A story needs characters and a setting but without a plot, it won’t go anywhere.

The plot is the sequence of events that happen in a story. It contains the situation, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion of a story.

• The opening/situation introduces the setting (location, time, and mood of the story) and gives information on the characters. It also introduces the problem in the story.

• The rising action occurs when events begin to unfold and the problem gets worse.

• The climax is usually the most exciting part of the story. It is where a solution to the problem is suddenly revealed.

• The falling action is where the action in the story begins to wind down.

• The conclusion/resolution is where the story ends. The problem may or may not be resolved here.

In your assignment for this lesson, you will describe the plot of your story. Here are some tips for creating powerful plots that keep your readers turning the pages. Keep these tips in mind when you begin writing your story.

• Decide what the main problem in your story will be. Does the main character face an internal struggle, a problem with another character, or with a greater force, such as nature?
• Decide what events will take place as the main character faces this problem. These events should become more complicated or serious as time passes until they reach a climax.
• Check to see if you need to add connections between events, especially if you are changing place or time.
• Make sure you include events that will end your story in a satisfying way. Don't be too abrupt, but don't drag out the conclusion either.
• What will the key events in your story be? How will the conflict be overcome, or will it?

Watch the following video on plot to learn about the 5 different parts.

Open your writer's notebook and complete 1.4 Plot.