A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell Storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of A Separate Peace.
Encourage participation by starting with open-ended questions about the plot. Invite students to share their favorite moments or surprising twists, helping everyone feel involved in the conversation.
Pose specific prompts like “What do you think motivated the main character’s actions in the climax?” or “How did the conflict affect the resolution?” These questions guide students to think critically about the plot elements they diagrammed.
Ask students to relate the story’s events to situations they’ve faced, encouraging personal connections. This helps students see the relevance of literary structure and deepens engagement.
Wrap up the discussion by highlighting major discoveries about the plot. Invite volunteers to share their takeaways so all students leave with a clearer understanding of narrative structure.
A plot diagram for A Separate Peace visually outlines the key events in the novel, breaking the story into six parts: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. This helps students understand the narrative arc and structure of the book.
Students can create a plot diagram by dividing the story into six sections—Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution—and illustrating or describing an important event from each part. Using a storyboard tool makes this process engaging and visual.
The main parts of the plot in A Separate Peace are Exposition (introduction of characters and setting), Conflict (the central struggle), Rising Action (events building tension), Climax (turning point), Falling Action (events after the climax), and Resolution (the story’s conclusion).
Using a plot diagram helps students identify and remember major events, understand literary structure, and visualize how the story develops, making it easier to analyze characters and themes in A Separate Peace.
Teachers can use digital storyboard creators like Storyboard That or printable templates to help students visually organize the plot of A Separate Peace in six steps, enhancing engagement and comprehension.