THE PLOT WORKSHEET
I have been teaching elements of Plot from a structural
basis
since the seventies, when I got much of this material
from my
chairman at William Floyd High School, the late Irwin
Abrams.
Although I have modified his approach somewhat, credit
for
this idea show rightfully go to him.
TO BEGIN:
I first give the kids my definition of a novel:
A novel is a series of events in which a main
character undergoes a learning experience.
In discussion, we point out that a short story usually focuses
on a single event, whereas a fiction book such a mystery story that has
no real learning experience is rightfully called a TALE.
TO CONTINUE:
We then go on to show the major steps in a plot. Depending
on the age of your students, you can illustrate this with a TV show (commercials
usually come between each category) or a book or film. The book which
follows this format best is Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms.
PLOT WORKSHEET
Title: _(Underline full length works; quote shorter works)
Author: _______________
I. SITUATION
A. Setting
1. Place (Where does the story take place? Country, Planet,
home, as specific as possible.)
2.
Time (When does the story happen? What historical
period? What time of year?)
B. Characters (List and identify all
major characters.)
II. CONFLICT (State the problem which the main character MUST solve
or overcome.)
III. EVENTS WHICH INTENSIFY THE CONFLICT (List each event which
makes it harder
for the main character to solve the problem.)
IV. CLIMAX (What irreversible decision does the main character make
to
solve the problem?)
V. TURNING POINT (How has the problem been resolved? What changes
have happened
as a result of the climax?)
VI. DENOUEMENT (How has the author ended the story? What
clever twist ties the ribbon
on the package?)
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CLICK
HERE FOR A SAMPLE PLOT WORKSHEET
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