in her best clothing from the Fairy Godmother. She meets the Prince and dances with him, and there is instant chemistry. Cinderella needs to leave before midnight, however, before the spell breaks and all the good things turn bad. As she rushes out, her glass slipper is left behind. The Prince picks it up, not knowing who it belongs to. (He didn’t even get her cell number or Instagram name!)

9. Falling Action
The falling action is a direct result of what happens in the climax.
EXAMPLE: Because the Prince fell in love with Cinderella, but didn’t know who she was, he takes the glass slipper and has every girl in the kingdom try it on so he can identify his future wife. The Prince arrives at Cinderella’s house and she tries on the slipper and he sees it fits her.

10. Resolution The ending Ties up loose ends
Identifies how the characters feel about what happened in the story
EXAMPLE: Cinderella and the Prince get married and live happily ever after.