A story's plot provides its organizational structure. Although a story can be told in many different ways, the plot of any story generally includes the same basic elements revealed in the same forward-progressing order: rising action (where the suspense/tension/conflict required in all stories appears), the climax (the decisive point at which the reader knows how the conflict will be resolved), the falling action (where the consequences of how the conflict was addressed play out), and the resolution (the final outcome of a story). Once students understand that each of these structural elements plays a role in developing a story, they can examine how these parts were constructed and eventually draw conclusions about why they were constructed in that manner. This analysis of plot elements can confirm comprehension of the text or the need to review the text more carefully.

the highest point in the plot where the problem/conflict reaches its peak

the element of plot structure that takes place after the climax and begins to resolve the conflict(s) of the story by decreasing formerly established tension before the story moves towards its resolution

the element of plot structure that contains the conclusion or final outcome in a story and, in some capacity, resolves all problems and conflicts Not all stories have clear resolutions.

the element of plot structure that develops the conflict through a series of events to build interest, suspense, and tension and that propels a story to the climax