Plots are fast-paced and frequently involve foreshadowing or flashback. Students enjoy reading them and can improve their problem-solving skills, reading rate, reading for details, and vocabulary development through this traditional form. The plot is carried by the dialogue. The number of characters is limited. Description and narration are infrequently used.
Structure is well-defined, with segments clearly divided by acts or scenes.
The play's ending marks the resolution of the conflict. Plays appeal to young students for their immediacy and brevity. Their use provides clear illustration of story structure, allows for participation by several students at a time, and encourages dramatic interpretation of other genres. For all students, the challenge to write a play would underscore the uniqueness of this literary form, in which the plot, theme, and characterization are carried by the dialogue. Information is factual and may be supported by detailed descriptions, examples, definitions, or quotations from authorities.