Answer:
Characterization is key because without information on the characters, readers would be completely clueless about who is who in the story. Conflict is key because not many people are interested in reading a story with no rising action and a little kick of adrenaline. without conflict, the story could seem rather boring and unrealistic. Plot is the whole base of a story. Why? When?, Where?, Who?, How? it pulls the whole story together. The story can seem sloppy, "without a backbone", and readers can have the wrong Understanding from the material