Narrative Writing When You Write a Narrative, You Are Writing About a Real Or Imagined Experience

Taken from, Common Core Standards English Language Arts, Grade 8, Perfection Learning, 2012 .

When you write a narrative, you are writing about a real or imagined experience: with :

 context, point of view, characters, and/or a narrator.  dialogue, pacing and transition words  descriptive details (adjectives,) and sensory language, including figurative language.  Begin with a clever opening, and end with a conclusion

BEGINNING

 Engages readers with interesting context(setting: time, place)  Creates point of view( use 1st person: tell your OWN story, use 3rd person if narrator is telling the story)  Introduces characters(give descriptive details: appearance, age, traits)  Explains conflict(problem)  Includes MAIN IDEA statement (use prompt: The year my family and I went to Disney World was the best vacation I ever had.)

MIDDLE

 Presents events that build to climax (rising action= suspense)  Uses transition words, phrases that show SEQUENCE (first, later, in the evening, after a few days)  Includes description, sensory language (figurative language: simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.)  Use dialogue to give life to characters. INSTEAD of writing, My friend Joe thought he heard a howling sound, write “What was that? Did you hear that howl,” Joe said with fear in his voice.  Creates good pacing: how fast or slow the story moves. Use longer sentences, and more description to slow down the pace. Using dialogue and shorter sentences will increase the pace of the story, and build suspense.

ENDING/CONCLUSION

 Gives resolution( solution to conflict)  Comments on the significance, or importance, of the events in story EX. Based on my experiences in Disney World, I may study art or graphic design in college, and try to get a job at one of the Disney parks.

Narrative Writing: Try it on your Own PROMPT: Most people have an object they treasure: a piece of clothing, a souvenir from a special time, or a book. Tell the story of your most treasured item. How did you get it? What makes it so special to you? Describe the object in detail so readers can appreciate your special possession.

PREWRITING: words and phrases only (you will write the final draft of the essay on paper, using your prewriting. TOPIC:

MAIN IDEA:

Event I

Event 2

Event 3

Climax

Resolution & Conclusion