Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

What are the basic elements of a

story?

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

Every story must include

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

What do you think of this

idea for a story?

A man named Ryan who lives in New York City

goes to the supermarket. Then he picks up clothes at the cleaners. Next, he goes home, eats dinner, watches television for a few hours, and goes to

bed.

In order for a plot to be complete and interesting to readers, it must have four elements:

Expositionthe first part, in which the writer introduces the

story’s characters and settingConflict

a problem that the characters have to solveClimax

the most dramatic moment in the story, when the conflict reaches a point of crisis

Resolutionthe conflict is resolved

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

A Few Tipsto Add to Your Understanding

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

The climax of a story is not always big and dramatic, so take care not to overlook it.

The climax is not always found in the middle of a story. Often the climax is just before the end.

There is often more than one conflict or problem in a story; be alert to the one that is most important to the main character in a story.

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements

Be alert to the plot elements in the book we are reading. Identifying plot elements in a novel is challenging because

the story is longer!

Listening ComprehensionTopic: Identifying Basic Plot Elements