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Narrative WritingNarrative Writing
A Review – 10 Things to A Review – 10 Things to Remember When Writing a Remember When Writing a
NarrativeNarrative
Number 1 – Your Story Number 1 – Your Story BeginningBeginning
Your story needs a strong beginning. You Your story needs a strong beginning. You can achieve this using one of the can achieve this using one of the following methods:following methods:
Dialogue (Conversation)Dialogue (Conversation) A QuestionA Question A Vivid DescriptionA Vivid Description An Interesting FactAn Interesting Fact Sound EffectsSound Effects
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2992http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2992
DialogueDialogue
“ “ Hurry or you’ll be late!” called Hurry or you’ll be late!” called my mother from the bottom of the my mother from the bottom of the stairs. “Today of all days you want to stairs. “Today of all days you want to be on time.” If I had only know what be on time.” If I had only know what that day would bring, I would have that day would bring, I would have stayed in bed.stayed in bed.
A QuestionA Question
Have you ever had a day when Have you ever had a day when you wished you had stayed in bed? you wished you had stayed in bed? As I rushed to catch the bus on what As I rushed to catch the bus on what seemed to be a perfectly normal day seemed to be a perfectly normal day I had no idea what was ahead of me.I had no idea what was ahead of me.
A Vivid DescriptionA Vivid Description
The sun was warm on my back as I The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward the waiting yellow school raced toward the waiting yellow school bus. As I nestled into the worn leather bus. As I nestled into the worn leather seat I was greeted by the friendly seat I was greeted by the friendly voices of other excited children. The voices of other excited children. The look on my face was one of confidence look on my face was one of confidence and contentment. With a jerk the bus and contentment. With a jerk the bus rumbled down the road and I was on rumbled down the road and I was on my way into one of the worst days of my way into one of the worst days of my life.my life.
An Interesting FactAn Interesting Fact Shock has been known to kill ten Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It can cause their brains to year olds. It can cause their brains to explode and their heart to stop dead explode and their heart to stop dead still. These facts raced through my still. These facts raced through my mind as I stood dumbfounded in front mind as I stood dumbfounded in front of my fifth grade classmates. I wish I of my fifth grade classmates. I wish I had stayed in bed!had stayed in bed!
Sound EffectsSound Effects
““Buzzzzzz!” The sound of my Buzzzzzz!” The sound of my alarm clock droned in my ears as I alarm clock droned in my ears as I struggled to come awake. With a struggled to come awake. With a start I sat straight up in my bed. This start I sat straight up in my bed. This was my big day and I had to be on was my big day and I had to be on time.time.
Number 2 - ParagraphsNumber 2 - Paragraphs
Be sure your story has paragraphs. Be sure your story has paragraphs. They tell when you're switching They tell when you're switching time, place, topic or speaker, and time, place, topic or speaker, and they help break the page up so it is they help break the page up so it is not just a solid block of writing. not just a solid block of writing.
How Do I Know When To How Do I Know When To Start a New Paragraph?Start a New Paragraph?
There are a few standard times to There are a few standard times to make a new paragraph: make a new paragraph:
When you start in on a new topic When you start in on a new topic When you skip to a new time When you skip to a new time When you skip to a new place When you skip to a new place When a new person begins to speak When a new person begins to speak When you want to produce a When you want to produce a
dramatic effect dramatic effect http://www.saidsimple.com/content/When-to-Make-a-New-Paragraph
Number 3 - Capitalization & Number 3 - Capitalization & PunctuationPunctuation
CapitalizeCapitalize Beginnings of Sentences Beginnings of Sentences Proper NounsProper Nouns
PunctuatePunctuate End Marks (question mark, period, End Marks (question mark, period,
exclamation marks)exclamation marks) Commas when joining two sentences Commas when joining two sentences
with a conjunction, addressing a with a conjunction, addressing a person, with quotations, etc.person, with quotations, etc.
Number 4 – Use Rich Number 4 – Use Rich WordsWords
Remember words such asRemember words such as said said, , wentwent, , and and putput are DEAD. Use words that are DEAD. Use words that describe the action.describe the action.
WentWent NOTNOT
My dad My dad wentwent to work. to work.
BUTBUT
My dad My dad racedraced to work. to work.
SaidSaid NOTNOT
Jane Jane saidsaid she had a secret. she had a secret.
BUTBUT
Jane Jane whispered to Peterwhispered to Peter a wonderful a wonderful secret.secret.
Number 5 - Wow WordsNumber 5 - Wow Words
Show your reader that you have a Show your reader that you have a high-quality, first-class, superior, high-quality, first-class, superior, excellent, exceptional, outstanding, excellent, exceptional, outstanding, brilliant, extraordinary, brilliant, extraordinary, incomparable vocabulary by using incomparable vocabulary by using 55thth grade vocabulary words. grade vocabulary words.
Don’t Use Use These Instead:
goodacceptable, admirable, commendable, praiseworthy,virtuous, accomplished, skilled,
bad Defective, erroneous, inadequate, substandard,corrupt, vile, distressing, severe, offensive, immoral
thing material object, article, concept, entity, apparatus, device, detail, statement, items.
big considerable, colossal, immense, sizable, vast, eminent, influential, paramount, prime, prominent
small diminutive, immature, minute, slight, negligible, petty, trivial, limited.
important far-reaching, grave, momentous, significant, substantial, prominent, notable
happy content, joyous, jubilant, thrilled, advantageous, favorable, fortunate,
sad sorrowful, cheerless, dismal, gloomy, melancholy, mournful, somber grievous
http://alon.hasharon.k12.il/new_ataralon/mikzoot/english/.%5Cdenise_text%5Cforcedownload.asp?fileToDownload=wowWords12class6.doc
Wow WordsWow Words
http://resources.sparklebox.me.uk/501-999/sb665.pdf
Number 6 - Show, Don’t Number 6 - Show, Don’t TellTell
The The Show, Don’t TellShow, Don’t Tell method of method of writing is when the writer is able to writing is when the writer is able to create a picture in the reader's create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from the mind, to get away from the repetition of such empty words like repetition of such empty words like went, big, or said.went, big, or said.
NOTNOT
Susan exercised.Susan exercised.
BUTBUT
Sweat poured from Susan’s forehead Sweat poured from Susan’s forehead as she continued to do one hundred as she continued to do one hundred sit-ups .sit-ups .
Number 7 - ConversationNumber 7 - Conversation
The Five Rules for Writing Direct QuotationsThe Five Rules for Writing Direct Quotations
Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5
Add quotation marks.
Separate source phrase from quote.
Capitalize the first word of the direct quotation.
Add end marks.
Add needed capitalization and punctuation.
ConversationConversation
RememberRemember
You must make a new paragraph You must make a new paragraph every time a different person every time a different person speaks!!!! speaks!!!!
Number 8 - SentencesNumber 8 - Sentences
Vary your sentences.Vary your sentences. Are some of your sentences long and Are some of your sentences long and
others short?others short? Do you start the beginnings differently?Do you start the beginnings differently? Do some sentences start with a part of Do some sentences start with a part of
speech other than a noun or pronoun?speech other than a noun or pronoun?
Number 9 – Figurative Number 9 – Figurative LanguageLanguage
Use a little figurative language to add Use a little figurative language to add interest to your story.interest to your story.
SimileSimile MetaphorMetaphor AlliterationAlliteration OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia
SimileSimilecomparison between two unlike things that comparison between two unlike things that
have something in common using like or ashave something in common using like or asExamplesExamples
It's been a hard day's night and I've been It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog. - The Beatles working like a dog. - The Beatles
My heart is like an open highway. - Jon My heart is like an open highway. - Jon Bon Jovi Bon Jovi
like two peas in a podlike two peas in a podlike Christmas in summer like Christmas in summer
as hungry as a bearas hungry as a bearas nutty as a fruitcakeas nutty as a fruitcakeas quick as lightningas quick as lightning
MetaphorMetaphor
Metaphor– comparison between two Metaphor– comparison between two unlike things that have something in unlike things that have something in common without using like or ascommon without using like or as
ExamplesExamples
Patty was a raging tiger when she lost Patty was a raging tiger when she lost her lunch money. her lunch money.
During the night the forest was a During the night the forest was a dark, frightening battlefield.dark, frightening battlefield.
AlliterationAlliterationrepetition of usually initial consonant repetition of usually initial consonant
sounds in two or more neighboring sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables words or syllables
ExamplesExamplesdown in the dumpsdown in the dumpsdo or diedo or dieright as rainright as rainsink or swimsink or swimpay the pricepay the priceback to the basicsback to the basicsgreen as grassgreen as grasslive the lifelive the life
OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeiathe imitation of natural sounds in word the imitation of natural sounds in word
form. These words help us form mental form. These words help us form mental pictures about the things, people, or pictures about the things, people, or places that are described places that are described
ExamplesExamplesbuzzbuzzhisshissroarroarwoofwoofbangbangpoppophisshisssizzlesizzle
Number 10 - Plot StructureNumber 10 - Plot Structure
http://www.learner.org/interactives/sthttp://www.learner.org/interactives/story/cinderella.htmlory/cinderella.html
a a plot, including setting and characters
a climax (This is when the plot is solved.)
an ending
United StreamingUnited Streaming
Parts of a Story: Huck and Jim Parts of a Story: Huck and Jim [05:34] [05:34]
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/ihttp://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=20D49155-250ndex.cfm?guidAssetId=20D49155-2509-447F-8C47-69C9B3D2128A&blnFro9-447F-8C47-69C9B3D2128A&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=USmSearch=1&productcode=US
BeginningBeginning In the beginning of your story, you In the beginning of your story, you
should introduce your should introduce your characterscharacters. . The reader should also know about The reader should also know about
the world your characters live inthe world your characters live in (the setting) and the something about each of the characters in your story.
The beginning of your story is also the place where your plot (the problem) is first introduced.
MiddleMiddleYour story needs to build to something Your story needs to build to something
exciting, the climax. exciting, the climax. Write about a simple conflict, a task that must be completed, a question that must be answered, or a barrier that must be overcome.
Rising Action
Climax
Beginning
Resolution
MiddleMiddle
IncludeInclude ActionsActions DialogueDialogue Sensory DetailsSensory Details Thoughts and FeelingsThoughts and Feelings Suspense (Remember to build to a Suspense (Remember to build to a
climax.)climax.)
The EndThe End
This is the big finish. The end should This is the big finish. The end should reveal how you overcame your reveal how you overcame your problem. All conflicts are resolved problem. All conflicts are resolved and everything goes back to normal.and everything goes back to normal.
