Reading 1.1 Plot Structure “Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto

What drives a story? ● Setting ○ The time and place of the action

● Characters ○ The people, animals, or imaginary creatures that take part in a story ○ Their behavior affects what happens

● Plot ○ The series of events in a story ○ Usually centers on a conflict

Conflict ● Conflict can be external or internal ● External conflict ○ A struggle between a character and an outside force ■ This force could be another character, a group of characters, or nature

● Internal Conflict ○ A struggle within a character’s mind ■ Happens when a character must deal with opposing thoughts or feelings

Plot ● A plot is what happens in a story and usually develops in five stages: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling action Resolution (or denouement)

● When asked what the plot of a story is, you should be able to give a sentence description AND analyze it using the five stages

“Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara ● What is the plot of “Raymond’s Run”? ○ Who is the main character? ■ Hazel Elizabeth Deborah “Squeaky” Parker ○ Is her conflict external or internal? ■ Internal: with herself ■ At first, it seems external: with Gretchen ○ What does s/he want? ■ To win the race? ■ To come to acceptance of Raymond ○ Where and when does this occur? ■ Harlem, on May Day ○ How does it end? ■ She recognizes Raymond’s gift ● ...and she wins the race

“Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara (cont.) ● OR … “Raymond’s Run” is about a young girl in Harlem with a mentally-disabled brother who wants to win a race.

Exposition ● Introduces the characters ● Introduces the setting ● Sets up or hints at the conflict

Exposition of “Raymond’s Run” ● Read pg. 6-7, lines 5-31 ● An exposition introduces the characters… ○ Who are the characters introduced in those lines? ■ Squeak, the narrator ■ Raymond, her developmentally-disabled brother

● An exposition introduces the setting ○ Where does this story take place? ■ New York City ●

Amsterdam Avenue is a street in NYC

○ When does this story take place? ■ 1970s Harlem, near May Day

Exposition of “Raymond’s Run” (cont.) ● An exposition hints at a possible conflict ○ Re-read lines 7-20 ■ Raymond needs to be cared for ■ Squeak sets herself out as “the fastest thing on two feet”

Rising Action ● Shows how the conflict becomes more complicated ● Builds suspense with one character risking something ● Also, usually the majority of whatever text you are reading

Rising Action of “Raymond’s Run” ● What obstacles are getting in the way Squeak winning the race? ○ Gretchen and her cronies

● What obstacles are getting in the way of Squeak from valuing her brother? ○ Her pride ○ Other people’s opinions of him

Rising Action of “Raymond’s Run” (cont.) ● Read pg. 10, lines 116-147 ● Does tension increase now Squeak and Gretchen are face to face ○ Yes!

● Why? ○ Gretchen is new, so an unknown ○ Gretchen and her friends are rude to Raymond

● Is Squeak risking something? ○ Her sense of self-worth ○ Her pride

Climax ● Is the most exciting part of the plot and the turning point ● Often results in a change for the character ○ Does the character win their conflict? ○ Does the character get what they want?

Climax of “Raymond’s Run” ● Read pg. 14, lines 268-287 ● Is this the most exciting part of the story? ○ Well, that’s up to you, but it is the big race ■ (yes, yes it is the most exciting point)

● Does the character win their conflict? ○ That is called into question for the next few lines

● Does the character get what they want? ○ Yes, but not what she thought she wanted in the first place

Falling Action ● Eases suspense ● Reveals how the main character begins to resolve the conflict

Falling Action of “Raymond’s Run” ● Read pg. 15, lines 300-322 ● Is the suspense eased? ○ Yes! ■ She doesn’t care if she wins or loses ■ She congratulates Gretchen with her eyes on a race well done ●

Also, Squeak wins the race

■ Raymond is the real winner today ●

Also Squeak, who won the race

● Is it revealed how the main character is getting over the conflict? ○ Absolutely, winning the race -- everything that used to matter -- is no longer the central issue

Resolution ● Also called “denouement” ● Reveals the outcome of the conflict ● Sometimes ends with a surprise

Resolution of “Seventh Grade” ● Is the outcome of the conflict revealed? ○ Yes, two former enemies realizing the race was the real challenge, not each other

● Did the story end with a surprise? ○ No, this story does not

Page 19 - TAP ● 1. A, B, C, or D ○ Answer: C

● 2. F, G, H, or J ○ Answer: J

● 3. A, B, C, or D ○ Answer: D

● 4. F, G, H, or J ○ Answer: G

● 5. A, B, C, or D ○ Answer: B

● 6. F, G, H, or J ○ Answer: J