Created by Steve Trueman with Darren Maltais, Black Gold Regional Schools

This Writing Planner is below is based on Sigmund Brouwer's work, see  sigmundbrouwer.com 

The planner is split into 3 sections. It uses symbols to help students remember the flow of the plot.  It is helpful to use the physical gestures as a writing reminder.  

Exposition and Initial Incident.  Use a photo or other device to brainstorm ideas. In this section, students consider: 

• • • what kind of hook they could use to entice their audience (eg. sound, action, thought/question/feeling, etc.),  

    • how they will share the basic beginnings of a story (who, what, where, when) 

    •  how the story changes- in the initial incident. 

Rising Action-Climax   In this section, the planner is built by imagining a variety of ideas that could happen.  (Note the 'maybe...or...or...)

• • • Students can either build the story one event at a time...brainstorm and then choose- write and then brainstorm, choose again...

    • Students could also build the entire rising action... imagining events that happen after the event they just finished writing. 

Falling Action-  focus on after the event is done.  

• • • It helps students move past 'they lived happily ever after.'