Select the 05.05 Novel/Short Story Worksheet #2 Rising Action, Climax, and Falling Action.
Important: Immediately print or save the worksheet to your computer or drive.
On the worksheet, use complete sentences to answer the questions based on your novel or short story.
Submit your work in 05.05 Rising and Falling Action.

Use complete sentences to respond to each question about your novel or short story.

Title of short story or novel

Author

Rising Action
Think about the protagonist of your novel or short story. List two actions the protagonist takes that increase the conflict. Describe the results of each action.

Protagonist’s Action #1

Result of the Protagonist’s Action #1

Protagonist’s Action #2

Result of the Protagonist’s Action #2

Think about the antagonist of your novel or short story. List two actions the antagonist takes that increase the conflict. Describe the results of each action.

Antagonist’s Action #1

Result of Antagonist’s Action #1

Antagonist’s Action #2

Result of Antagonist’s Action #2

Climax
Think about the climax of your story. Describe the choice the protagonist makes to change the course of the conflict.

Falling Action
Think about the falling action of your story. Describe one event of falling action that directly follows your protagonist’s choice.

Alienated
ALLEN: (To KATIE) If you want to kiss me at the next dance, you know where to find me.
LIZ: Alone in the corner with the other losers who can't get a date?
BRITNEY: I can't believe you had a crush on Brian.
KATIE: I didn't at first. He just sort of grew on me.
MELISSA: Like a fungus?
KATIE: Somewhere along the line, I just started liking him. I thought he liked me, too. I made a mistake.
BRIAN: I was the one who made a mistake. (KATIE and BRIAN give each other long looks. CAMMIE waves her arms to get their attention.)
CAMMIE: Can we put this love story on hold for a few minutes and get back on subject?
LIZ: No one’s buying your alien theory, Cammie. (Points to notepad) I’ve taken notes. They’re either laughing at it, offended by it, or bored with it. Except for, Lloyd. He’s just confused.
CAMMIE: Did anyone see the light at the dance?
SERENA: I think everyone was distracted by the kiss.
CAMMIE: (Starting to get upset) There wasn't a kiss.
KATIE: (Moves toward BRIAN.) There was the possibility of a kiss.
BRIAN: (Moves toward KATIE.) Is there a possibility of another one?
CAMMIE: (Steps between them.) No! There is no possibility of another one. You distracted everyone at the play. You distracted everyone at the dance. I'm not letting you distract everyone tonight.
ROSALIND: Tonight? You're expecting another flash?
CAMMIE: It's exactly six years since the last one. The alien is due for another message. (She points to a high window.) It should come right through these windows.
TINA: How can you be so sure?
CAMMIE: Because it makes perfect sense. The kindergarten message told the alien what to do in elementary school. The sixth grade message told the alien what to do in middle and high school. It's twelfth grade. Tonight's message will give the alien instructions for after graduation: what college to attend, what major to choose, what career to pursue.
DARBY: And you're sure it's happening tonight?
CAMMIE: I’m positive. I spent the last six years waiting and researching. If we don't see the light, I'll admit I'm wrong. But if it happens again, with all of us here, it'll prove the alien is in this room.
BRITNEY: You expect us to just sit here and wait?
CAMMIE: (Getting focused and nervous.) You won't have to wait long. The light always flashes at the same time. (Checks her watch.) We've got less than a minute! (Looks around.) We should make it darker in here so the flash is really clear. (Points to back wall) Somebody shut off the lights