Plot Lesson for Middle School Language Arts Class

This is a presentation to explain the plot diagram for middle school students.

1. PLOT 9TH GRADE Review

2. The sequence of events in a story. Includes: Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Without a plot, there’s no story! Without a conflict, there’s no plot! What is PLOT?

3. A: Exposition Introduces the setting and characters of a story.

4. A/B: Main Conflict A struggle or problem Adds excitement and suspense to story.

5. Character vs. Character A character struggles against another character Most common type of conflict Character vs. Nature A character battles against forces of nature (floods, storms, animals, etc.) Character vs. Society A character struggles with the laws and beliefs of his society Character vs. Self A character struggles with his own identity, thoughts, or emotions 4 Types of Conflict

6. Character vs. Character

7. Character vs. Nature

8. Character vs. Society

9. Character vs. Self

10. B: Rising Action Events that add tension to the story Most of the story happens here

11. C: Climax The highest point of action/emotion The turning point in the story ***Usually much later than we expect***

12. D: Falling Action The characters react to the climax The action slows down ***Usually much later than we expect***

13. E: Resolution The end of the story The conflict is usually solved (but not always)

14. CINDERELLA

15. Twelve Angry Men In partners, jot down the exposition, climax, and resolution to the play we read, Twelve Angry Men . ***REMEMBER: The climax is often later in the story than we first think***