NARRATIVE WRITING What you write says something about you! Colleges regard your choices as a way to evaluate your preferences, values, mental processes, creativity, sense of humor, and depth of knowledge. Your writing reflects your power of persuasion, organizational abilities, style, and mastery of standard written English. Be careful with your topic selection. It signals your: Preferences Values Thought Process

NARRATIVE WRITING

DIALOGUE & COMMA RULES YOU MUST: put quotation marks (“ ”) around anything that is said directly use a comma (,) to separate what is said from who is saying it. you can use a question mark (?) or exclamation mark (!) if needed as well start a new paragraph every time somone new starts speaking.

DIALOGUE *Put a star (*) where new paragraphs should start.

CORRECT DIALOGUE (*NOTICE ALL OF THE PARAGRAPH CHANGES!) SHOULD LOOK LIKE:

NARRATIVE WRITING A narrative involves the recreation of an incident or event - real or imagined - in order to make a point. PART I: RECREATION OF EVENT/TOPIC: The narrator wants the reader to relive and share the event. Show what happened, don’t just tell us. To do that, a writer should include: what people did, said, people’s thoughts/emotions, a sense of mood, characterization, etc.

NARRATIVE WRITING A narrative involves the recreation of an incident or event - real or imagined - in order to make a point. PART II: MAKE A POINT - This parts answers the “so what?” question. Why would you spend all of this time telling a story? This is the part where you emphasize that there is a point to the story. It might be a lesson, a moral, insight or a turning point in a writer’s life. Somehow explain why this was a meaningful event.

NARRATIVE WRITING CHARACTERISTICS A single narrator’s voice & point of view Setting – describe where and when in detail Plot Structure - A single event or series of events is recreated in chronological order (introduction & conflict, main events, resolution) DETAILS, DETAILS = STYLE POINTS! Details of setting, action, speech, thoughts, and emotions that make up the event. Characterization of main characters to show us personalities, emotions, looks, etc. Using dialogue is a creative way to help achieve that. You can also evoke imagery by appealing to the senses. Theme/Message – the “so what?” for the reader to understand why you are telling this story.

SCORING GUIDE

NARRATIVE PROMPT OPTION 1: True Life – Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced AND its impact on you and how it has affected your life. OPTION 2: The Role Model – Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, AND describe that influence and how it is affected your life.   OPTION 3: The Good and the Bad - Think about an event in your life that seemed bad, but turned out to be good. Tell the story of the event that you experienced AND how an event that seemed negative turned out to have valuable consequence.

NARRATIVE ESSAY GOALS: DIALOGUE RULES: ESSAY SET-UP Use two examples of imagery to evoke senses Use dialogue appropriately DIALOGUE RULES: You must use dialogue. Use a comma to separate quote and who’s speaking. Start a new paragraph EVERY TIME someone new is talking. ESSAY SET-UP INTRODUCTION (attention grabber & intro) BODY OF STORY (details of middle & end) “SO WHAT?” / THEME

NARRATIVE BRAINSTORM Setting (when & where) Characters/People Involved Structure Intro Story Theme/So what?

Describe what is happening in this picture as vividly as you can. NARRATIVE ESSAY Describe what is happening in this picture as vividly as you can. 13

NARRATIVE ESSAY IMAGERY PRACTICE: The hot July sun beat relentlessly down, casting an orange glare over the farm buildings, the fields, the pond. Even the usually cool green willows bordering the pond hung wilted and dry. Our sun-baked backs ached for relief. We quickly pulled off our sweaty clothes and plunged into the pond, but the tepid water only stifled us and we soon climbed onto the brown, dusty bank. Our parched throats longed for something cool--a strawberry ice, a tall frosted glass of lemonade. We pulled on our clothes, crackling underbrush, the sharp briars pulling at our damp jeans, until we reached the watermelon patch. As we began to cut open the nearest melon, we could smell the pungent skin mingling with the dusty odor of the dry earth. Suddenly, the melon gave way with a crack, revealing the deep, pink sweetness inside. Identify imagery that appeals to our senses. 14

NARRATIVE ESSAY ADD IMAGERY: PRACTICE: SMELL TASTE TOUCH HEAR SIGHT Descriptive explanations of your setting, characters, and events Appeal to our senses with descriptions PRACTICE: SMELL TASTE TOUCH HEAR SIGHT 15

NARRATIVE ESSAY DIALOGUE RULES: WRITE DIALOGUE FOR YOUR NARRATIVE: Use quotation marks to show what is being said. Use a comma to separate quote and who’s speaking. Start a new paragraph EVERY TIME someone new is talking. WRITE DIALOGUE FOR YOUR NARRATIVE: You must write dialogue that fits your story. The conversation must go back and forth at least 4 times. Add descriptive words to explain how it is being said. For example, instead of saying he said, you could say… 16

TYPING NARRATIVES Today, you must type the story portion of your narrative today. We will type the introduction and so what part tomorrow. In the story portion of your narrative, you must: As much detail about the story as possible Add one detail for each sense (taste, touch, smell, hear, sight) Include dialogue that goes back and forth at least 4 times… use varied words for “said” Exclaimed, yelled, whispered,told, etc.

TYPING NARRATIVES Attention grabber - use shocking dialogue Yesterday, you typed the story portion of your essay. Today, you must type your “so what?” and introduction. In the “introduction” of your narrative, you must: Attention grabber - use shocking dialogue Introduction to your story/role model Thesis - Use your prompt! EX. One of the scariest days of my life had just begun and life as I knew it would never be the same again. In the “so what?” portion of your narrative, you must write 4-6 sentences including: How this person/event has impacted your life? How you’ve grown/changed as a result of it? What would be different about you if you had not met this person or went through this event?

NARRATIVE ESSAY DIALOGUE RULES: SAMPLE INTRO: Attention Grabber must be dialogue. Use a comma to separate quote and who’s speaking. Start a new paragraph EVERY TIME someone new is talking. SAMPLE INTRO: Bang, bang! “This is the police! Open your door. Your roommate tried to kill herself,” grunted a deep voice. My alarm clock read 3:52am. I don’t remember saying anything, but I remember holding my breath as I looked down at the empty bottom bunk. Colleen, my college roommate and field hockey teammate, wasn’t there. How could this have happened? One of the scariest days of my life had just begun and life as I knew it would never be the same again.

NARRATIVE EDITING Read Mrs. Spence’s narrative. Write down at least 10 questions on the essay in places you would like to know more information. You may also make any other comments that you want on the paper. SAMPLE QUESTIONS: How did you feel? How did it look? What did you say? Why did you do that? Could you add detail on senses?

PEER EDITING - Partner Read your partner’s narrative. While you’re reading, write down at least: 10 questions on the essay in places you would like to know more information. Make any other comments that you want on the paper (grammar, spelling, punctuation). Look for dialogue and check for appropriate punctuation. Circle any words that could use better word choice. For example, instead of saying “said,” try exclaimed, screamed, lectured, fumed, etc. SAMPLE QUESTIONS: How did you feel? How did it look? Sound? Taste? Smell? What did you say? Why did you do that? 22

PEER EDITING - You STYLE: One way to evoke style in your writing is to use imagery. The easiest way to paint a picture for your reader is to evoke the senses. SEE HEAR TASTE SMELL FEEL *Now, you do the same thing for your paper. Write down the five senses and write two examples of each. 23

PEER EDITING - You SO WHAT? POINT: The final paragraph is arguably the most important part of the narrative. It’s more than just giving a basic impact or lesson learned. Without sounding too cliché, you have to stress how it’s made you grow as a person and changed you. Consider: Why was it significant to your life? How has it changed you for the better? Why are you better off having gone through this? How would your life be different if you didn’t have this experience? 24

NARRATIVE FINAL DRAFT TYPE FINAL DRAFT General Layout Double space, heading at top Your name must be TYPED on the essay! General Layout Intro (dialogue, intro story, thesis) Story itself with details & sense “So what?” Point - valuable/memorable You must include: Dialogue used twice (with correct grammar) Answer all questions from your peer edit. 2 details on EACH sense (sight, touch, smell, sound, taste), which should be underlined