Lesson 6: Plot – How Stories Are Built and Why It Matters

🟦 Introduction

Hi future storyteller! 👋
Have you ever noticed that stories don’t just happen randomly?
They follow a pattern: something happens, something goes wrong, something gets fixed, and then everything wraps up.
That pattern is called the plot — the roadmap that guides a story from beginning to end.

Today, you’ll learn:

• What plot is,

• The important parts of a plot,

• How to recognize plot structures,
  and

• How plot makes stories exciting and meaningful.

Let’s get started! 📖

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What is a Plot?

• Plot is the sequence of events that happen in a story — from the beginning, through the middle, to the end.

• Plot answers:

  • What happens?

  • When does it happen?

  • Why does it happen?

2. The Five Main Parts of a Plot

3. Why Is Plot Important?

• It keeps the story organized.

• It makes readers curious (“What will happen next?”)

• It helps show the characters’ growth and the story’s themes.

Tip:
A story without a plot would be like a movie with random scenes — confusing and boring!

4. Plot vs Theme vs Setting (Quick Review)

🟨 Step-by-Step Walkthroughs

Walkthrough 1: Building the Plot Structure

Short Story:
“Ama dreams of becoming a doctor. She studies hard, faces many challenges, and finally wins a scholarship to medical school.”

Step 1: Identify each plot part.

• Exposition: Ama dreams of becoming a doctor.

• Rising Action: She studies hard but faces many challenges.

• Climax: She is offered a big scholarship.

• Falling Action: She accepts the scholarship and prepares for school.

• Resolution: She begins her journey to becoming a doctor.

Walkthrough 2: Plot Diagram Sketch

Plot Mountain:

1. Exposition → 🏡 (Introduction)

2. Rising Action → 🔥 (Problems build)

3. Climax → 🎯 (Turning point)

4. Falling Action → 🌙 (Calming down)

5. Resolution → 🎉 (Happy or final ending)

🟨 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify Plot Parts

Story:
“Yaw finds a mysterious map. He follows it into the jungle, facing snakes and storms. Finally, he discovers a lost city of gold.”

Questions:

• What is the exposition?

• What is the rising action?

• What is the climax?

• What is the falling action?

• What is the resolution?

Answers:

• Exposition → Yaw finds a mysterious map.

• Rising Action → He faces snakes and storms.

• Climax → He discovers the lost city of gold.

• Falling Action → He explores the city.

• Resolution → He becomes famous for his discovery.

Exercise 2: Match Plot Elements

Answers:

• Correct matches as listed.

Exercise 3: Story Scramble

Put the events in the correct plot order:

A. Kofi finds an old book in his attic.
B. The book leads him to a secret door.
C. Kofi opens the door and finds a hidden world.
D. He defeats a monster guarding the world.
E. He returns home with a magical gift.

Correct order:

• A (Exposition)

• B (Rising Action)

• D (Climax)

• C (Falling Action)

• E (Resolution)

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Plot

Write 5 short sentences to make your own story, including:

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Falling Action

• Resolution

Example:
“A young girl wants to learn the guitar (Exposition). She struggles to practice every day (Rising Action). Finally, she plays in a big concert (Climax). The crowd cheers for her (Falling Action). She becomes a famous musician (Resolution).”

🔁 Recap

Today you learned:

• Plot is the sequence of events in a story.

• The five main parts are exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

• Plot helps create interest, organize the story, and highlight characters and themes.

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Think about a story or movie you love.

• Can you break it into the five parts of a plot?

• Which part was your favorite — the beginning, the exciting climax, or the happy ending?

Write a few sentences explaining why!