1. 6th Grade ELA
Plot
Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

2. Plot Components
Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action
Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax
Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax
Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions, circumstances and relationships to one another are established. The exciting force or initial conflict is introduced. Sometimes called the “Narrative HOOK” this begins the conflict that continues throughout the story.
Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicate the conflict.
Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist makes.
Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of the story, but the end is inevitable.
Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or is defeated at this point.
Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

3. Exposition Setting- the time period
(ex- Civil War, in the future, 1985, modern day).
A book could have more than one setting and could go back and forth. Story could start out in the 70’s disco era, mostly at night but then skip to the year 2017, in a nursing home.

4. Exposition Place: Where the story takes place.
(ex- a middle school, on Mars, in the country.)
What kind of feeling does this place give you? This is important to the story because it sets the mood. (ie- gloomy place, poor place, exciting place)

5. Exposition
Facts necessary to understand the upcoming story that is about to unfold; the background.
*The “rules” of the society at the time- ex.- woman can’t go outside without an escort
*The types of people in the story – ex.. Royals in England , runaway kids from an orphanage where the rule is you have to stay until you’re 19, or two tribes of cats who can speak have been at war for years.

6. Characterization: The techniques the author uses to develop and create personality, including a physical description of the characters. Author reveals character traits through dialogue, inner feelings, and other characters talking about each other.
1. Dialogue- Characters talking to each other . Dialogue uses quotation marks around what the character is actually saying.
Example: (use mine or write your own)
“You are always late and never have your homework,” Max said to Kristin.
(This shows Kristin is lazy and unorganized.)

7. Characterization
2. Inner feelings of characters- Usually told in first person. What the characters are thinking. What’s going on in their mind.
Example: (use mine or write your own)
I am going to just take a zero again. I am not interested in working hard towards an A this time. Who cares if I get a C- I can’t find the study guide anyhow.
(This shows the character is lazy and unorganized but is the character’s inner feelings. Not necessarily said to another character)

8. Characterization
3. Other characters talking about each other-
You can learn about the characters by the way others talk about them.
Example: (use mine or write your own)
Max- “Wouldn’t you be shocked if Kristin had her homework,” Max said to the teacher.
Mrs. Smith- “Well, to be honest, yes. Kristin usually loses everything I give her”
(This tells you about Kristin’s character)

9. The progatonist is the character who changes the most.
Types of Characters:
Major ( main)- These characters have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions and values change. If the character evolves ( changes) throughout the book as a result of the going through the journey or the conflict, this is a DYNAMIC character. A dynamic character grows or becomes more mature because of a higher understanding of life in some way.
Protagonist- always a DYNAMIC character. – main character
The progatonist is the character who changes the most.

10. Types of Characters:
Antagonist- the character(s) or force that opposed the protagonist. (Not always a
Sometimes the enemy or the “bad” character. Doesn’t have to be doing something bad, just causing a struggle for the protagonist.

11. Types of Characters:
Minor- ( flat characters)- Have only one quality that sticks out . They might be a favorite character and likable or they may be mostly bad. The way to tell if a character is a minor character is if they mostly stay the same through the entire book ( one way or another). They do not learn anything about themselves or the world around them, and do not change inside. These characters are called STATIC characters.

12. Point of View-
1st Person- narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only his/her own personal thoughts. What he or she sees is all we know. First person narrator can’t tell us the thoughts of other characters
Pronouns used:
I, me, we, us – not in quotes.

13. Point of View-
3rd person – narrator is an outsider who can report what is happening.
Pronouns used: Usually the author is telling the story. Anytime we hear from the main character, it’s in quotes.
Otherwise, the author uses “he/she/they”

14. Point of View- You or your- not in quotes
2nd Person- narrator tells the story to other characters using the word YOU.
Pronouns used:
You or your- not in quotes

15. Plot: Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

16. Conflict Inner conflict: (sometimes known
as man vs. self or character vs. self.)
A struggle inside the character’s heart and mind usually involving a difficult decision. This is when there is a good voice and a bad voice fighting inside of the character’s mind. Character has two opposing thoughts as to a difficult situation.

17. Types of Conflict Character vs Nature Character vs. character
External conflict- Involves a character and an outside force.
Character vs Nature
Hurricane- The Ninth Ward, Twister
Tsunami
Animals- The Beast of Noor, Hatchett
Fire
Weather- The Fifth Wave, Brian’s Winter
I Survived Series
Pete’s Dragon
Lucky Strike
Character vs. character  
Character vs. character 
Character vs. God/fate

18. Types of Conflict Character vs Nature-
EX: Hatchett- When the character has to fight against the elements of nature  
Character vs. Society-
When the character has to fight against laws, school groups or the norms of a culture. Ex- Hunger Games

19. Types of Conflict Character vs. character-
Two characters have tension or a struggle
Character vs. God/fate-
A character is struggling with his faith or with what has been chosen for him by “destiny”

20. More examples… Plot: Man vs. Man Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with another character, human or not human.
“The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before him.
Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds.
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson

21. More examples… Plot: Man vs. Nature Conflict
This type of conflict finds the main character in conflict with the forces of nature, which serve as the antagonist.
It´s a Truffula Seed.
It´s the last one of all!
You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all of his friends
may come back.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

22. More examples… Plot: Man vs. Society Conflict
This type of conflict has the main character in conflict with a larger group: a community, society, culture, etc.
“I’m tired of living in a hole,” said Jenny.
“Let’s fight for freedom!” cried Bouncer. “We’ll be soldiers! Rough-riding Rowdies! I’ll be the general and commander-in-chief!”
The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg

23. More examples… Plot: Man vs. Self Conflict
In this type of conflict, the main character experiences some kind of inner conflict.
Finally, Sam’s father said, “Go to bed now. But before you go to sleep, Sam, tell yourself the difference between REAL and MOONSHINE.”
Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness