Activity Overview
Students can create and show a storyboard that captures the concept of a Five or Three Act Structure by creating either a three- or six-cell storyboard which contains the major parts of the diagram.
Aristotle’s Three Act Structure
Aristotle believed that every piece of poetry or drama must have a beginning, middle, and end. These divisions were developed by the Roman, Aelius Donatus, and called protasis, epitasis, and catastrophe. The three act structure has seen a revival in recent years, as cinema blockbusters and hit TV shows have adopted it. The beginning (protasis) consists of setup, the middle (epitasis) contains conflicts, thwarted protagonist, or complications, and the end (catastrophe) is where fortunes are reversed and the protagonist meets their fate.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Antigone.
- Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
- Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 25 Points | Emerging 21 Points | Beginning 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive and Visual Elements | Cells have many descriptive elements, and provide the reader with a vivid representation. | Cells have many descriptive elements, but flow of cells may have been hard to understand. | Cells have few descriptive elements, or have visuals that make the work confusing. | Cells have few or no descriptive elements. |
| Grammar/Spelling | Textables have three or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have four or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have five or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have six or more spelling/grammar errors. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has done both peer and teacher editing. | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has either teacher or peer editing, but not both. | Student has done neither peer, nor teacher editing. | Work shows no evidence of any effort. |
| Plot | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram. | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram, but one or more is confusing. | Parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot difficult to follow. | Almost all of the parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot very difficult to follow. |
Activity Overview
Students can create and show a storyboard that captures the concept of a Five or Three Act Structure by creating either a three- or six-cell storyboard which contains the major parts of the diagram.
Aristotle’s Three Act Structure
Aristotle believed that every piece of poetry or drama must have a beginning, middle, and end. These divisions were developed by the Roman, Aelius Donatus, and called protasis, epitasis, and catastrophe. The three act structure has seen a revival in recent years, as cinema blockbusters and hit TV shows have adopted it. The beginning (protasis) consists of setup, the middle (epitasis) contains conflicts, thwarted protagonist, or complications, and the end (catastrophe) is where fortunes are reversed and the protagonist meets their fate.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of Antigone.
- Separate the story into the Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components.
- Write a description of each of the steps in the plot diagram.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 25 Points | Emerging 21 Points | Beginning 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive and Visual Elements | Cells have many descriptive elements, and provide the reader with a vivid representation. | Cells have many descriptive elements, but flow of cells may have been hard to understand. | Cells have few descriptive elements, or have visuals that make the work confusing. | Cells have few or no descriptive elements. |
| Grammar/Spelling | Textables have three or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have four or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have five or fewer spelling/grammar errors. | Textables have six or more spelling/grammar errors. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has done both peer and teacher editing. | Work is well written and carefully thought out. Student has either teacher or peer editing, but not both. | Student has done neither peer, nor teacher editing. | Work shows no evidence of any effort. |
| Plot | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram. | All parts of the plot are included in the diagram, but one or more is confusing. | Parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot difficult to follow. | Almost all of the parts of the plot are missing from the diagram, and/or some aspects of the diagram make the plot very difficult to follow. |
How Tos about Estructura de Tres Actos
Introduce the Three-Act Structure with an Engaging Mini-Lesson
Start your lesson by explaining the three-act structure using familiar stories or movies. Visual aids or simple storyboards help students quickly grasp the concept. This builds a solid foundation before they create their own diagrams.
Model Creating a Three-Act Plot Diagram Together
Work through a well-known story as a class, identifying each act and summarizing key events. Use the board or projector to build a group plot diagram so students see the process step by step.
Guide Students to Select Their Own Story or Text
Have students choose a book, short story, or class text to analyze. Encourage variety to boost engagement and provide opportunities for sharing different perspectives.
Support Students as They Break Down the Story into Acts
Assist students in dividing their chosen story into the three acts. Prompt with guiding questions like, 'What kicks off the action?' or 'When does the turning point happen?'
Encourage Creative Visual Representations
Invite students to illustrate each act with drawings, symbols, or digital images. Visual storytelling deepens understanding and makes learning memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Estructura de Tres Actos
What is the three-act structure in storytelling?
The three-act structure is a classic storytelling framework that divides a narrative into three parts: the beginning (setup), middle (confrontation), and end (resolution). This helps organize plot events and character development for a clear and engaging story flow.
How can I teach the three-act structure using Antigone?
To teach the three-act structure with Antigone, guide students to identify key plot points in each act: the setup (Antigone’s decision), confrontation (her defiance and punishment), and resolution (the tragic consequences). Use storyboards to visually map these moments.
What are simple activities to help students understand plot diagrams?
Engage students with activities like creating a visual plot diagram using storyboards, separating the story into exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, and matching major events to each part for hands-on learning.
What is the difference between a three-act and five-act story structure?
The three-act structure has setup, confrontation, and resolution, while the five-act structure further breaks the story into exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement for more detailed analysis.
Why is teaching story structure important for high school students?
Understanding story structure helps high school students analyze literature, improve their writing, and recognize how narratives are crafted, making reading and creating stories more meaningful and accessible.
More Storyboard That Activities
Antigone
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