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The term “plot” refers to how the main events in the book or play relate to one another, how one event leads to another. Something happens because of something else, and so on. It is a series of events that make up a story and is specific to each story.

A plot structure, also called a dramatic structure is the overall design or structure of a story and how the story elements are arranged.

To help you analyse the plot, it is important to understand what the structural elements of the plot are. 

Every story has a beginning or exposition, with something that leads to conflict in the middle, before it is resolved and the story concludes.

To help you understand the plot structure, here is a graph that illustrates the structural elements of Sophiatown.

Now let us look at the definitions of each element to understand what they mean.

Exposition	The exposition is the explanation (usually at the beginning of a story) of the events leading up to the start of the plot.
Inciting incident	The first time we realise that all is not well. Something that sets off the conflict in the story.
Rising action	The building up of conflict in the plot.
Conflict	The struggle between characters, or between individuals and their circumstances.
Climax	The highest point in the development of the conflict, the moment of greatest intensity and tension.
Final solution (dénouement)	The final part of the story where everything is made clear.
Conclusion	The way the story is rounded off.