Plot•The sequence of events that make up a

story. The plot serves as a skeleton on which the other elements of a story (characters, setting, point of view, etc.) hang.

•A plot usually involves the unfolding and solving of a conflict. Plots can be simple or complex.

Exposition: the start of the story, before the action starts. Introduces the characters and setting.

Rising Action: the series of events and conflicts in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot Components

Put the story in order by numbering the events and identifying each part: 1) exposition, 2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, and 5) resolution.

A) Rainsford is up in a tree. The dogs are close on his trail. General Zaroff’s giant assistant is beside him. Rainsford must decide now what he will do. He plunges into the sea.

B) A mysterious island in the middle of the sea is described to the reader. The reader is introduced to Rainsfod, a man shipwrecked on the island, and General Zaroff, the island’s owner and sole resident, with the exception of his large and brutish servant, Ivan.

C) Rainsford and General Zaroff discuss hunting at dinner. General Zaroff hints that he is bored of hunting animals and has begun to hunt humans. Rainsford is to be his next prey.

D) Zaroff goes off to bed. When he arrives in his room, “A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there.” The general is shocked to see that Rainsford is still alive, but thrilled that the adventure continues. “On guard, Rainsford,” he says. And in the end, the reader is informed, “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.”

E) Zaroff, assuming Rainsford has drowned, returns home and makes himself a nice dinner.

Put the story in order by numbering the events and identifying each part: 1) exposition, 2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, and 5) resolution.

A) Rainsford is up in a tree. The dogs are close on his trail. General Zaroff’s giant assistant is beside him. Rainsford must decide now what he will do. He plunges into the sea.

B) A mysterious island in the middle of the sea is described to the 1 reader. The reader is introduced to Rainsfod, a man shipwrecked on the island, and General Zaroff, the island’s owner and sole resident, with the exception of his large and brutish servant, Ivan.

C) Rainsford and General Zaroff discuss hunting at dinner. General Zaroff hints that he is bored of hunting animals and has begun to hunt humans. Rainsford is to be his next prey.

D) Zaroff goes off to bed. When he arrives in his room, “A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there.” The general is shocked to see that Rainsford is still alive, but thrilled that the adventure continues. “On guard, Rainsford,” he says. And in the end, the reader is informed, “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.”

E) Zaroff, assuming Rainsford has drowned, returns home and makes himself a nice dinner.

Put the story in order by numbering the events and identifying each part: 1) exposition, 2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, and 5) resolution.

A) Rainsford is up in a tree. The dogs are close on his trail. General Zaroff’s giant assistant is beside him. Rainsford must decide now what he will do. He plunges into the sea.

B) A mysterious island in the middle of the sea is described to the 1 reader. The reader is introduced to Rainsfod, a man shipwrecked on the island, and General Zaroff, the island’s owner and sole resident, with the exception of his large and brutish servant, Ivan.

C) Rainsford and General Zaroff discuss hunting at dinner. General 2Zaroff hints that he is bored of hunting animals and has begun to hunt humans. Rainsford is to be his next prey.

D) Zaroff goes off to bed. When he arrives in his room, “A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there.” The general is shocked to see that Rainsford is still alive, but thrilled that the adventure continues. “On guard, Rainsford,” he says. And in the end, the reader is informed, “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.”

E) Zaroff, assuming Rainsford has drowned, returns home and makes himself a nice dinner.

Put the story in order by numbering the events and identifying each part: 1) exposition, 2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, and 5) resolution.

A) Rainsford is up in a tree. The dogs are close on his trail. 3 General Zaroff’s giant assistant is beside him. Rainsford must decide now what he will do. He plunges into the sea.

B) A mysterious island in the middle of the sea is described to the 1 reader. The reader is introduced to Rainsfod, a man shipwrecked on the island, and General Zaroff, the island’s owner and sole resident, with the exception of his large and brutish servant, Ivan.

C) Rainsford and General Zaroff discuss hunting at dinner. General 2Zaroff hints that he is bored of hunting animals and has begun to hunt humans. Rainsford is to be his next prey.

D) Zaroff goes off to bed. When he arrives in his room, “A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there.” The general is shocked to see that Rainsford is still alive, but thrilled that the adventure continues. “On guard, Rainsford,” he says. And in the end, the reader is informed, “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.”

E) Zaroff, assuming Rainsford has drowned, returns home and makes himself a nice dinner.

Put the story in order by numbering the events and identifying each part: 1) exposition, 2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, and 5) resolution.

A) Rainsford is up in a tree. The dogs are close on his trail. 3 General Zaroff’s giant assistant is beside him. Rainsford must decide now what he will do. He plunges into the sea.

B) A mysterious island in the middle of the sea is described to the 1 reader. The reader is introduced to Rainsfod, a man shipwrecked on the island, and General Zaroff, the island’s owner and sole resident, with the exception of his large and brutish servant, Ivan.

C) Rainsford and General Zaroff discuss hunting at dinner. General 2Zaroff hints that he is bored of hunting animals and has begun to hunt humans. Rainsford is to be his next prey.

D) Zaroff goes off to bed. When he arrives in his room, “A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there.” The general is shocked to see that Rainsford is still alive, but thrilled that the adventure continues. “On guard, Rainsford,” he says. And in the end, the reader is informed, “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.”

4 E) Zaroff, assuming Rainsford has drowned, returns home and makes himself a nice dinner.

Put the story in order by numbering the events and identifying each part: 1) exposition, 2) rising action, 3) climax, 4) falling action, and 5) resolution.

A) Rainsford is up in a tree. The dogs are close on his trail. 3 General Zaroff’s giant assistant is beside him. Rainsford must decide now what he will do. He plunges into the sea.

B) A mysterious island in the middle of the sea is described to the 1 reader. The reader is introduced to Rainsfod, a man shipwrecked on the island, and General Zaroff, the island’s owner and sole resident, with the exception of his large and brutish servant, Ivan.

C) Rainsford and General Zaroff discuss hunting at dinner. General 2Zaroff hints that he is bored of hunting animals and has begun to hunt humans. Rainsford is to be his next prey.

D) Zaroff goes off to bed. When he arrives in his room, “A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing 5 there.” The general is shocked to see that Rainsford is still alive, but thrilled that the adventure continues. “On guard, Rainsford,” he says. And in the end, the reader is informed, “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.”

4 E) Zaroff, assuming Rainsford has drowned, returns home and makes himself a nice dinner.

FICTIONAL STORIESHave you ever read a story that stays with you long after you finished reading it? Or where you can’t wait to find out what happens next?

The light faded slowly from the screen even as Santron tried frantically to reset the controls. It was no good. Something was jamming the signal. At this rate, the entire ship would be blacked out within….Santron checked the time dial. Three minutes at most. Santron frowned. Three minutes to fix the problem or face obliteration! When the sensor buzzed overhead, Santron swallowed. If ever she needed to call on her Frontline Trooper skills to get her out of trouble it was now……

This is only one type of story, - a ‘cliffhanger’ or thriller style of narrative. But all successful stories ‘hook’ the reader.

Other Elements for a Short Story

•Foreshadowing•Flashback•Suspense

Definitions•Foreshadowing: when an author

mentions or hints at something that will happen later in the story

Hint•Try breaking the word FORESHADOWING

apart.•FORE means ahead.•A SHADOW is a glimpse of something

without the complete details.

Example of Foreshadowing

"NOW, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor."

~ Beatrix Potter from The Tale of Peter Rabbit ~

What do you think might happen next?

Example of Foreshadowing

Sam wished he could rid himself of the sick feeling in his gut that told him something terrible was going to happen, and happen soon.

What do you think might happen next?

Definitions•Flashback: when an author refers back

to something that already took place in the story

Hint•Now try breaking the word FLASHBACK

apart.•FLASH: a quick glimpse.•BACK: a look back in the story at

something that previously happened.

Flashback

•Flashback can appear as character memories or dreams, or in dialogue or narration.

•Flashbacks provide background information that clarifies current action in the story.

An Example…•And now you will see portions from the

well known children’s story Little Red Riding Hood.

Little Red Riding Hood• Once upon a time, there

was a little girl who lived with her mother. Her mother asked her to take her old and lonely grandmother some food one day. "Don't stop along the way. Go straight to your Grandma's house and back. Don't talk to any strangers and watch out for the wolf in the woods! Now get along!"

Foreshadowing

Little Red Riding Hood• While she was walking

through the woods, a wolf was walking past her. "I bet I could convince her to take the long way. Then I could get to her grandmother's house first and trick her into thinking that I was her grandma. That way I could have her and her grandma for a large feast,” he thought.

Little Red Riding Hood• The wolf went up to

Little Red Riding Hood and told her that he knew a shortcut. Little Red Riding Hood thought back to what her mother told her. “Don’t talk to any strangers and watch out for the wolf in the woods!” But it was too late, she had already listened to the wolf’s directions.

Flashback

Little Red Riding Hood•Most know how the

rest of the story ends. Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma are saved from the wolf. Hopefully you can understand foreshadowing and flashback now.

Raise your hand to describe how you feel 5 minutes before you are able to open your report card.

•Nervous•Anxious•Curious•Afraid•Excited

Raise your hand to describe how you feel 5 minutes before you are able to open your report card.

•Nervous•Anxious•Curious•Afraid•Excited

SuspenseSuspense – anxious curiosity

about what will happen next in the storysome Genres that are suspenseful:some short storieshorrorthrillersmysteriesetc.

Tools of Suspense•“Tools” of suspense include:

▫ mysterious circumstances such as locked doors and hidden rooms;

▫mysterious characters such as monstrous creatures and peculiar-acting strangers;

▫dark settings including thunderstorms and candle-lit rooms;

▫difficult decisions such as whom to marry or whether to keep a secret; and

▫unresolved issues such as whether or not a character will survive an illness or live through a perilous predicament such as hanging on the edge of a cliff.

Practice____ 1) He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.

____ 2) The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

____ 3) “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said slowly.

____ 4) As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

____ 5) “Is anything the matter? She asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

A. Mysterious circumstances

B. Mysterious characters

C. Dark setting

D. Difficult decision

E. Unresolved issue

Practice__C_ 1) He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.

____ 2) The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

____ 3) “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said slowly.

____ 4) As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

____ 5) “Is anything the matter? She asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

A. Mysterious circumstances

B. Mysterious characters

C. Dark setting

D. Difficult decision

E. Unresolved issue

Practice__C_ 1) He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.

__B_ 2) The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

____ 3) “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said slowly.

____ 4) As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

____ 5) “Is anything the matter? She asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

A. Mysterious circumstances

B. Mysterious characters

C. Dark setting

D. Difficult decision

E. Unresolved issue

Practice__C_ 1) He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.

__B_ 2) The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

_D__ 3) “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said slowly.

____ 4) As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

____ 5) “Is anything the matter? She asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

A. Mysterious circumstances

B. Mysterious characters

C. Dark setting

D. Difficult decision

E. Unresolved issue

Practice__C_ 1) He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.

__B_ 2) The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

_D__ 3) “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said slowly.

__A_ 4) As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

____ 5) “Is anything the matter? She asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

A. Mysterious circumstances

B. Mysterious characters

C. Dark setting

D. Difficult decision

E. Unresolved issue

Practice__C_ 1) He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it.

__B_ 2) The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.

_D__ 3) “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said slowly.

__A_ 4) As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

__E__ 5) “Is anything the matter? She asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

A. Mysterious circumstances

B. Mysterious characters

C. Dark setting

D. Difficult decision

E. Unresolved issue

What is Suspense?• What is she doing that

shows she is feeling this way?

This woman is feeling the suspense.

In other words, she is feeling the anxious curiosity about what will happen next in the story

If an author describes facial expression in this way – he is trying to build suspense!

What is Suspense?If an author makes

you question what is going to happen next, and doesn’t tell you the answer right away or

“leaves you hanging” then that is SUSPENSE.

Your Task•Open your Google Classroom•Complete the Prewriting and Drafting:

Organizing and Writing Your Short Story•On this document you will begin piecing

the events of your story together from start to finish.

• Include specific details of what your main characters are doing and how you will connect one event to the next in a logical order.

•Make sure you use complete sentences and also include where you will insert dialogue.