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Without cause and effect there is no plot. Without cause and effect, events are

simply episodic happenings. Not all scenes can be or need to be linked by cause

and effect, but the more scenes that are causally driven, organically rising up from

the action that takes place from one scene to the next, the better.

Strategies to Teach Plot Better

written by: Trent Lorcher • edited by: SForsyth • updated: 1/4/2012

Judging by popular teen movies, intricate plots are not that necessary. Reading great literature,

however, necessitates an understanding of plot, chronology, and cause and effect relationships.

• Class was going well. I was using one of my lesson plans for teaching plot. Bobby

Goldman raised his hand and asked, "Why do we have to learn this? Who cares? Why are you

even teaching cause and effect relationship? What's it matter?"

I should have explained how teaching cause and effect relationships helped students make sense

of the world, of literature, and developed critical thinking skills. I should have just moved on toanother one of my lesson plans for teaching plot. Instead, I said, "Class, I will show you an

example of cause and effect. The cause is Bobby's stupid questions. The effect is my foot up

his----!"

I was fired the next day.

• Review the Basics

Review the basics before moving on to cause and effect:

o Plot refers to a chain of related events.

o Exposition lays the groundwork for the plot.

o Setting is time and place.

o Rising action involves complications and difficulties.

o Climax is the high point of suspense.

o The falling action is anything that occurs as a result of the climax.

o Denouement is wrapping everything up.

o Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces. A story's plot revolves around

one of the following conflict types:

individual vs. self - Nora in Ibsen's Doll House struggles with whether or 

not to tell her husband the truth.

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individual vs. individual - Rocky Balboa fights Apollo Creed in Rocky II .

individual vs. nature - A frontiersman battles freezing temperatures as hestruggles to build a fire.

individual vs. supernatural: Odysseus battles a one-eyed freak.

individual vs. society: Frederick Douglass fights for equality in a society

that considers him inferior.

 Activities for Classrooms 

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Make sure students understand the above definitions before moving on. You may want to havethem complete a Freitag's pyramid or some other graphic to make sure they understand the basics

of plot.

• Understanding Chronology

Teaching plot involves helping students to link ideas within texts, a skill that can be used in

fiction and nonfiction. The obvious link is chronology:

o Chronological order, or time order, is the sequence in which events occur.

o

In non fiction, look for clues that indicate a shift in time: before, during, after,until, then, next .

o Inform students that chronological order in fiction can be interrupted by

flashbacks to provide background information. Frame stories ( Frankenstein , Canterbury

Tales, Lord Jim) are made up entirely of flashbacks.

Procedure for Teaching:

The easiest lesson plan for teaching chronology is using a simple graphic organizer consisting of 

 boxes with one arrow pointing to the next box. For some reason students are more likely to write

events inside of five boxes connected with arrows than they are to make a list of five major events (one of many teaching mysteries to which I have no answer).

1. Review Plot Basics.

2. Read Story.

3. Fill in Boxes.

• Teaching Cause and Effect Relationships

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Teaching chronological links is the first step in teaching plot. Teaching cause and effect links

adds an element of critical thinking.

o A cause is an action or event that results in another action or event. The direct

outcome of the action is the effect. Millions of readers remain confused because they do

not comprehend cause and effect relationships. These are the same people who can'tfigure out why their life is spinning out of control, why they can't hold down a job, andwhy they are ruined financially. So if you don't teach this well, your students will live a

life of misery, poverty, and stupidity (no pressure).

o Many nonfiction works follow a cause and effect organizational structure. Look 

for indicators--because, as a result, since, therefore.

o In fiction, cause and effect helps readers understand character motivation and why

things happen the way they do.

Procedures for Teaching:

Students refuse to list causes and effects, but if you make them draw circles labeled cause with

arrows pointing to boxes labeled effects, they'll think you're the greatest teacher ever and that you

deserve your own Caribbean Island.

1. Discuss the above information.

2. Read a story.

3. Fill in boxes and circles and connect with arrows.

4. Write a short paragraph analyzing cause and effect. Remember to write a  topic

sentence with supporting details.