Plot

What is plot?
The Procession of events that unfold throughout a story.
A means of revealing character.
A beginning, a middle and an end.
The significant acts or experiences in a story.

Basic plot structure
Exposition....
Exposition is the point in the plot where the reader learns everything he/she needs to know in order to understand the text.
Setting and character are established here
     Example: Boy loves girl (now in Indiana)
Conflict...
The conflict or inciting incident is the point when the protagonist is first introduced to a problem to solve
     Example: Secret rival boy causes girl to leave boy
Rising Action...
Rising action is the process by which the conflict develops and is usually worsened.
     Example: Boy's efforts to regain Girl drive her into the arms of Rival Boy.
     Climax...
The climax is the turning point of the conflict in the story, the peak of suspense, the moment where everything changes
     Example: boy confronts girl with ugly truth about rival boy
Falling Action...
The falling action is the process by which the conflict is made better
     Example: Girl is disgusted with both boys, but slowly allows boy to regain trust.
Resolution...
The resolution is the point at which the problem is resolved
     Example: Boy gets Girl Back.


Types of Conflict
Internal-Conflicts related to the character's beliefs, ideas, imagination or emotions that originate from inside the character.
External-Conflicts related to the character's physical condition that originate from outside the character.
Types of Conflicts
Man v. Man
Man. v. Nature
Man v. Machine/Technology
Man v. Self
Man v. God
Man v. Society
Man v. Animal

Plot doesn't have to be Chronological
In Medias Res-in the middle of things--a plot strategy in which the story begins in the middle
Flashback--a plot strategy in which important plot elements are learned in retrospect.
Various Orders of Events:
      Begin at the climax, flashback to the beginning, then conclude
      Begin at the conflict, flashback to the exposition.
      Begin at the resolution, flashback to the climax or the conflict, flashback again to the exposition.
      Keep important details hidden until the end, then flashback to fill them in.

Good stories have multiple plots
Frame stories--stories within a story.
Internal and external stories
Point of view-each character has his or her own plots
Sub-plots--plots that are of less importance but which are related to the main plot of a story.