Narrative Writing Reading Narration: Telling a Story. The Bedford Reader. Eds. X.J. Kennedy. Dorothy M.

Kennedy, and Jane E. Aaron. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. 39-48. After reading the chapter Narration and taking notes (which youll turn in for a completion grade and easy 100!), read one of the example essays in the textbook after the chapter and complete an annotated bibliography. See introductory pages in this curriculum guide. For this particular reading your annotation should include 3-5 things important about narrative writing. Background A personal narrative presents an experience from the writers life and shows its importance. A personal narrative: Tells about a meaningful incident Relates events truthfully and in a clear order Uses vivid details to re-create people, places, and events Uses a first-person point of view Suggests or explains the importance of the writers experience Has the same elements as a short story: plot, characters, setting Planning Topic Brainstorm possible topics. If you have a family photo album or a scrapbook, you might want to look through it to generate ideas. Use the following as possible experiences for this piece: An experience that shows personal growth An incident in which you made a significant choice or decision An experience that helped you better understand and appreciate your heritage An experience in which you overcame an obstacle or problem A discovery you made A memorable family holiday, tradition, or event Once you have decided on the topic of your narrative, you need to map out the people (characters), places (setting), and events (plot). People List the people that are a part of your narrative. You may wish to do this using Inspiration software on the computer (its a mind mapping software). For each person write as many physical characteristics and specific character traits as you can. If you have a photograph of the person, study it to help you generate this information. Places Generate details about places involved in your narrative. You may wish to do this using Inspiration software on the computer. What are the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, temperatures, and textures?
Champine English 3A Revised 1/17.2012

Events List the events, both major and minor, that occurred during your experience. Write down everything everyone did in the order in which the events happened. You might consider using a timeline or a flowchart to represent these events. You may wish to do this using Inspiration software on the computer. Conflict/Conflict Resolution Briefly describe any conflict or problem along with its resolution (how it was solved). Focus Write a sentence about why the experience was important. You do not have to use this sentence in your final narrative but it helps to keep you focused once you begin writing. Writing Write your personal narrative. Refer to your prewriting as a guide for your narrative; however, you are not limited to the information you included in the prewriting. Keep the following in mind: One of the biggest keys to a successful narrative is to show not tell. Your reader should feel like a fly on the wall actually observing, hearing, and experiencing the story as it unfolds.

You are the narrator and the central character. Write your narrative from the first-person point of view. Remember that you, the first-person narrator, cannot tell what other people are thinking in your story unless they tell you. Narration usually follows chronological order but includes some room for variation, particularly in the opening. You can begin a chronological narrative with the first event; you can also begin with an exciting event. You would then describe in chronological order the events that preceded or followed the exciting event. You may also vary chronological narratives with flashforwards to later events. When you include a flashforward, you interrupt the chronological order to describe something that happened later on perhaps a long-term effect of the incident you are relating. Keep any sequence of events clear by using transitions such as first, later on, the next morning, at last. Use dialogue. When you are writing a personal narrative, try to re-create what people actually said as naturally and as accurately as you can. Punctuate your dialogue correctly and begin a new line for each change of speaker.

Use all stages of the writing process. PLEASE ASK ABOUT THIS PROCESS. Submission The Annotated Bibliography is attached as the first page. Then place all drafts beginning with the most recent. Additional materials go last.

Champine English 3A Revised 1/17.2012