1. Narration: Recounting Events
Term 3 Writing

2. Assignment Goals
Students will be able to: -understand what a narrative is -know how and when to use a narrative as an essay and within another type of essay -create a narrative essay following a structure

3. Purpose of Assignment
Will prepare you for high school and college classes that require this type of writing
Will allow you to add narrative features to other essays in order to enhance your writing
Will assist you in areas of public speaking

4. What is a Narrative?
Relates a series of events, real or imagined, in an organized sequence
Provides human interest and entertainment, sparks interest and bonds storyteller and audience
Is dominant in many types of writing and in speeches
In classes and on the job, you may be asked to write a report or essay. This essay may not be a cull narrative, but you may need to add narrative to make your point clear. Therefore, knowing the structure will help you in many writing pieces.

5. Parts of the Narrative Dialogue Physical Description Recounting Action
Present a Conflict
Create Tension

6. Thesis Development The thesis should:
Tell a story for a purpose—to teach some lesson
Examples:
An essay about credit card debt:
My negative experiences with credit have convinced me that college students should not have access to credit cards.
The essay will tell the author’s story, but it has a specific lesson.

7. Outline Introduction Body Conclusion (usually just a few sentences)
Grab attention
Provide needed background
Thesis
Body
Each paragraph should review a specific detail or event to help tell the story
Details should help create a picture for the reader
Go in chronological order
Conclusion (usually just a few sentences)
Review the major points
Review thesis

8. Outline
Introduction Background Setting Intro Conflict Thesis Body Create Action and Tension Event 1 Event 2 Climax Conclusions Resolution Lesson

9. Sample History paper summarizing Battle of Waterloo Intro
Historical Background
Thesis: IF Napoleon had kept more troops in reserve, he might have broken Wellington's line with another infantry attack and this won the Battle of Waterloo.
Body
Phase 1 of Battle—Napoleon attacks Chateau
Phase 2 of Battle—French attack British lines
Phase 3 of Battle—French…
Phase 4 of Battle—Napoleon…
Phase 5 of Battle—Napoleon defeated…
Conclusion
Review points that teach lesson
Restate thesis

10. Tips
Use transitions (two hours later, next, meanwhile, after, earlier, in 1927…)
Describe events clearly
Use first or third period person—avoid second (you)
Be clear and concise—avoid digressions; flashbacks should be used sparingly
Use the same verb tense (with past or present)—switching can become confusing
Vary sentence structure to add interest
Avoid clichés
Be personal if the situation calls for it

11. Integrating Narration into an Essay
Most essays and reports in High School, college, and on the job will not be full Narrative essays. However, adding a narrative feature to an essay or report can enhance your work.
Add narration as you illustrate an important point (a story about someone’s death due to gun violence in a persuasive essay about stricter gun laws)
Keep it short—include on relevant details
Introduce the story in a way that does not leave your readers wondering what is happening in your essay—use transitions and paragraph structure to help with this
Be descriptive—add dialogue and action to your essay

12. Prompts Write about a goal you had a child
Write a news article about an interesting event
Write a personal narrative that could serve as an introduction to who you are
Write about a time you were in conflict with authority
Write about a time you were left out
Write about a time you learned an important lesson
Write about an experience that had a significant effect on your life