The Plot Diagram

1. The exposition introduces the story’s setting. It tells us about:

   Who	When	Where	What
   The people	Time period	The place(s)	The main character’s initial situation
   main character (called the protagonist)	season	home	occupation(s)
   	year	workplace	marital status
   Supporting characters friend(s) & family love interest(s) mentor(s) & sidekick(s) comic relief	present/past/future	city	economic context
   	holiday	country	social context
   	historical period	another planet/world	everyday life

2. The conflict (also called inciting event) is the moment the main character’s life is turned upside down.
   
   During this stage, the main character is presented with an internal or external conflict, such as:

   A dilemma	The character has to choose between two or more important choices.
   An obstacle	The character’s progress is stopped.
   A challenge	The character's skills and actions are put to the test.
   A problem	The character has to overcome a situation.
   A crisis	The character’s world is affected by dramatic events.

   Overcoming the conflict becomes the protagonist’s main goal.

3. The rising action is the series of events and actions bringing the story to its main event (the climax).

This stage starts when the protagonist makes decisions to solve the main conflict. Then:

• suspense builds through a series of events.

• the main character’s life gets harder.

• the conflict becomes harder to solve.

A story can have more than one rising action. This stage of the story ends when the climax starts.

4. The climax is the most exciting point of the story. It is the result of all the tension built during the rising action.

During the climax, the main character must:

• face his/her/its antagonist.

• make critical decisions impacting his/her/its life.

• solve the story’s conflict.

The climax ends when the main conflict is resolved. The result can be positive or negative for the protagonist.

5. The falling action is the beginning of the end.

It leads us into the story’s conclusion and:

• shows the results of the climax and its effects on the character(s).

• gives the audience time to process the story’s events.

• allows a smooth transition between the climactic event and the resolution.

During this stage, some action and character development can still happen. However, no new conflict should be introduced.

6. The resolution (also called the denouement) is the outcome of the story.

It reveals:

• how things have turned out for the main character.

• how life has changed for the main character.

During the final part of the story, the author establishes the protagonist’s new normal.

The resolution is not always happy. It can leave the audience with questions or answers, positive or mixed feelings.