The document discusses flash fiction and plot structure, providing objectives and examples for creating a short story. It defines flash fiction and its key components, explores different types of plot structures including unified, episodic and plot as movement, and examines the typical parts of a narrative including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. The document aims to teach students how to analyze and develop the essential elements of a short story.

1. 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
Flash fiction: The Plot

2. LESSON OBJECTIVES
•1. describe a flash fiction and the plot of a
story;
•2. create a digital picture story;
•3. perform a self or peer-assessment in
evaluating one’s work; and
•4. realize the importance of friendship.

3. READ AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORY AND TRY TO
IDENTIFY THE COMPONENTS OF A PLOT STRUCTURE.
JAKE
by Jim Bartlett
Jake’s eyes snap open, and he quickly turns
to the side. But like his aching heart, the spot
where Max always sat on the couch remains
empty. He takes in a long, deep breath – really
more of a sigh – and squeezes his eyes closed,
hoping that by slipping into the darkness of a
nap, he will temporarily mask his sorrow.

4. For fifteen years they were
inseparable. Always side by side.
The walks on the beach with the
gentle waves calling, the seagulls
cawing. All those hikes on the
trail where the trees canopied
over like arches, wrapping them
in a soft cool shade on a hot
sunny day.

5. Even just a ride to the grocery store for something
Martha may have forgotten, they always went
together.
Though he knows that in some ways he should be
thankful for just having their time together – those
moments forever etched in his heart – and that the
sickness took Max quickly rather than dragging out
the pain for weeks, maybe even months, he still feels
cheated. That somehow he is missing years that
could have been.

6. Unable to sleep, he looks around the all-
too-empty room, letting his gaze fall upon the
leash, which still hangs from the peg by the
door. It seems to wait patiently, ever ready for
that next big adventure. As his eyes well up, he
realizes for the first time how much his grief
weighs, how hard it is to even rise with such a
heaviness inside.

7. It is then he hears a shuffle
from behind and turns to see
Martha standing in the doorway,
her shoulder resting against the
frame. “I thought you might be
in here,” she says. She looks
down at him for only a moment
before her stare drifts to the
couch. “I miss him, too, Jake.
More than you’ll ever know.”

8. There’s a faraway melancholy tone to her
voice, but he knows that her heart, like his, has a
hole too big to fill. His head drops and he gives off
another long sigh, which seems to prompt her to
come over and kneel down onto the carpet beside
him. She slides a hand under his chin and lifts it
up, then tucks back his long, floppy ears, such that
their teary eyes can meet.
“I guess you do know, don’t you, Jake.”

9. DIRECTIONS: REFLECT ON AND ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS BELOW. WRITE YOUR ANSWER ON
YOUR NOTEBOOK
1. What did you feel after reading the story? Expound
your answer.
2. Based on the story, who is Jake and why is he in a
state of loneliness?
3. What words were used to help you figure out Jake’s
identity?
4. Who was Max and what happened to him?
5. Do you believe in the adage, ‘A dog is man’s best
friend’? Elaborate on your answer.

16. SHORT STORY VS. FLASH FICTION
•is significantly shorter than
a novel
•consists of 1000-10, 000
words in length composed
of 100-1000 words in
length has a fleshed-out
plot, well-rounded
characters, and a
developed setting and
theme.
•is a much shorter
version of a short story
•has a well thought out
plot and great
characters, but they
don’t necessarily need
to be fully developed

17. • has one or a few characters
and one or a few settings
(limited in place and time, such
as a day or a couple of weeks)
and expresses a single theme,
or message.
• generally is more flexible.
There is more space to develop
ideas, plot, character and
theme; there is at most, one
plot and a small subplot or a
plot and a half
• shouldn’t be more than one
plot and one theme
• is punchy and to the point, a
story of extreme brevity with
the plot pared down to the
core of the story. Every
detail, every character
gesture, every description
counts; each word has its
place. Take one word away
and the meaning is lost
SHORT STORY VS. FLASH FICTION

18. TRAITS OF STRONG FLASH FICTION
STORIES
• 1. Story Structure: A flash
fiction story is not the
shortened version of a
longer story
• 2. Setting: Most flash
fiction stories take place
in one setting, as
moving between
locations uses up too
much space.
• 3. Characters and
Backstory: Flash fiction
pieces are plot-driven
and include no more
than three or four
characters
• 4. Description: a strong piece
can balance vivid descriptions
with a quickmoving plot. Stories
that lack description are not
satisfying to read, and a flash
fiction piece should feel
complete.

19. PLOT
The paramount of
all the elements
for this type of
literature
Core of
your
STORY

20. TWO TYPES OF PLOT
Unified Plot
-has a story that is
realistic with a central
character and action
and the story happens
in one place during a
short span of time- a
day, several hours or
even just for an hour.
•Episodic Plot
-has a central character,
setting and action.
- has a story that
happens in a much
extended period of time
-uses the technique of
‘flashback’ to lay out
background details of the
story

21. 3 OTHER WAYS TO WRITE A PLOT
PLOT as a
MOVEMENT IN TIME
The plot is a
movement in time
when the story
transpires on a
particular period of
time such as an hour, a
day, a week, a month
or even a year.

22. 3 OTHER WAYS TO WRITE A PLOT
The plot is a
movement in
casualty when the
story is established
on a series of casual
events that happen
one after another.
PLOT as a
MOVEMENT IN
CASUALTY

23. 3 OTHER WAYS TO WRITE A
PLOT
The plot is a movement in
dramatic tension when the
story has dialogue, action,
details, descriptions and scenes
that amplify the tension and
persuade the reader to turn the
page and continue reading.
The techniques of
foreshadowing, flashback and
epiphany are oftentimes
employed in this type of plot.
PLOT as a
MOVEMENT IN
DRAMATIC
TENSION

24. COMPONENTS OF A PLOT STRUCTURE
OR PARTS OF THE NARRATIVE.
a. Exposition – This is the beginning of the story, also known
as the inciting incident.
b. Rising Action – This is also known as the plot complication
where the writer fully introduces the conflict
c. Climax – This part is considered as the most exciting part of
a story.
d. Falling Action – This point occurs after the climax as the
problems in the story start to work themselves out.
e. Resolution/End – This is the solution to the problem in a
story.

25. LETS TRY THIS!
1. What plot structure component is known as the
inciting incident where the author introduces the
characters, identifies where the story is happening,
and establishes the main conflict?
A. exposition C. falling action
B. climax D. rising action
2. What plot structure component is considered as the
solution to the problem in a story?
A. exposition B. falling action C. climax D. resolution

26. 3. What is the other term for plot structure?
A. plot arc C. narrative arc
B. narrative plot D. narrative structure
4. What writing technique is used for an
episodic plot?
A. Flash left C. foreshadowing
B. flashback D. epiphany

27. 5. What plot movement uses techniques such as
flashback, foreshadowing and epiphany?
A. time C. casualty
B. dramatic tension D. space
6. When the story transpires on a particular period
of time such as an hour, a day, a week, a month or
even a year, it is a plot movement in __________
A. time C. casualty
B. B. dramatic tension D. Space

28. 7. When the story has dialogue, action, details,
descriptions and scenes that amplify the tension, it is
a plot movement in __________
A. time C. space
B. casualty D. dramatic tension
8. When the story is established on a series of casual
events that happen one after another, it is a plot
movement in __________
A. time C. space
B. casualty D. dramatic tension

29. 9. What type of plot has a story that is realistic
with a central character and action and the story
happens in one place during a short span of time?
A. casual B. periodic C. unified D. episodic
10. What type of plot has a story that happens in a
much extended period of time?
A. methodic C. periodic B. unified D. episodic

30. What I Have Learned
Directions: Fill out the story grammar below. Base your answer from the
story that you have just read.
Title: ________________________
Character/s: ________________
Setting: _____________________
PLOT:
EXPOSITION
RESOLUTION / END
FALLING ACTION CLIMAX
RISING ACTION

31. Assessment