Narration

Read Strategies for Successful Writing.”Chapter 6, pp. 118 to 137

Narration - What?

• A “story” or part of a story.• A description of what happened.

Narration - Elements1.

• Plot - A sequence of events. Chronological, Flashback, Episodic, Differing points of view.

Narration - ElementsPoint of View

Narration - Elements2.

• Character - Who or what acts• Setting - Where in time, place (description)• Theme - consequence, importance• Style - Appropriate to purpose (research,

pleasure)

Narration - Why?

• To tell what happened• To make a point• To illustrate or describe• To outline the stages of a process• Read: “

Using Narratives in Case Studies,” by Gary Thomas.

Example - to illustrate a pointYears ago, my husband and I rented a summer place in which we found ourselves surrounded by a tightly knit community that seemed to be speaking some common and slightly alien language. One night at a party, one of these neighbours complained about the Moonie encampment around the corner and my husband – whose unconscious must surely have known what his conscious mind was slower to suspect – said that the Moonies weren’t half so bad as . . . and he mentioned an especially strident human potential group then receiving a good deal of publicity and notoriety. As a hush fell over the room, it dawned on us that the language we’d been puzzling over all summer was the language of that same group. No one breathed until at last our host turned to my husband and said, "Thank you for sharing that with us." (Francine Prose. "Therapy Cliches")

Purpose of this selection?

In contemporary language “shared feelings” reduce complex human interactions to formulas.

Example - ChronologicalThere is no warning at all – only a steady rising intensity of the sun’s light. Within minutes the change is noticeable: within an hour the nearer worlds are burning. The star is expanding like a balloon, blasting off shells of gas at a million miles an hour as it blows its outer layers into space. Within a day, it is with such supernal brilliance that it gives off more light than all the other suns in the Universe combined. If it had planets they are now no more than flecks of flame in the still expanding shells of fire. The conflagration will burn for weeks before the dying star collapses back into quiescence.

Count the links in the above paragraph.

Arthur C. Clarke, called 'The Star of the Magi" and published in Holiday magazine in 1954. In this article he suggests that a supernova might have occurred at a dis tance of 3,000 light years from the Earth. On its death, the hypothetical star's explosion would have been brighter than Venus in the sky

Purpose of this Selection?1.

Arthur C. Clarke’s, 'The Star of the Magi" was published in Holiday magazine in 1954. In this article he suggests that a supernova might have occurred at a dis tance of 3,000 light years from the Earth. On its death, the hypothetical star's explosion would have been brighter than Venus in the sky. (http://wesclark.com/temp/the_star.html)

Purpose of this Selection2.

Note: Chronology emphasized by the use of links.

There is no warning at all – only a steady rising intensity of the sun’s light. Within minutes the change is noticeable: within an hour the nearer worlds are burning. The star is expanding like a balloon, blasting off shells of gas at a million miles an hour as it blows its outer layers into space. Within a day, it is with such supernal brilliance that it gives off more light than all the other suns in the Universe combined. If it had planets they are now no more than flecks of flame in the still expanding shells of fire. The conflagration will burn for weeks before the dying star collapses back into quiescence.

Example - Illustrate

Go to: http://eduventure.ca/Dillard.docx from An American Childhood.

Purpose of this Selection

This selection illustrates what her mother was like.

Narration - How to Write

How to write a Narration EssayNarration Checklist (Go here for a complete Word copy.)

1. Narrow and explore your general topic (the story or experience you will tell).___ Narrow the general topic to a specific experience that you are interested in and can tell in an essay. Brainstorm ideas and events related to the story and why they’re important.

2. Make a main point in a thesis statement.

___ Decide what is most important about the experience. What do you want your story to reveal (purpose)? How were you or others affected by what happened?___ Write a thesis statement that includes both your narrowed topic and the point your narration will make.

3. Support your main point Give essential events that relate the narration (sequence of events), and give details about those events.

___ Use a prewriting technique to find the events that were part of the experience.___ Read your prewriting, and choose the events that are most important to the reader’s understanding of the narrative. Eliminate events that are not essential to the narration.___ Add details to make the events come to life. Consider adding conversation if it is appropriate.

4. Make a plan.

___ Arrange the events in time order (chronologically).___ Write a topic sentence for each major event.___ Make a plan or outline that arranges the topic sentences in the correct order.

5. Write a draft.

___ Write a draft essay with topic sentences and paragraphs for each major event.___ Write a concluding paragraph that reminds your reader of the main point of the narration. Your conclusion should relate back to the thesis paragraph but not simply repeat it.___ Title the essay.

6. Revise your draft.___ Get feedback from others.___ Cut any details that distract readers from the narration.___ Add any other events that are important to the story.___ Make sure the sequence is logical.___ Add transitions to take readers from one event to another. Add transitional sentences between paragraphs as necessary.___ Do not simply copy your draft. Make at least five changes to improve it.

6. Revise your draft.

___ Get feedback from others.___ Cut any details that distract readers from the narration.___ Add any other events that are important to the story.___ Make sure the sequence is logical.___ Add transitions to take readers from one event to another. Add transitional sentences between paragraphs as necessary.___ Do not simply copy your draft. Make at least five changes to improve it.

7. Edit your draft.

___ Find and correct any problems with grammar, spelling, word use, and punctuation.___ Produce a clean, typed, final copy, as per formatting instructions.___ Ask yourself: Is this the best I can do?___ Place the finished essay, with all your rough work, into your Writing Folder.

How to self-edit

Assignment

Write a three to five paragraph narrative essay. Bring a draft of this essay to the next class for review. The final copy is due a week from today.

Structure your essay as follows.

Structure Narration

Introduction - 1 paragraph

What is the main point, setting, general idea?Define your terms if necessaryHow will you answer the question? Blueprint.

Body - 1 - 3 paragraphs

How did you develop or come to possess these attributes/skills? (This is a sequence of events - a narration.)

Conclusion - 1 paragraph

What is/are the advantage (s)? How will I or others benefit?

Writing Suggestions1. Write a personal narrative that features a conflict over a choice between

an advantageous and a morally satisfying decision. State your point directly or indirectly, and use time signals and dialogue as necessary.

2. Write a narrative about a small incident that turned into a serious confrontation. Possible incidents might include an improper or reckless action of another driver, a minor disagreement with a friend or spouse, or a retaliation for an action at a sporting event. The outcome can be peaceful or otherwise.

3. Write a narrative that illustrates how [you], a friend, an acquaintance, or a family member achieved a personal triumph through [some action on their part].

4. Write a narrative about an injustice you experienced so that those involved in the situation could better understand what that event meant to you.

5. What skill or attribute do you possess which best suits you or prepared you for success at the university level? Describe how you developed this attribute.

Narration PackageName: __________________________

Your editor: ______________________

Narration Package Next class, hand in the following items, in the following order:

• Final copy, properly formatted, and well written, to include at least 3 paragraphs with proper paragraph and essay structure, impeccable grammar and mechanics, and satisfying the points on the “Revising the Narrative” sheet. (10 marks)

• A reflective paragraph in which you comment on what your purpose was, how you deliberately set out to achieve it, and whether, in all honesty you thought you achieved it. Include also what your strengths are and what you wish you had done to improve the piece.

• Your draft from today with your editor’s comments, including the “Revising the Narrative” sheet. (5 marks)

(Up to 5 marks may be awarded to your editor for honesty, insight, and ability to make helpful suggestions.)

[NarrationPackage.docx]

Suggestions (cont’d)

6. If you or someone close to you has a visible or invisible disability, write about an experience that illustrates the effects of this disability on you, or on others. 7. If you have lost a pet for any reason, write a narrative about what you learned from this experience, without falling into maudlin sentimentality. 8. Write a narrative about an instance in which people have challenged a personal decision that you felt ethically or emotionally committed to. 9. Write an essay that describes the overcoming on a compulsion - even a minor one. 10. Write an essay describing how you lost your feeling of immortality. 11. What skill or attribute do you possess which best suits you or prepared you for success at the university level? Describe how you developed this attribute.