1. What Is Plot? Conflict Complications Climax Resolution Subplots Parallel Episodes Practice Plot: A Chain of Events Feature Menu

2. A story needs more than interesting characters to make you want to read it. What Is Plot? Something about the story has to make you wonder what will happen next. Jen athletic, wants to win every time, thinks Rick is sweet but lazy Rick just wants people to like him—especially Jen

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

4. How are the two events linked together? What Is Plot? EVENT 1EVENT 2 Jen and Rick meet on the trail. Jen challenges Rick to a bike race. One of these events causes the other. Jen and Rick meet on Diamondback Trail because Jen challenged Rick to a race. The two events form a chain. cause/effect

5. The event that begins the chain introduces a problem, or conflict. Conflict EVENT 1 Jen challenges Rick to a bike race. Jen’s challenge presents a problem to Rick: try to impress Jen by accepting her challenge avoid defeat by choosing not to race OR

6. Conflict A story’s conflict can be a struggle with another character, a force of nature, such as gravity or a strong headwind, or a character’s own feelings. [End of Section]

7. What if we add a third event to the chain? Complications EVENT 1EVENT 2 Jen and Rick meet on the trail. Jen challenges Rick to a bike race. Event 3 has made the plot chain longer, but it has also made the plot more complicated. EVENT 3 Rick’s bike chain slips off. The outcome of the race is no longer a matter of who can bike faster—Jen or Rick.

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

9. Complications A plot without complications might look like this. This kind of race happens every day, but it doesn’t necessarily make a good story. Where’s the suspense?! EVENT 1 Jen challenges Rick to a bike race. EVENT 2 Jen and Rick race. EVENT 3 Jen (or Rick) wins the race.

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

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

12. A story’s climax is the point at which the outcome of the conflict is decided—often in a surprising way. Climax “Enrique,” said Uncle Eduardo, “never try to be the man you are not. Be the man you are.” Rick had rolled his eyes at the time. His uncle was always saying things like that. But now...

13. Where does a story’s climax fit into the plot chain? Climax It overcomes the obstacles presented by complications [End of Section] and makes the ending possible.

14. The resolution is the end of the story. It tells how the conflict turned out. Resolution 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]

15. Subplots In addition to the main plot, some stories have subplots. A subplot is a plot that is part of the larger story but is not as important. Main plot Rick tries to impress Jen by agreeing to a bike race. Sub plot Rick discounts his uncle’s advice— then finds that he really can use it.

16. Some plots contain parallel episodes: repeated events in a story. Parallel Episodes [End of Section] 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.

17. 1. What is the conflict in this story? Let’s Try It Let’s say three small pink pigs—Rupert, Rosemary, and Desmond—are building cottages when a wolf turns up and watches, his eyes yellow and shifty. The wolf says that the pigs are trespassing and should find another site. The pigs protest that they have a permit to build there. It was given to them by a rabbit who had come by earlier. The wolf declares that the permit is no good, swallows it in one gulp, and says that unless the swine are gone by evening, he will blow their cottages off the map. “What nerve!” says Rosemary. “If we had legal representation, he wouldn’t be so quick to gobble up our permit.” Practice

18. The conflict is a struggle between the pigs and the wolf over the building sites. Practice 1. What is the conflict in this story? Let’s Try It Let’s say three small pink pigs—Rupert, Rosemary, and Desmond—are building cottages when a wolf turns up and watches, his eyes yellow and shifty. The wolf says that the pigs are trespassing and should find another site. The pigs protest that they have a permit to build there. It was given to them by a rabbit who had come by earlier. The wolf declares that the permit is no good, swallows it in one gulp, and says that unless the swine are gone by evening, he will blow their cottages off the map. “What nerve!” says Rosemary. “If we had legal representation, he wouldn’t be so quick to gobble up our permit.”

19. Practice 2. What complications have occurred in the story so far? Let’s Try It “That’s true,” says Rupert, “but right now let’s keep our minds on construction.” Rupert hurries to finish his house with straw. Rosemary finishes hers with wood, and Desmond finishes his with fiberglass and aluminum siding. Then each pink pig goes inside to await developments. Just as he promised, the wolf turns up as the sun goes down. First he goes to Rupert’s straw house. “Mr. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs and blows Rupert’s straw house to dust. Rupert runs to the hardware store to buy more building materials.

20. The pigs’ determination to build and the wolf’s threats are complications. Practice 2. What complications have occurred in the story so far? Let’s Try It “That’s true,” says Rupert, “but right now let’s keep our minds on construction.” Rupert hurries to finish his house with straw. Rosemary finishes hers with wood, and Desmond finishes his with fiberglass and aluminum siding. Then each pink pig goes inside to await developments. Just as he promised, the wolf turns up as the sun goes down. First he goes to Rupert’s straw house. “Mr. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs and blows Rupert’s straw house to dust. Rupert runs to the hardware store to buy more building materials.

21. Let’s Try It Next, the wolf goes to Rosemary’s house. “Ms. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs and blows Rosemary’s house to smithereens. Rosemary runs to the local university to enroll in law school. Finally the wolf goes to Desmond’s house. “Mr. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs, but Desmond’s house is unshaken. 3. What subplot is developed on this page? Practice 4. What parallel episodes have appeared in the story so far?

22. Rosemary’s plan to become a lawyer is a subplot. Practice Let’s Try It Next, the wolf goes to Rosemary’s house. “Ms. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs and blows Rosemary’s house to smithereens. Rosemary runs to the local university to enroll in law school. Finally the wolf goes to Desmond’s house. “Mr. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs, but Desmond’s house is unshaken. 3. What subplot is developed on this page?

23. Practice The wolf’s repeated warnings— followed by attempted destruction— are parallel episodes. Let’s Try It Next, the wolf goes to Rosemary’s house. “Ms. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs and blows Rosemary’s house to smithereens. Rosemary runs to the local university to enroll in law school. Finally the wolf goes to Desmond’s house. “Mr. Pig, you have five seconds to vacate! Should you choose to remain, I will not be responsible for your personal safety. Five, four, three, two, one.” The wolf huffs and puffs, but Desmond’s house is unshaken. 4. What parallel episodes have appeared in the story so far?

24. 6. The boldface words are the story’s ___________. Let’s Try It Practice 5. Which paragraph contains the story’s climax? “So, wolf, what will you do now?” Desmond called out the window. “I’ll... I’ll sue you for all you’re worth!” cries the wolf. “I’ll see you in court, Mr. Wolf,” Desmond replies happily. He knows that Rosemary is an uncommonly fast learner. Rupert, Rosemary, and Desmond live happily in Desmond’s house until the court date arrives. Rosemary represents Desmond, and a nervous sheep represents the wolf. The judge’s decision comes as a surprise to everyone. The pigs must move their home five hundred yards east—onto public land — and the wolf must help them.

25. Practice the middle paragraph Let’s Try It “So, wolf, what will you do now?” Desmond called out the window. “I’ll... I’ll sue you for all you’re worth!” cries the wolf. “I’ll see you in court, Mr. Wolf,” Desmond replies happily. He knows that Rosemary is an uncommonly fast learner. Rupert, Rosemary, and Desmond live happily in Desmond’s house until the court date arrives. Rosemary represents Desmond, and a nervous sheep represents the wolf. The judge’s decision comes as a surprise to everyone. The pigs must move their home five hundred yards east—onto public park land — and the wolf must help. 5. Which paragraph contains the story’s climax?

26. Practice resolution Let’s Try It “So, wolf, what will you do now?” Desmond called out the window. “I’ll... I’ll sue you for all you’re worth!” cries the wolf. “I’ll see you in court, Mr. Wolf,” Desmond replies happily. He knows that Rosemary is an uncommonly fast learner. Rupert, Rosemary, and Desmond live happily in Desmond’s house until the court date arrives. Rosemary represents Desmond, and a nervous sheep represents the wolf. The judge’s decision comes as a surprise to everyone. The pigs must move their home five hundred yards east—onto public land — and the wolf must help them. 6. The boldface words are the story’s ___________.

27. Practice On Your Own Map out the plot structure of a story you are familiar with. Use a graphic like the one on the right. If you can find subplots in your story, fill out another chart just like this one. [End of Section]

28. The End Plot: A Chain of Events