Do Now/Quick Write #10 : At the heart of Hoffmann’s narrative (paragraph 11) is a very detailed description of the precise movements he made as he threw himself under the train and swung himself out to the other side of the tracks. Try depicting a sequence of movements. You might try, for example, to capture a movement in gymnastics, a classic ballet step, a turn at bat in baseball, a skateboarding stunt, or any action of your own choosing.

Aim: How do you write a narrative? 1.Determining your purpose 2.Considering your audience 3.Using dialogue 4.Organizing a narrative

Aim: How do you write a narrative? 1. Determining your Purpose To simply report information To simply report information – Ex: A weather forecast To support an argument To support an argument – Ex: Testimony for a product To provide an example To provide an example To set a mo od To set a mo od – Ex: A postcard

Aim: How do you write a narrative? 2. Considering your audience Are you narrating the day’s events for a private journal? Writing an autobiographical sketch for some of your classmates? Recounting a story for your instructor about people neither of you know?

Aim: How do you write a narrative? 3. Using Dialogue Characters speak! Characters speak! Keep it only necessary dialogue Keep it only necessary dialogue Make sure it is accurate or authentic Make sure it is accurate or authentic Say it out loud to see if it sounds genuine Say it out loud to see if it sounds genuine

4. Organizing a Narrative Chronological organizational pattern Climax—the highest point or turning point – Makes your point – Proves your thesis – Establishes the mood Flashback or flash forward Transitions—first, then, afterwards, second, finally, and before

My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food. Robert and his family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Robert grimaced. Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the eye and plucked out the soft meat. “Amy, your favorite,” he said, offering me the tender fish cheek. I wanted to disappear. My relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks and reached across the table, dipping them into the dozen or so plates of food. Robert and his family waited patiently for platters to be passed to them. My relatives murmured with pleasure when my mother brought out the whole steamed fish. Robert grimaced. Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the eye and plucked out the soft meat. “Amy, your favorite,” he said, offering me the tender fish cheek. I wanted to disappear.

At the end of the meal my father leaned back and belched loudly. Thanking my mother for her fine cooking. “It’s a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied,” explained my father to our astonished guests. Robert was looking down at his plate with a reddened face. The minister managed to muster up a quiet burp. I was stunned into silence for the rest of the night. At the end of the meal my father leaned back and belched loudly. Thanking my mother for her fine cooking. “It’s a polite Chinese custom to show you are satisfied,” explained my father to our astonished guests. Robert was looking down at his plate with a reddened face. The minister managed to muster up a quiet burp. I was stunned into silence for the rest of the night. Amy Tan, “Fish Cheeks”

Aim: How do you write a narrative? 1.Which purpose does she have for this narrative? 2.What kind of readers does Tan appeal to? Where might this story appear? 3.Why doesn’t Tan include more dialogue? 4.Where in the narrative does the story reach its highest point?

Aim: How do you write a narrative? Every family has thrown one (or more) of its members into a state of despair, or at least embarrassment, at some point. Quickly write about one time when your family did just that. Or, if you prefer, write a different generalization about your family—perhaps of how they made you proud of them—and recount an example that supports your generalization. Every family has thrown one (or more) of its members into a state of despair, or at least embarrassment, at some point. Quickly write about one time when your family did just that. Or, if you prefer, write a different generalization about your family—perhaps of how they made you proud of them—and recount an example that supports your generalization. Compose in notebook Compose in notebook

Aim: How do you write a narrative? Assess the following writing situation using SOAPSTone. Once you have done that, use at least one invention technique (listing, clustering, questioning, or free writing) to find a topic for your narrative. Use the rear of your composition notebook to record your thoughts. Be sure to bring your pre-writing to class as we will be drafting a narrative IN CLASS TOMORROW. Assess the following writing situation using SOAPSTone. Once you have done that, use at least one invention technique (listing, clustering, questioning, or free writing) to find a topic for your narrative. Use the rear of your composition notebook to record your thoughts. Be sure to bring your pre-writing to class as we will be drafting a narrative IN CLASS TOMORROW.

Aim: How do you write a narrative? A narrative re-creates an experience for a central purpose: usually to reveal an insight about the action or people involved. A narrative should focus on a central insight, but that insight is often presented indirectly as the story unfolds. In other words, an explicit thesis is not necessary. This assignment should be based on your own experience (no fiction, please), and use of the word I is of course appropriate.