Conflict Conflict Rising Action Rising Action Rising Action Rising Action

Conflict

Kelsey has a problem and she needs to speak with her parents about the matter.  The conflict is that she feels as though she can’t talk to her parents.

Conflict

It is worth noting that when I read this short story in search of the various plot structure components, I read it more than once.  And it was over the course of several different readings that I highlighted two different sections in this opening paragraph as being the "conflict".  I am the author of this story, and yet I cited two different sections when I tried to "dissect" the writing.  In other words, when I classified portions of the text for teaching purposes I found multiple sections of the text that served to set the conflict in motion.

Lesson: Defining and finding plot structure in your own writing is not an exact science.  More important, I do not ever think in terms setting out a specific conflict when I start writing a story.  I have scenes running through my head.  The more I write, the more and more these scenes coalesce into a unified whole.

Rising Action

Mr. Moore is troubled by the fact that Kelsey has not spoken with her parents about the matter.  Now two characters are troubled by the same situation.

Rising Action

“Ever” is an absolute.  It leaves no room for compromise.  This adds to the tension.

Rising Action

Adding fear to the equation means even more tension.

Rising Action

Their disagreement makes the problem worse for Kelsey.