Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition (Initial Situation)
Jailhouse Rock
A trial is not so fun to read about without someone to root for, so we've got to set up the situation before bringing down the gavel. Here we go, in a jiffy: Steve is in jail, and he's terrified. He doesn't even recognize himself in the jailhouse mirror. Later, we find out he's on trial.
Rising Action
Identity Cry-sis
If only Steve could cry… it's a pretty big no-no in the slammer, though, which has a strict no-sissies-allowed policy. This is far from Steve's biggest problem, though. The questions that plague him most are: Who is he? Is he guilty? Is he innocent?
What the jury thinks doesn't really matter to him at this point. Well, that's not completely true—Steve cares a lot about the jury's decision, but he also cares about the chaos in his own noggin. He's literally conflicted with his conflict.
Then the trial starts, and we've got witnesses and lawyers and a judge and the whole shootin' match. Speaking of shooting, that's the issue at stake: there was a robbery that turned into a murder, and Steve's accused of being the lookout. He writes about the trial as a screenplay, cutting in vignettes from his life. Through the screenplay and his journal, we find out that he knew King, and he even wanted to be tough like him. Things just got… complicated.
Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)
Bummer Time
There's no massive earthquake or major disaster to cause this turning point. In fact, there are probably multiple points in the book that could count as the climax.
We chose the Point of Most Depression. Steve hits this major low point after the prosecution finishes their argument. At this point, O'Brien explains how complex it will be to separate Steve from the other thugs on trial without making the Number One Thug's lawyer attack them for it. She's not too optimistic.
After this convo, Steve wishes he could tell his little brother to "think about all the tomorrows of your life" (17.9), as the reality of his situation finally starts to sink in. He will probably be found guilty, and, if so, he will rot in jail for twenty years.
Talk about a downer.
Falling Action
Time to Wait
The falling action in Monster happens between Bummer Time and Gavel Time. Steve has his down and out moment, but the show must go on, which means the defense presents their witnesses. In Steve's defense, Mr. Sawicki takes the stand, and… wait for it… so does Steve himself. Gulp. Follow that with the closing arguments, and it's time to wait. And then wait some more.
Resolution (Denouement)
Gavel Time
It's a trial, so we're not surprised that the resolution begins at the verdict: Not Guilty, folks. Time to dance a jig and sing a happy tune.
Or not.
The resolution isn't quite so nice and resolved for Steve-o. He's out of jail, but he's not out of his own head at all. In fact, he starts making movies of himself to figure out who he really is. On top of this, his dad moves away because he doesn't know Steve anymore. What it all boils down to is that the gavel pounded, but Steve is definitely not at peace.
Resolution? Nothing is really resolved.