Final answer:
The claim that the rising action is a phase of normalcy preceding the conflict is false. The rising action is actually a series of events where conflicts and tension build up leading to the climax.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement presented in the student's question is false. The rising action does not refer to the phase of normalcy, but rather it includes a series of events that build up to the climax of a story.
It is during the rising action that the main characters encounter conflicts and face various challenges, which increase tension and propel the story forward towards the climax.
This phase is crucial as it fully develops the story's conflict, engages the reader, and prepares for the eventual climax where the conflict reaches its highest point of tension.