Activity Overview
A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. 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 novel 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.
Example "The Scarlet Ibis" Plot Diagram
Exposition
The setting is in a southern US state, on a small plantation where the narrator and his new baby brother live.
Major Inciting Conflict
The narrator's little brother, Doodle, is born with disabilities and health conditions. The narrator is unable to accept his brother's physical challenges.
Rising Action
Once the narrator realizes he is ‘stuck’ with Doodle, his pride convinces him to teach Doodle to be “normal”. Once he successfully teaches Doodle to walk, he believes it is possible to teach Doodle other things, and pushes him harder. One day during the summer, the family finds a scarlet ibis that dies in their yard. Doodle for develops a connection with this bird and wants it buried.
Climax
On the last day of training, Doodle shows that he is too weak to continue training. The narrator is upset, and as they decide to go home, a thunderstorm rolls in. The narrator begins running home, Doodle, however, cannot keep up and calls out, “Brother, don’t leave me.”
Falling Action
The narrator turns to go back to his brother, and finds him dead under a bush, in a similar position to the ibis.
Resolution
The narrator recalls how his selfish pride killed Doodle.
Template and Class Instructions
(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 The Scarlet Ibis.
- Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
- Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/1] Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
- [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/5] Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 25 Points | Emerging 21 Points | Beginning 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive and Visual Elements | Cells have many descriptive elements, and provide the reader with a vivid representation. | Cells have many descriptive elements, but flow of cells may have been hard to understand. | Cells have few descriptive elements, or have visuals that make the work confusing. | Cells have few or no descriptive elements. |
| Grammar/Spelling | Textables have three or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have four or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have five or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have six or more spelling/grammar errors. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has done both peer and teacher editing. | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has either teacher or peer editing, but not both. | Student has done neither peer, nor teacher editing. | Work shows no evidence of any effort. |
| Plot | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram. | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram, but one or more is confusing. | Parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot difficult to follow. | Almost all of the parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot very difficult to follow. |
How To Conduct a Discussion on the Analysis of Parallel Plots
Explain the Concept
Begin by explaining the concept of parallel plots to the students. Clear any confusion and encourage the students to ask as many questions as possible. Provide interesting examples to students such as the parallel plot of “Finding Nemo” and give engaging explanations.
Compare the Plots
Ask the students to conduct a comparative analysis of the plots. They can use a Venn diagram to find similar and different elements in both plots. Before reading the resolution, ask the students why they think the author chose these two plots to go side by side and how they think these plots are connected.
Find the Link
Any story with a parallel plot is connected through a common link. This link can be the characters themselves or the main theme of the movie. Ask the students to identify and analyze this link and determine its connection to the story.
Find the Effect on the Main Story
Talk about the story's overall impact and meaning in light of the parallel narratives. Do they add to the narrative's intricacy or offer many viewpoints on a key idea? Teachers can organize a class discussion and ask the students to give their insight on the topic.
Write a Story
Engage the students in activities such as writing a story with an interesting parallel plot. Students can experiment with different timelines and optimize their imaginations. Another interesting activity is that teachers provide students with a concept and a structure and students write a story surrounding that common theme. In the end, students can combine different stories to create parallel plots.
Frequently Asked Questions About "The Scarlet Ibis" Plot Diagram Activity
What happens in "The Scarlet Ibis" in the end?
When the narrator discovers Doodle's body, he comes to the realization that it was his pride and brutality that caused his brother's death. He profoundly laments the loss and makes atonement by laying a crimson bird that resembles a scarlet ibis on Doodle's body.
What moral lesson advice does "The Scarlet Ibis" provide us?
The lesson of the story is the dangers of arrogance and the significance of embracing and loving others as they are. It also emphasizes the horror that can happen when someone is pushed too far.
What can students learn from the plot diagram activity for “The Scarlet Ibis”?
Students can learn various things from the plot diagram activity such as how to divide the story into stages and develop an understanding accordingly. They can also learn how to sequence the events and the impact of an event on the overall story. Summarizing and paraphrasing skills can also be developed through this activity.
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Scarlet Ibis, The
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