Objectives:

 Understand the key features of narrative writing

and its structure.
 Explore use of narrative openings and endings to
engage the audience.
 Explore the use of an unusual narrative voice.
Outcomes:
 Read and annotated extracts for key features of
narrative writing.
 Identified effective opening and endings and used
these to write your own.
 A spoken or written account
of connected events; a story.
Challenge: Write a story in
just 6 words!
E.g. Ernest Hemingway:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”
Band 1:
Many well-defined and developed ideas and
images create a convincing, original picture.
W1 – Content is complex, sophisticated and
realistic.
W2 – Overall structure is secure and well-
balanced.
W3 – Consistently wide range of appropriate
vocabulary.
W4 – Effective sense of audience, appropriate use
of varied sentence structures.
W5 – Spelling, punctuation and grammar almost
always accurate.
 Look at your W1 – Express what is thought ,
comments and felt and imagined.
Band. W2 – order and present facts,
ideas and opinions.
 What do you need W3- understand and use a range
to do to achieve a of appropriate vocabulary.
W4 – use language and register
Band 1? appropriate for audience and
 Rewrite one context.
W5 – accurate and effective use of
sentence making paragraphs, sentences,
the suggested punctuation and spelling.
improvements.
 Characters
 Storyline
 Voice
 Tense
 Structure
 Openings
 Dialogue
 Descriptions
 Endings
 Read the extract by Laurie Lee.
 Identify the imagery and adjectives used to
create:
 Character
Who is the story
 Setting about?
What is happening?
 Atmosphere Where is it
happening?
 What is
suspense?
 Read the extract
 Who is Spider?
 Identify words/phrases to create tension and
suspense.
Which words and phrases convey a sense of
pain and danger?
How do the following opening stories grab the reader?

 Have you ever felt the stillness of that strange, quiet time
between Christmas and New Year?

 It was 7 minutes after midnight. The dog was lying on the grass
in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs Shears’ house.

Write own opening sentence for a narrative full of

suspense.
“—Of course, an introduction.
A beginning.
Where are my manners?
I could introduce myself properly, but it’s not really necessary.
You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a
diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in
time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul
will be in my arms. A colour will be perched on my shoulder. I will
carry you gently away.”

Why is their narrative voice unusual?

 How many different possible narrative voices could
there be?
 Write the opening sentence to this story using an
unusual narrative voice.
Endings should reward your reader. Try not to use
a predictable or overused ending (such as then I
woke up).
Types of ending:
 A ‘cliff hanger’
 Short piece of humorous, dramatic or ironic
indirect speech.
 An unexpected twist. Now write the
 A return to the beginning ending sentence
to your unusual
 A sense of finality
narrative voice.