Plotting our way through a story

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What happened?!

• Plotting our way through a story

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OBJECTIVE

• Identify the components of a plot
• main events
• exposition
• conflict
• rising action
• climax
• falling action
• resolution

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Plot Structure
Plot describes the structure of a story by
showing the arrangement of main events.
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WITHOUT CONFLICT, THERE IS NO STORY

• Conflict The problem to solve. The struggle
  between two forces.

Man vs. _______
Man vs. man
Man vs. nature
Man vs. animal
Man vs. supernatural
Man vs. himself
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Plot Structure Components
Climax The turning point. The most intense
moment (either mentally or in action).
Falling Action All of the action which follows
the climax.
Rising Action The series of conflicts and
crisis in the story that lead to the climax.
Resolution The conclusion. Tying everything
together.
Exposition The start of the story. The way
things are before the action starts.
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POLAR EXPRESS PLOT

• On Christmas Eve, as a young boy looked out his
  bedroom window, he saw a train standing perfectly
  still in front of his house.
• The book took the conductors outstretched hand
  and climbed aboard the train.
• On the train, children sang carols, ate candies
  with nougat centers, and drank hot coca.
• As they traveled northward through the cold
  forests the children saw wolves watching the
  train as it traveled by.
• The train climbed mountains so high it seemed as
  if they would scrape the moon.
• When the train arrived at the North Pole City,
  Santa and his elves were waiting for all them.
• The boy chose first gift of Christmas. It was a
  silver bell from a reindeers harness.
• After their exciting visit with Santa and his
  elves, the Polar Express took the children home.
• The young boy was so disappointed to find out
  that the bell Santa had given him had fallen
  through the hole in the pocket of his bathrobe.
• On Christmas Day, the boy discovered a package
  from Santa under his tree. Inside the boy found
  the silver bell Santa had given him with a note
  attached to it. The note told the young boy to
  get the hole in his pocket fixed.
• Though the boy grew up, the bell still rang for
  him, as it does for all those who believe.
• www.marcias-lesson-links.com/Polar20Express20sto
  ry20sequencing20strips.pd

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On Christmas Day, the boy discovered a package
from Santa under his tree. Inside the boy found
the silver bell Santa had given him with a note
attached to it. The note told the young boy to
get the hole in his pocket fixed.
The young boy was so disappointed to find out
that the bell Santa had given him had fallen
through the hole in the pocket of his bathrobe.
After their exciting visit with Santa and his
elves, the Polar Express took the children home.
Though the boy grew up, the bell still rang for
him, as it does for all those who believe.
The boy chose first gift of Christmas. It was a
silver bell from a reindeers harness.
When the train arrived at the North Pole City,
Santa and his elves were waiting for all them.
On Christmas Eve, as a young boy looked out his
bedroom window, he saw a train standing
perfectly still in front of his house.