What is it?

The Story Graph resource plots the shape of a “typical” literary or film narrative. A second, advanced graph shows Gustav Freytag’s theory of how a five-act play develops, superimposed on Aristotle’s own simple theory from Poetics.

How can it be used?

- The first graph is designed as a discussion point with younger students on how they think a narrative usually appears - you could start by asking them to draw their own answer to the question “What does a typical story look like?”

- Use the graph to write a story - pin each section to the part of the graph it relates to.

- They could then plot a graph based on one of their own stories and compare this with the original graph.

- The graph is there to be disputed, to be disproved and to be embellished - pupils should not assume that it is set in stone.

- Different genres may produce different graphs, so they could plot the text you are studying, or a film or even an episode of EastEnders.

- The advanced graph is a good way into discussing the craft of writing a play, in particular for those studying Shakespeare, and it teaches them some really fancy words!

Try this resource with your pupils and give us your feedback.

Adam Webster

Find all resources and links at www.tes.co.ukresources011.