Week 2 Elements of Fiction Content Fiction is a genre that consists of imagined events. Examples include stories, novels, fables, fairy tales, and the like. Knowing the terms below will help you understand how fiction is put together and assist you in evaluating and writing about fiction. Term Definition Character A fictional person. Round Character This type of character grows and changes during the course of the story and has a credible personality. Flat Character This type of character is one-dimensional and is sometimes presented as a stereotype. This character will act predictably during the course of the story. Theme The dominant idea or overall generalization a reader can make about a story. Setting The place, time, and social context of the story. Irony The contrast between appearance and reality. Things are not always as they seem. The video below illustrates the three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Player Controls Embedded Video Player: What is Irony? Three Types of Irony Lesson Conflict A struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict is what makes a story interesting. Conflict usually consists of one of the following: person vs. person person vs. nature person vs. society person vs. self Protagonist The main character. The protagonist should be considered a separate person from the writer, although in an autobiographical piece, the protagonist can be the writer. Antagonist The person or force that works against the protagonist to form the conflict. Plot The sequence of the events in a story. A plot can be arranged using chronological order or in an alternative style such as a flashback. The five elements of the plot (in the order in which they typically occur) are:exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Exposition The section of the plot where the characters, situation, and setting are introduced. Rising Action The events that complicate the situation. The conflict begins to become apparent, and the reader becomes invested in the story. Climax The highest emotional peak of the story where the conflict is resolved. The climax, also called the turning point, is typically the "crisis" in the story. Falling Action The actions following the climax, where the complications of the story are untangled. Denouement The very end of the story, which illustrates the final outcome of the story. Frame Narrative A narrative device where the writer tells a story (or series of stories) within a story. An example of a character telling a single story within a work is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, where the story is told through the eyes of Nick Carraway. An example of a character telling a series of stories within a work is Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, where individual stories are told by one (anonymous) narrator. It is called a "frame" because the unifying story is split between the very beginning and the very end of the piece. Shor.

1. Week 2 Elements of Fiction
Content
Fiction is a genre that consists of imagined events. Examples
include stories, novels, fables, fairy tales, and the like.
Knowing the terms below will help you understand how fiction
is put together and assist you in evaluating and writing about
fiction.
Term
Definition
Character
A fictional person.
Round Character
This type of character grows and changes during the course of
the story and has a credible personality.
Flat Character
This type of character is one-dimensional and is sometimes
presented as a stereotype. This character will act predictably
during the course of the story.
Theme
The dominant idea or overall generalization a reader can make
about a story.
Setting
The place, time, and social context of the story.
Irony
The contrast between appearance and reality. Things are not
always as they seem. The video below illustrates the three
types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.
Player Controls
Embedded Video Player: What is Irony? Three Types of Irony

2. Lesson
Conflict A struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict is
what makes a story interesting. Conflict usually consists of one
of the following:
person vs. person
person vs. nature
person vs. society
person vs. self
Protagonist
The main character. The protagonist should be considered a
separate person from the writer, although in an autobiographical
piece, the protagonist can be the writer.
Antagonist
The person or force that works against the protagonist to form
the conflict.
Plot
The sequence of the events in a story. A plot can be arranged
using chronological order or in an alternative style such as a
flashback. The five elements of the plot (in the order in which
they typically occur) are:exposition, rising action, climax,
falling action, and denouement.
Exposition
The section of the plot where the characters, situation, and
setting are introduced.
Rising Action
The events that complicate the situation. The conflict begins to
become apparent, and the reader becomes invested in the story.
Climax

3. The highest emotional peak of the story where the conflict is
resolved. The climax, also called the turning point, is typically
the "crisis" in the story.
Falling Action
The actions following the climax, where the complications of
the story are untangled.
Denouement
The very end of the story, which illustrates the final outcome of
the story.
Frame Narrative
A narrative device where the writer tells a story (or series of
stories) within a story. An example of a character telling a
single story within a work is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great
Gatsby, where the story is told through the eyes of Nick
Carraway. An example of a character telling a series of stories
within a work is Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales,
where individual stories are told by one (anonymous) narrator.
It is called a "frame" because the unifying story is split between
the very beginning and the very end of the piece.
Short Paper/Case Study Analysis Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Short papers should use double
spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch
margins. Sources should be cited according to a discipline-
appropriate citation method. Page-length requirements: 1–2
pages (undergraduate courses) or 2–4 pages (graduate courses).
Instructor Feedback: Students can find their feedback in the
grade book as an attachment.

4. Critical Elements
Exemplary
Proficient
Needs Improvement
Not Evident
Value
Main Elements
Includes all of the main elements and requirements and cites
multiple examples to illustrate each element (23-25)
Includes most of the main elements and requirements and cites
many examples to illustrate each element (20-22)
Includes some of the main elements and requirements (18-19)
Does not include any of the main elements and requirements (0-
17)
25
Inquiry and Analysis
Provides in-depth analysis that demonstrates complete
understanding of multiple concepts (18-20)
Provides in-depth analysis that demonstrates complete
understanding of some concepts (16-17)
Provides in-depth analysis that demonstrates complete
understanding of minimal concepts (14-15)
Does not provide in-depth analysis (0-13)
20
Integration and Application
All of the course concepts are correctly applied (9-10)
Most of the course concepts are correctly applied (8)
Some of the course concepts are correctly applied (7)
Does not correctly apply any of the course concepts (0-6)
10
Critical Thinking
Draws insightful conclusions that are thoroughly defended with
evidence and examples (18-20)
Draws informed conclusions that are justified with evidence
(16-17)

5. Draws logical conclusions, but does not defend with evidence
(14-15)
Does not draw logical conclusions (0-13)
20
Research
Incorporates many scholarly resources effectively that reflect
depth and breadth of research (14-15)
Incorporates some scholarly resources effectively that reflect
depth and breadth of research (12-13)
Incorporates very few scholarly resources that reflect depth and
breadth of research (11)
Does not incorporate scholarly resources that reflect depth and
breadth of research (0-10)
15
Writing (Mechanics/Citations)
No errors related to organization, grammar and style, and
citations (9-10)
Minor errors related to organization, grammar and style, and
citations (8)
Some errors related to organization, grammar and style, and
citations (7)
Major errors related to organization, grammar and style, and
citations (0-6)
10
Earned Total
Comments:
100%