Final answer:
The rising action is a critical part of the narrative structure where tension builds toward the climax. It introduces conflicts and challenges that shape the characters and the story's outcome. The rising action in any story makes the climax possible by building anticipation and engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rising action in a story refers to a series of events that increase tension and build up towards the climax. This part of the narrative introduces conflicts, sets characters on journeys, and provides vivid details to engage readers. The rising action often includes moments of conflict or challenge that the characters must face, leading them to grow and change as the story progresses.
In the context of Walter Dean Myers's Let's Hear It for the First Grade, the rising action would typically involve events where characters are introduced to challenges or conflicts, and readers begin to see how those challenges will shape the course of the story. Specific details of the rising action would depend on the particular plot points and obstacles the characters encounter, leading up to the story's climax.