For a story to “work,” it needs to have a beginning, middle, and end. If we don’t start somewhere, we won’t be able to build momentum. If we don’t have a middle, we’ll get off to a start and then arrive at the end without preparation. If we don’t have an ending, we’ll be left wondering what happened. Each of those parts – beginning, middle, ending – are part of the story structure. Another way to describe it is with the plot diagram: Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement/Resolution.
What is the exposition?
In the exposition, the author gives the reader a look at what is normal. In The Giver, Lois Lowry spends seven chapters describing the day-to-day in Jonas’ society. Why? So the reader can understand what’s at stake when thing change. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White begins with a peek inside Fern’s home at breakfast. Why? So that the reader “knows” a bit about Fern before Wilbur arrives on the scene. In Frindle, Andrew Clements let’s us see what Nick’s shool is like before Nick decides to switch things up. Why? So the reader can understand why Nick would do that while also joining in the adventure with him.
Why does it matter?
The exposition matters because it establishes the norm. Without that norm, the reader won’t understand the stakes. If the reader doesn’t appreciate that Nick’s teacher is strict and Nick thinks she’s wrong, they won’t understand why Nick does what he does. They also won’t be able to consider that his teacher may not be so bad.
Some examples
In Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary makes it clear that Ramona is “jumping on Beezus’ last nerve.” We see that Beezus is a kind kid who colors inside the lines. Ramona? Not so much. Yet, as the older sister, Beezus is often responsible for Ramona – or at least expected to deal with Ramona with patience. By understanding this early on in the exposition, the reader is able to cringe with Beezus while laughing with Ramona. If Cleary just wrote about a frustrating little sister without letting us know a bit about both Beezus and Ramona, the story wouldn’t be as engaging.
Help your child practice
The next time you ask your child about their day, ask them to start with a sentence or two about what the day was like. What is the routine that was disrupted? Then, when they tell you what happened to break that day-to-day rhythm, they’ll have provided the exposition as well as the inciting incident.
Bottom Line
Story is narrative. Narrative is how we communicate. The better able your child is to bring a listener into what life is usually like, before the event that changes it all, the better able the listener will be to understand the way what your child has to say matters.