PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Narrative Writing

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

This lesson, you will write and perform a 1-1½ page narrative for the class.

Your story must include:

-A Clear Orientation, Complication and Resolution.- A short paragraph in which a character’s physical and/or emotional state is described.- A short paragraph in which some part of the setting is described- Some form of flashback or pause in time.

Discuss what each of these terms means

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Some possible openings for your story (as recommended by the IGCSE Examining Board).

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Look at the following slides, for each of the suggested types of story openings, write

your own 1 to 2 sentence opening...

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

1. Starting in the middle

(This is called the in medias res device, when the narrative starts in the middle of either a sequence of actions, e.g. ‘The pursuers were catching up on him’ or in the middle of a dialogue, e.g. ‘‘I can’t believe you just said that,’ said Mary’. In both cases the reader is forced to try to imagine what has gone before and to quickly get involved in what is happening or being said now.)

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

2. Shocking or intriguing statement (A shocking statement provokes the reader e.g.

‘I had always hated my mother and was glad that she was dead’. An intriguing one arouses curiosity e.g. ‘The clocks were striking thirteen.’ Both narrative openings make the reader want to read on because they are surprised.)

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

3. Flashback or flashforward (Instead of starting in chronological sequence, a

narrative can begin with a reference to a relevant previous event or jump to the future outcome of the story about to be told.)

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

4.Framing the story (A narrative can have a ‘book ends’ framework

of a story within a story, so that the beginning tells of someone who, for instance, finds a diary or hidden document and reads and quotes it, or who travels back to a place where something significant once happened to them and relives the experience.

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

5. Setting the scene (The conventional way of starting a narrative is to provide

the context by referring to the country, place, season, weather, time of day, and to introduce the main character by giving some detail about his/her name, age, job and problem. For example: It was pouring with rain, which was unusual for summer in Cyprus. Costas, a middle-aged bank clerk, was trying to make his way on foot through the flooded streets of the city to get home to his sick mother when ....)

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Look at some of your narrative openings that you have written...Extend one of them into a 1-1½ page narrative.Remember:

Your story must include:

-A Clear Orientation, Complication and Resolution.- A short paragraph in which a character’s physical and/or emotional state is described.- A short paragraph in which some part of the setting is described- Some form of flashback or pause in time.

If you’re really devoid of inspiration, there are some visual prompts on the next slide

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Don’t tell. Show.What is the meaning of this statement? Discuss

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

If you want to reveal some information to your audience about how a setting or character feels, DON’T OBVIOUSLY STATE IT!Example:

George felt scared as he looked at the scary-looking trees.

George’s heart beat faster Menacingly and leering

Describe the effect of the emotion(the visible physical result)

Use personification or a metaphor

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Fix up these “Jeffrey Kingisms”He was certain as he angrily walked across the room that he wanted to kill him

Describe the effect of the emotion(the visible physical result) Use personification or a metaphor

He looked at her with desire. Yes, soon, soon, they would be making-love.

He felt nothing but hatred as he angrily destroyed his mother’s very valuable vase.

He felt nothing but hatred as he angrily destroyed his mother’s very valuable vase.

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Fix up these “Jeffrey Kingisms”He nervously got up on stage and spoke in a quiet voice.

Describe the effect of the emotion(the visible physical result) Use personification or a metaphor

The room had been his bedroom as a boy. He had lots of memories of being here.

The crowd were bored. They weren’t paying attention to his words.

He loved her. She loved him. They loved each other. Their love was perfect.

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

GROUP CHALLENGEEach group will have a copy of this student-written “setting” part of a short story. Re-write this paragraph to improve it!(Hint: this paragraph does some things well. Other things: not-so well).

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

Look at your writing from yesterday...Make any relevant changes where you have

“told...not shown”

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2

PAPER 3 QUESTION 2