- NARRATION - TELLING A STORY

What is Narrative Writing? 1 A strategy used by writers to tell a story about a subject, possibly to enlighten or explain something to their readers.A strategy used by writers to tell a story about a subject, possibly to enlighten or explain something to their readers. Narrative Writing = Personal Expression Letters Poems Diaries Journals Songs Discussions Reflective Essays

Narration- A Huge Area to Cover 2 Can be… short /long; formal/informal; instruct/inform; send a message/ be significantCan be… short /long; formal/informal; instruct/inform; send a message/ be significant Tell stories, explain, illustrate points, report information, argue/persuadeTell stories, explain, illustrate points, report information, argue/persuade

Narrative Shape & Purpose 3 Narrative Shape & Purpose 3 All narratives need a PurposeAll narratives need a Purpose Purpose depends upon Audience***Purpose depends upon Audience*** After audience is determined, you can shape’ your narrative/storyAfter audience is determined, you can shape’ your narrative/story Structure, Point of View, Tone, Diction and Syntax Structure, Point of View, Tone, Diction and Syntax

Narrative Thesis Statement 4 Narrative Thesis Statement 4 Thesis is usually revealed at the end!Thesis is usually revealed at the end! Writer chooses this structure to build suspenseWriter chooses this structure to build suspense A thesis stated too early will ‘rob’ the reader of watching the suspense buildA thesis stated too early will ‘rob’ the reader of watching the suspense build Suspense is the ‘key’ to good narrationSuspense is the ‘key’ to good narration

Narrative Point of View(s) 5 NARRATOR NARRATOR The teller or speaker of a personal experience; the one who was there.

Narrative Point of View(s) 5 1 st Person Point of View (I, me, my, mine, etc) Story is your own experience Story is your own experience The telling is Subjective The telling is Subjective The telling is Biased The telling is Biased Details & language reflect the writer’s feelings, thoughts, opinions Details & language reflect the writer’s feelings, thoughts, opinions 3 rd Person Point of View (he, she, they, him, her, etc) Story is NOT yours; you are a witness not an ‘actor within’ Story is NOT yours; you are a witness not an ‘actor within’ The telling is Objective and Unbiased The telling is Objective and Unbiased Details & language are factual, dispassionate, and accurate Details & language are factual, dispassionate, and accurate

Narrative Tense- Pros and Cons 6 Present Tense -PRO- Gives a sense of immediacy- everything is happening Now -CON- Seems artificial. Is difficult to sustain throughout an entire narrative Past Tense - PRO - Easiest tense to write in and sustain Easiest tense to write in and sustain-CON- Can seem removed and lacks immediacy. Can seem removed and lacks immediacy.

Questions to Answer 7 The 5 w ’s a 1 h The 5 w ’s a 1 h What happened? When did it take place? Where did it take place? Who took part? Why did the events happen? Why did the events happen? How did it happen?

Importance of Information 8 Importance of Information 8 Good story-tellers prepare by having more information than they needGood story-tellers prepare by having more information than they need Depending upon purpose and audience, good story-tellers make careful choices about what they will include and delete?Depending upon purpose and audience, good story-tellers make careful choices about what they will include and delete?Why?

The Two Narration Strategies 9 Scene Visualizing an event as if you were there Visualizing an event as if you were there Extended version of an event Extended version of an event You portray people and events using dialogue and description You portray people and events using dialogue and description Takes up a lot of time and a lot of space Takes up a lot of time and a lot of space Summary Just the essentials; no great detail is provided. Just the essentials; no great detail is provided. Concise version of an event Concise version of an event You simply mention people and events You simply mention people and events Takes way less time and uses fewer words. Takes way less time and uses fewer words.

Mixing Scene and Summary 10 Good writers know what to emphasize, when to emphasize it, how to emphasize it, and where to emphasize it.Good writers know what to emphasize, when to emphasize it, how to emphasize it, and where to emphasize it. -Scene- Detail/development is needed -Summary- A scene is less important; the writer wants to move on

Organizing a Narrative 11 Simplest Approach = Chronological Order Why? The story is already organized, so just list the events as they occurred. Professional writers do deviate from this pattern

Flashbacks, Transitions, Dialogue 12 -Flashbacks- - Create suspense/provide background detail - Create suspense/provide background detail -Transitions- - Helps audience to follow events (can be a - Helps audience to follow events (can be a word, brief phrase, or whole sentence) word, brief phrase, or whole sentence) -Dialogue- -Means to reveal information; creates -Means to reveal information; creates suspense and provides ‘legs’ suspense and provides ‘legs’

Verbs, Imagery, Tone 13 Verbs- Use strong/connotative verbs; maintain a Verbs- Use strong/connotative verbs; maintain a consistent tense; use active verbs consistent tense; use active verbs Imagery - Utilize all forms of sensory imagery; use Imagery - Utilize all forms of sensory imagery; use strong adjectives and adverbs for detail strong adjectives and adverbs for detail Tone- Use your natural voice and everyday Tone- Use your natural voice and everyday speech/vocabulary; be conversational speech/vocabulary; be conversational

Narrative Essay (prelude) In the next few weeks you will be writing a Narrative Essay. Be sure to connect all of this information to the pieces we read in class and become familiar with the manner in which the authors write- purpose, audience, style, organization, etc Al so, start to brainstorm idea for your own essay