DEFINITIONS The structure of a text refers to its shape. This can mean the order of the events in a story, novel or play.
Structure is the way that parts of something are arranged or put together. Ask yourself why the paragraphs are ordered the way they are. Is it important for us to know certain bits of information before we get to the next part of the story? The vast majority of stories – or other dramatic texts, long or short – have the following five-part structure.
CLIMAX
EXPOSITION
RESOLUTION
1. Exposition The story’s setting and protagonist(s) are introduced (or ‘exposed’) to the reader.
COMMUNICATION
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
We learn a little more about the protagonist, particularly what they value, struggle with, or aim to achieve. Typically, obstacles may be hinted at or directly placed in the protagonist’s path.
MANAGING MYSELF
The story’s most dramatic point. The protagonist faces their greatest challenge in the story and must act to resolve the situation.
LITERACY
Just after the story’s most dramatic point, this stage of the text begins to return the action to a ‘new normal’ (which may be better or worse from the point of view of the protagonist).
BEING CREATIVE
5. Resolution Here we see what the ‘new normal’ is after the dramatic climax of the story.
MANAGING INFORMATION AND THINKING
1. Working with a partner or in a small group, decide how Schultz’s Stars Over Afghanistan maps on to the five-part structure set out above. Write your answers into your copybook.
WORKING WITH OTHERS
2. When you have made your decisions, present your answers to the rest of the class. Does each group agree? Why / why not?
NUMERACY
3. Were you surprised by how this story ended? Why / why not? Explain your reasoning with reference to how the story developed.
