Categories: All - character - motivation - climax - obstacles

by Ingrid Farinango 8 years ago

189

The Box

A high school lesson plan titled "The Box" aims to teach students how to construct a story using seven essential components: character, challenge, motivation, setting, obstacles, climax, and closing.

The Box

the box, by Richard Kelly

Type in the title of your story.


To name your story, you have to think of the overall message and what you want your audience to understand from the story. Also, make it relevant and easy to remember. Examples:
- theme: Audition, by Barbara Walters;
- main character's name: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe;
- use of gerund to describe the plot: Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett;
- time or numbers: 1984, by George Orwell;
- line that best describes the theme: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen;
- key object or possessive in the story: Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White;
- story setting: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne

CLOSING

OUTCOME

The outcome


This is the closure section of the story.

finally, she pushed the botton... so won one million dolars.

Brief ending for your story


Try answering these questions in order for you to come up with a closure:
- Have all problems been solved?
- Is it clear what happens with all your characters in the story?
- Has the challenged transformed your main character?
- How do the characters feel in the end?

CLIMAX

The climax


This is the moment when the main character passes by the last obstacle and finally faces its great challenge.

she spoke with her husband on topic and pushed the botton surprise.

How does your main character finally solve the problem?


The climax usually follows one of these patterns:
- Realization (the character puts together all the pieces of the puzzle and solves the mystery);
- Resolution (the character needs to transforms itself during the confrontation);
- Choice (the character has to make a difficult choice).

MIDDLE

OBSTACLES

The obstacles


There wouldn't be any tension and excitement in your story if there weren't any obstacles that get in your character's way.

could die someone they know
if push, they couldn't to be fine, they know will die someone.

What stands in the way of your character to accomplish his goal?


Type in the obstacles.Usually, the obstacles come in sets of three. This way, your story can evolve and be exciting for your audience.

can't swim very well, shark invasion, sea stormstrong allergy to dogs, pack of wolves, hunters invasionloses coin, finds coin but it is soon stolen, hard time deciding whether to return or not to his real lifereceives medication, fight with dangerous patient, someone reveals his escape planmemory loss, no support from family, the game takes place earlier than expected
MOTIVATION

The motivation


Your character(s) need(s) motivation in order to solve the challenge(s).

to receive one million dolars

Why does your character need to confront this challenge?


Why does your character need to confront this challenge? What does he/she expect to accomplish by solving it?

will marry in 3 dayshe/she loves the childcan fix the mistakes in the pastwants to help other misplace patients escapechance to win the World Chess Championship
CHALLENGE

The challenge


Each story has a main character and that character usually needs to solve a problem or challenge.The character's challenge is the one that creates tension throughout the story.

she have 24 hours.
she isn't permitted to talk anyone except your husband and finally,
Mr. Steward isn't permitted to talk about your employers,
there are three restrictions:
one misterious mr say offering a financial opportunity

Challenges


Type in any other challenges which the main character or other characters in the story need to face.

they don't have money so Norma need urgent operation in your leg

What is the main challenge in your story?


Type it in.Try to come up with an interesting challenge with which the character needs to struggle.

wakes up one morning in the middle of the oceandiscovers that his/her child turns into a werewolf at nightis sent back in time after rubbing an old coinis misplaced in a mental institutionbecomes blind before the most important game in his career

BEGINNING

SETTING
sound of cars
birds singing
smell of fresh bread

Sensory details


Sensory details are important because they create depth in your setting. Type in the aromas, sounds, sights, things related to touch, smell and taste.

smell of fresh breadscent of freshly cut grassrain falling onto the windshieldbirds singingfluffy cloudsrural hillssticky honey on the tableclothstinging moustache
Weather

Weather


The weather is an important element in your story because it can highly influence the ambience in the story and the mood of the characters.

What are the environmental reactions?


And what about the character(s)'s emotional responses to these weather conditions? Type them in.

lonelinessblissexcitementangerfrustrationfearloss of propertyloss of life

Think of weather elements


Type in the ones that will be enclosed in your story line.

rainbowthunderlightningsnowrainwindhailmistfrosthoarfrosthumidity

calmed

Catastrophic event


Does your story take place during catastrophic weather?

hurricanetornadotsunamiearthquakeflooddrought
Autumn

What's the season in which the story takes place?


Each season has unique weather and events, whose description can also enrich your text.

SpringSummerAutumnWinter
afternoon
morning

Time of day


What time of the day does the story takes place?

dawnmorningafternooneveningduskmidnighttwilightbreakfastlunchdinnersunrisesunsetfull moon
In House

Where does the story takes place?


Your story can take place wherever your imagination will take you to.

in a hospitalinside a carat the cinemain a restaurantat the zooin spacein an elevatorin an enchanted forestin the palm of your handin a haunted palaceinside an aquariumAncient GreeceBermuda Triangle
CHARACTERS
Mr. Arlington Steward

harsh

weird

deceitful

cruel

Antagonist

Mr. Arthur Lewis

cowardly

calm

loyal

Confidant

Mrs. Norma Lewis

Character's name


Type in the name of your character.

make an awesome discovery

Main goal


What is your character's main goal?

fight Evilfind lovedefeat his/her enemyrule the worldmake friendstime travelmake an awesome discovery

Personality

sweet-natured

impulsive

risk-taker

Character traits


Which traits best describe the character's personality?

introvertedloyalkindindependentquick-thinkingadventuresomeidealisticsweet-naturedcalmrisk-takercreativewittystrictfussyweirdclumsyharshaggressivecarelessclingingcowardlycrueldeceitfulimpulsive

Protagonist

Type of character


Decide what type of character he/ she is.

Protagonist (main character): Harry PotterAntagonist (main character's opponent): Lord VoldemortFlat (stereotypical character): Mr. Filch from Harry Potter sagaRound (his/ her personality develops throughout the story): Hermione GrangerStatic (his/ her personality doesn't evolve throughout the story): Professor McGonagollDynamic (dramatical change in personality): Neville LongbottomConfidant (the main character trusts him/ her): Ronald WeasleyFoil (contrasting character who enhances the personality of another character): Draco Malfoy