1. What makes a story a story?
Basic Plot Elements
What makes a story a story?

2. The chain of events that make up a story
Plot
The chain of events that make up a story
Anything that happens in a story is part of the PLOT!

3. The time and place of a story
Setting
The time and place of a story
A setting can be very specific, like Canton, Ohio on September 13, 2016, OR it can be very vague like United States in the 19th century.

4. Conflict (AKA Complications)
Problems that arise as characters struggle to reach
their goals
Every good story has a problem the character has to overcome.
The story comes to an end when the problem is solved.
There can be more than one conflict in a story.
Conflict is best stated as a question. For example, “How will Cinderella make it to the ball?”
The conflict can come in many forms - we will be talking about the types of conflict later!

5. Protagonist The main character in a story - the “good guy”
The protagonist is usually the good guy - the one you are rooting for! The story centers around this person.

6. Antagonist The character (or force) in conflict
with the protagonist - the “bad guy”
The antagonist is usually the bad guy - the guy you are rooting against!
They cause the problems for the main character.
However, the antagonist is not always a person. For example, racism can be an antagonist.

7. Let’s Practice!
Watch the video closely and think about the plot, setting, conflict, protagonist and antagonist.

8. What is the basic plot?
A puffer fish wishes to escape from the chef who plans to cook him!

9. What is the setting?
The chef’s kitchen

10. Who is the protagonist?
The puffer fish

11. Who is the antagonist?
The chef

12. What is the conflict (complication)?
How will the fish get back to the water and escape the chef?

13. Challenge!!!
How would these answers be different if I told you that the chef was the protagonist?
What is the basic plot summary?
What is the setting?
Who is the protagonist?
Who is the antagonist?
What is the conflict?