Narrative Writing

Ms. Whitlock

Literature & Composition II

What is Narrative Writing? A narrative is a story.

Not all narratives are biographical/autobiographical.

We will write AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL narratives that explore a significant (important) moment in life.

Narratives explain the writer’s thoughts and feelings during a specific event in his/her life.

Writing Territories

So what can you write about in this unit? ANYTHING you have experience in your life (school appropriate of course)

You may choose to focus on broader events throughout the timeline of your life, or smaller moments that were more significant internally

For example…

Timeline Events

A timeline records BIG events in one’s life.

Events that take place are usually life changing moments: moving, starting school, triumphs, changes in friendships.

Timelines can be organized by date/year.

Personal Moments

A personal moment is a PRIVATE moment connected to a Timeline Event in one’s life.

Personal moments convey Thought Shots (feelings/emotions).

Personal mometns can include a time when you felt scared to be the new kid, or how awful you felt when you lost a pet.

Examples of Timelines and Personal moments

An event on your timeline can be your parent’s divorce and the personal momentcould be a moment that you remember the sadness you felt when you heard them fighting or not getting along.

Another timeline event can be your 1st day of high school and the personal moment would be how you felt nervous sitting in your 1st period class.

Sensory Snapshots Sensory snapshots are used in narrative writing

to tap into our senses and create concrete images.

Sensory snapshots help the reader visualize the story as though they were there.What are the senses that we try to draw upon?

SightTasteTouchSmellSound

Sensory Snapshot ExampleEvent A day at the beach

Visual Details -Children playing in the sand

-Sparkling sand and white-speckled shells

-Crystal blue water meeting the turquoise sky at the horizon

Smell -Salty ocean air

-Whiff of roasting hot dogs

-The scent of suntan lotion

Tastes -Mouthful of saltwater

-Sweet and bitter lemonade

Touch

Sound

Dialogue Dialogue is a spoken conversation.

Dialogue is punctuated using quotation marks: “ “ • The quotation marks tell us who is saying what and when it is being said.

Example:

“Where are you going?”, my mother called out.

“To the movies with Monique,” I replied.

Internal Monologue Personal thoughts in the narrator’s mind. It is not put into quotation marks like dialogue,

instead it is written in italics.

Example:

My mom yelled at me, “Where are you going?” Why don’t you just leave me alone? I’m almost 18, give me some freedom!

Climax

Climax: a moment of great intensity/tension in the plot of a story.

Good narratives will start at the climax OR build up to it to keep the reader interested.

This is sometimes where you reveal the significance of your narrative, the “so what?”, the change or realization in your characters…essentially the REASON you are telling this story

Exposition Exposition: The beginning of a story.

Setting: location & time period Main charactersPlot: what the story will be about or the

incident that occurs.

This is essential for providing your audience with an idea of the environment of the narrative