Narrative Writing Primary Grades Adapted by L.Begin Based on “Step Up” training

Narrative When you are asked to write a short story, or asked to do some "creative writing", you are doing what is called "Narrative Writing." Narrative writing is meant to entertain! Part of being human is getting to tell great stories!  Examples: Story (personal, true, imaginative), Fable, Myth, Poem, Play, Biography, and Autobiography.

Step One Write a title Bat Summer The Elephant in my Garage Rafting Down the Rapids

Step Two- Make a Story Board Sketch the events of your story in an order that makes sense. Use your sketch to orally tell your narrative to someone.

Step Three- Jot down ideas, descriptions, and feeling for your story. Bats by street lights Watch out Asleep in bed Bat flies in Sister runs out Bat flying around Hiding under the sheets Scared Dad opens door Catches bat in net Sad that bat died Feel close to all animals

Step Four- Get your story rolling Talk about where or when the story takes place Introduce a character Use dialogue Make an interesting comment Use action

example Beginning One warm summer night I was trying to get to sleep. I had my window open to let in the cool air. All of the sudden, I heard what sounded like a bat.

Step Five- Use transitions The next day When we arrived Finally As soon as Around noon During One evening

example Middle My sister heard it too and ran out the door. The door slammed shut and I was alone with the bat.

example Middle I threw the blanket over my heard and screamed for help. Finally my dad heard me and came running.

example Middle As the bat flew wildly around my room, my dad snuck up on it with a net. He caught the bat and then set it free outside.

Step Six- End Your Story Feel a feeling – Thinking about that poor bat still makes me sad. Remember a character- My dad did his best to protect me. Think about the ending/ reflect- Maybe the bat could have been set free.

End example My room was again safe, but I never slept with the window open again.

Step Seven- edit, revise, and publish Edit- spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure Revise- make it better, reword parts, does the story make sense? Publish- recopy or word process and share!

Final Product Wendy Randazzo Narrative Writing September 25,2005 Bat Summer One warm summer night I was trying to get to sleep. I had my window open to let in the cool air. All of the sudden, I heard what sounded like a bat. My sister heard it too and ran out the door. The door slammed shut and I was alone with the bat. I threw the blanket over my heard and screamed for help. Finally, my dad heard me and came running. As the bat flew wildly around my room, my dad snuck up on it with a net. He caught the bat and then set it free outside. My room was again safe, but I never slept with the window open again

Ideas for Narratives Write a narrative about an exciting athletic event. Think of an historical time. Write about someone your age living in that time. In a short story, write about an experience you might have with an unusual animal.