A common activity for students is to create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of a plot but to reinforce major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard that captures the concept of the narrative arc in a story by creating a six-cell storyboard which contains the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in a sequence using Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
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Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of 1984.
Guide students to track how main characters change from exposition to resolution using their plot diagrams. This helps students connect events to character growth and deepen their understanding of the story.
Ask students to write down a main character’s traits or emotions in each part of the plot diagram. This highlights how characters evolve in response to events.
Lead a discussion where students share their character observations from their plot diagrams. Comparing ideas helps students see multiple perspectives on character growth.
Encourage students to use colors, symbols, or facial expressions in their storyboards to represent character emotions. This makes abstract changes more visible and engaging.
Have students draw arrows or notes linking plot events to shifts in character behavior. This reinforces the cause-and-effect relationships in the story.
A plot diagram for 1984 is a visual representation of the novel's major events, organized into the classic narrative arc: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. It helps students understand key story elements and structure.
To teach 1984’s plot structure, have students create a six-cell storyboard, with each cell representing a different plot part. Students illustrate and describe key events for Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution to reinforce understanding.
The major plot points of 1984 to include are: Winston’s life in Oceania (Exposition), his rebellion (Conflict), growing relationship with Julia (Rising Action), capture and torture (Climax), re-education (Falling Action), and Winston’s ultimate fate (Resolution).
Creating a plot diagram helps students visually organize events, identify narrative structure, and deepen comprehension of themes and character arcs in 1984.
Encourage creativity by letting students use images, colors, and short descriptions for each plot part. Allow group or individual work and prompt discussion about how each event shapes the story’s outcome.