The key elements often include a clear theme. For example, in a short story about friendship, the theme of loyalty in friendship would be central. Also, well - developed characters are important. They should have distinct personalities that drive the story forward. And a simple but engaging plot that effectively conveys the main idea, like a sequence of events showing how the characters interact in relation to the theme.
The main elements of an expository short story are the introduction of a concept or situation. This could be something like a new social phenomenon. Next, the characters are created to interact with this concept. They might have different views on it. For example, in a story about a new technology in a community, some characters might be excited while others are skeptical. Finally, there's a resolution that ties back to the initial concept, showing how the characters' experiences with it lead to an end result.