Having read the story of Quetzalcoatl, sections of the story will be assigned to several groups of students. Each group will collaborate in the writing of their assigned story piece. The first step will be to re-read the story section and discuss ideas: Who are these people? What are they doing? In this initial discussion students can assign one person as the scribe who will write the story map based on the ideas they come up with. In this first step, students are also encouraged to use improvisation to help them flesh out ideas.
Next, students will work from their story maps to create a plot line. While the overall story has a plot, each episode also has a beginning, middle, and end. Below is an outline that describes elements of a plot, which students can use as a guide.
________________________________________________________
UNDERSTANDING THE PLOT
BEGINNING (Exposition)
3.
|
WHEN does the story take place?
|
4.
|
WHO are the main characters?
|
5.
|
WHO are the supporting characters?
|
6.
|
WHEN does the story begin to take off? (point of attack)
|
7.
|
WHAT problem or challenge is presented? (inciting incident)
|
8.
|
WHAT is the reader/audience expected to wonder about? (major dramatic question)
|
MIDDLE (progressing action)
9.
|
WHAT happens in the story to make it interesting? (complications)
|
Stories can have lots of complications. Each complication can also have its own beginning, middle and end. Complications often happen when someone in the story discovers something new.
10.
|
WHAT new and unexpected thing happens that turns or changes the direction that the story has been going in? (turning point, crisis, peripetia)
|
11.
|
WHAT dramatic thing happens as a result of the turning point?(climax) END (Denouement, resolution)
|
12.
|
WHAT happens after the climax? How do things work out?
|
________________________________________________________
After the plot has been written, students will collaborate to write a first draft. The drafts will be shared in class and commented on. Based on comments from the class, students will revise their work and present it once again. This time the class will make suggestions regarding presentation -- props, costume pieces, gestures, movement.