Plot Mountain Activities

Considerations:

As you review your list of ten activities (and have the story out on your desk) consider these questions:

What do we learn in the exposition about the characters, settings, and basic situation in the story?

Where does the action begin to rise?

What conflicts are brewing? The conflicts can be internal or external.

What complications are introduced? What effect do they have on the protagonists or other characters?

What’s the first crisis for the protagonist? In this story, it could be experienced as an “oh, no” moment.

What is the climax of the story?

Where does the protagonist realize something important – the epiphany?

What is the falling action?

What is the resolution? Is there a "new normal"?

These questions will get you connected with your list of sequenced plot events with these plot mountain concepts.

In "The Moustache," much of the action is psychological rather than physical -- though there is movement in hallways and cars.

Fill out the boxes. Some items from your list may be a perfect match.

For others, you may have to review the story, listen to the discussion, and ask questions.

Print out your mountain, put your name on it, and submit.

Technology note: These text boxes in Word can be moved; they can overlap other boxes and the mountain and regular text. But sometimes they will be hard to move around without it affecting other boxes, especially if you make new text box (or copy one). To fix this, click on the corner of the box, which will open a dialogue box. Click on "Layout" and click “In Front of Text.” This will render the text box free floating and movable.