Narrative Writing Mr. Blaszak

What is Narrative Writing? A narrative is a story containing specific elements that work together to create interest for not only the author but the reader as well, This type of writing makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. The story will come off as if it is being read directly to the reader.

Elements of Narrative Writing Plot What is the story about? Who? What? Where? When? Why? Events unfold as they happen throughout the story.

Plot Structure Beginning Middle Climax End

Beginning Make sure that the opening is very enticing so as to get the readers attention and leave them wanting to read more. The setting is revealed here. Main characters are introduced. Conflict is presented.

Middle Climax Characters attempt to resolve conflicts or problems. Action progresses step by step. The turning point of the story. Reveals the process involved in order to solve the conflict or problem.

Ending Tells how the resolution of the conflicts or problems have affected the characters. You can NOT introduce any new characters or ideas in the ending. Theme or message is to be clear for the reader.

Characters The people, animals, or inanimate objects who are affected by the actions of the plot or who are the cause of certain events. Characters, whether they be real or fake, should be brought to life through the story. If your character is not described well, then the story will not be believable.

Setting Where and when the story takes place. Allows the readers to visualize the scenes and the characters in those scenes. Even though you know the setting in your own mind, you need to be able to translate that knowledge into the story so the reader can also visualize the setting as well as you can.

Style The style in which a writer writes is unique to each individual. Figurative Language Imagery Vivid Verbs Strong Sentences Dialogue between characters Point of View Although most of us will be writing about the same topic, everyone will have their own take on the topic.

Conflict There will be a conflict or problem in every narrative. The conflict or problem must be solved so that they reader is not left wondering what happened. Different types of Conflict Person vs Self Person vs Person Person vs Society Person vs Machine/Technology Person vs Nature

Conflict: Person vs Self One month ago, David was assigned a book to read for a book report. Upon sitting at the computer to work on it, David struggled with the decision to do the reading or to surf the web instead. He felt guilty, knowing he should do the work, but was really motivated by his desire to look up new information about his favorite rock band.

Conflict: Person vs Person David and his best friend Mark are working together on a group project. David did not do any work, leaving it all for Mark to do. When the boys get together, Mark finds out that David did not do any work. He becomes angry, yells at David, and storms out of the room.

Conflict: Person vs Society David needs to go to the library to begin working on his project. When he arrives, he discovers that juveniles under the age of 18 cannot enter the library without a parent. His mom is at work. David is mad about this thing, totally out of his control. He writes a letter to the library, expressing his disgust.

Conflict: Person vs Machine/Technology David begins his report, finally! All of a sudden there is a power surge and his computer crashes. He loses all of the information that he has been working on for four hours.

Conflict: Person vs Nature David tries to remember exactly where he left his book for the report. He remembers that he was sitting on a bench outside of his house, so he returns to that spot. He finds it, however, it had rained the night before and the book has been destroyed beyond repair.

Theme A theme is the message revealed in the story. It may directly stated, like at the end of a fable when the moral of the story is shared. It may also be indirectly stated, which means that the reader has to decide what the theme was. There can be more than one theme in a narrative story.

Different Points of View – First Person “I” as the narrator. Good for personal accounts. Example: “I will never forget the day we got a new dog.”

Different Points of View – Third Person Written from the “He,” “She,” “It,” “They” perspective. Written as if the story is observed from outside of the characters. Reader must guess the feelings of the characters by their actions and words.

6 Questions WHO will be in the narrative? WHERE will the narrative take place? WHY will the characters do what they do? WHAT is the narrative about? WHEN will the events happen? HOW will the conflict be resolved?

Sensory Imagery Using the five senses when writing a narrative helps the reader picture and feel what is going on. Describe what you hear, see, taste, touch, and smell to make your reader become more involved with the story.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWHc5Yar6Ps