Narrative Writing

1. Narrative Writing What is Narrative Writing? • Narrative writing tells a story. • The stories can be true and about real people and real events. • Some stories can be realistic, with characters and events that could really happen. • Other stories can include characters and events that could never happen in real life.

2. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Traits • A clear, focused topic, experience, or series of events • Memorable details that bring the characters, plot, and setting to life • Events told in the order they happened • An interesting beginning and a satisfying ending • Transition words that signal the sequence of events

3. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Traits • A voice and tone that are ideal for telling a story • Dialogue that, when used, gives voice to the characters • Precise words that describe the characters, plot, and setting

4. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Traits • Sentences that have flow and rhythm, making them enjoyable to • read aloud • No or few errors in grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling

5. Narrative Writing Narrative writing has a beginning, a middle, and an end. • The beginning captures the reader’s attention. • The middle includes events in sequence. • The end or conclusion wraps up the story.

6. Narrative Writing When writing a narrative, writers use the following elements of storytelling: • Characters are the people in the story. • Setting is when and where the story takes place. • Plot is what happens in the story. • Problem is what the characters must overcome. • Resolution is how the problem is fixed. • Point of View is the position from which a story is told.

7. Narrative Writing What are some extra ingredients of narrative writing? • Realistic dialogue makes the characters come alive. • Precise details add support, explain, and enhance the story. • Supporting details such as examples, anecdotes, or facts support the main idea. • Specific and interesting language entertain the reader. • Tone should be appropriate for the audience.

8. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Example Juanita heard her sister’s scream all the way in the attic. She climbed over a box full of old toys and dashed downstairs. “It’s a spider!” Regina cried as Juanita raced into the kitchen. She pointed to a large, black spider on the white wall. The spider was not moving, as if Regina’s screams had frozen it in place. “Kill it!” “I’m not going to kill it,” Juanita sighed. “What did that spider ever do to you?” Characters

9. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Example Juanita heard her sister’s scream all the way in the attic. She climbed over a box full of old toys and dashed downstairs. “It’s a spider!” Regina cried as Juanita raced into the kitchen. She pointed to a large, black spider on the white wall. The spider was not moving, as if Regina’s screams had frozen it in place. “Kill it!” “I’m not going to kill it,” Juanita sighed. “What did that spider ever do to you?” Setting

10. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Example Juanita heard her sister’s scream all the way in the attic. She climbed over a box full of old toys and dashed downstairs. “It’s a spider!” Regina cried as Juanita raced into the kitchen. She pointed to a large, black spider on the white wall. The spider was not moving, as if Regina’s screams had frozen it in place. “Kill it!” “I’m not going to kill it,” Juanita sighed. “What did that spider ever do to you?” Conflict

11. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Example Juanita heard her sister’s scream all the way in the attic. She climbed over a box full of old toys and dashed downstairs. “It’s a spider!” Regina cried as Juanita raced into the kitchen. She pointed to a large, black spider on the white wall. The spider was not moving, as if Regina’s screams had frozen it in place. “Kill it!” “I’m not going to kill it,” Juanita sighed. “What did that spider ever do to you?” Realistic Dialogue

12. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Example Juanita pulled an old magazine out of the recycling bin and tore out a sheet of paper. She placed the paper next to the spider. Then she used a pencil to gently coax the spider onto the paper. Moments later, Juanita walked into the garden and deposited the spider onto a tomato leaf. She watched in wonder as the spider raised a leg as if to say goodbye, then crept under the leaf and out of sight. Resolution

13. Narrative Writing Some common types of narrative writing include the following: • Personal Narrative • Play • Mystery • Fable • Adventure Story • Biographical Sketch