Narrative Essays Chapter 4

Narrative Across Fields Science To describe the process and significance of methods, experiments and discoveries Social science Anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists write narrative-based cultural histories, field reports, and case studies to record their observations and findings Business communications Valued as a way of illustrating methods, profiling successful people, and supporting solutions to problems

Basic Elements of Narratives A narrative essay addresses: A central issue And supports a view Four basic elements An event A setting Descriptive details A point Find the above elements in the passage on pg. 121

Writing a Rough Draft A formal essay/academic argument/research paper Includes a thesis, supporting paragraphs in a deductive format A narrative essay Organized informally, and in inductive pattern

Writing a Rough Draft The opening Begin with a compelling presentation of the central issue “in the moment” Read the passage on pg. 141, why is it successful as an opening?

Writing a Rough Draft Using description and detail Show, don’t tell! Describe significant incidents, scenes, and conversations that move the story forward and bring the central issue to life

Writing a Rough Draft Using dialogue Verb tenses Narratives are meant to mimic real-life, and real-life includes dialogue That said, overdone dialogue can read as tedious Verb tenses The past tense is typical, but you may make the stylistic choice to write in the present Whichever verb tense you choose, make sure you are consistent!