Narrative Writing

Warm-up  Copy down your HW and leave out your agenda for me to sign.  Copy and Answer: What do you already know about narrative writing? (What do you think it means? What does it remind you of?)

Narrative  A story told in a logical order  Can be fiction or non-fiction  The author may choose to write about:  An experience or event from his or her past  A recent or ongoing experience  Something that happened to someone else

Qualities of Narrative Writing  Writing that recreates an experience through time  Stories can be written in first person point of view (using I, me, we)  Often communicates some lesson that is learned

Narrative What’s the purpose?  Since narrative is a story, what do you think the purpose is?  P ERSUADE  I NFORM  E NTERTAIN

Persuade

Inform

Entertain

Narrative What’s the purpose?  Since narrative is a story, what do you think the purpose is?  PERSUADE  INFORM  ENTERTAIN

Examples of Narrative  All fiction prose* genres are narratives: science fiction, horror, realistic fiction, plays, mystery, action, fantasy, etc.  Divergent by Veronica Roth  The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan  Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney  Some nonfiction prose is also narrative: biographies, autobiographies, certain history books  Gifted Hands by Benjamin Carson  Killer Angels by Michael Shaara  Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero by David Maraniss *prose—written or spoken language in its natural form, not poetic or metric lines

Why is narrative important to write?  Teaches us to write stories that people care about  Allows us to make sense of the world around us  Allows us to demonstrate knowledge of something you have read by drawing logical conclusions and making predictions about where the story may go in the future…

Brainstorming Practice Do any of your favorite books have a cliffhanger ending? Write down one on your paper. Now think about the ending, and write a prediction about where you think the story is going. Write down your ideas about what would happen next!

Warm-Up  Homework Pd. 5, 6, - None  Warm-Up: Copy and Answer---  How does the writer help us get to know Tina and Timmy from “A Strange Day in July” ?

Characterization  Fancy word for the way we learn about characters in a story  It can be DIRECT OR INDIRECT

DIRECT  Direct characterization tells the audience (the reader) what the character is like.  EXAMPLES:  “That tall, young boy is a real trouble maker.”  “She always walked with a confidence.”  “My mother is the happiest woman you will ever meet.”  “Julia was terribly messy and disorganized.”

INDIRECT  Indirect characterization reveals the character through their:  B ehavior  O ther characters  A ppearance  S peech/Dialogue  T houghts

Indirect Characterization  BEHAVIOR  What does the character do ?  How does the character behave in the story? In stories, characters’ actions can also reveal their personalities.

Indirect Characterization  OTHERS  What do other characters say or think about the character?  What does the character do in reaction to other characters? The children of the village... would shout with joy whenever he approached.... Whenever he went dodging about the village he was surrounded by a troop of them... and not a dog would bark at him throughout the neighborhood. from “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving

Indirect Characterization  APPEARANCE – Physical appearance, clothing, general demeanor  What does the character look like?  How does the character dress?  What does the character’s appearance reveal about him/her? The man seated in the parked limousine had short hair, piercing eyes, and a serious gaze. He was dressed neatly in a starched white shirt and striped tie.

Analyzing Appearance  Read the following passage, paying attention to the character’s appearance.  How does this girl feel? What details suggest this feeling? The girl in the fancy dress and high-heeled shoes squirmed uncomfortably on the hard wooden bench. Her eyes, lips, and hands were clenched. Her head drooped and her chin hung low. A tear slid down her face.

Indirect Characterization  SPEECH/Dialogue  What does the character say?  How does the character speak? Example: Lynda says, “No matter how rainy it is outside, I know the sun is around some where. What does this tell us about Lynda? se_language.php?function=d etail&speakerid=967

Indirect Characterization  THOUGHTS  What do the character’s private thoughts reveal about him or her? Walter’s thoughts: I told him I would go to the party, but I never had any real intention of going. What does this tell us about Walter?

What can we say about our character based on his inner thoughts or feelings?

Examples DIRECTINDIRECT “That tall, young boy is a real trouble maker.” “He towered over all the other students as he zipped around the second grade classroom. Everyone else sat quietly waiting for the teacher to provide directions.” “She always walked with a confidence.” “She strutted to her locker in those fancy, glittering heels.” “My mother is the happiest woman you will ever meet.” “My mom’s smile was as big as the moon.” “Julia was terribly messy and disorganized.” “Julia’s locker looked like a tornado had blown right on through, leaving destruction in its path. Let us not even mention her backpack.”

Example from textWhat this reveals about the character… Behavior Others Appearance Speech Thoughts I’m tired of being ignored, Maura thought. When I walk into a room, it’s like no one sees me. No more—I’m going to get noticed at the dance. When the big night came, though, nothing went right. Maura’s dress didn’t fit correctly, and her shawl had a hole in it. Worst of all, as she walked into the gym, the heel broke on her right shoe, sending her sprawling across the floor. WHAT THREE TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION CAN YOU FIND IN THIS PASSAGE? Write down the examples you find and what they reveal you about the character.

Example from textWhat this reveals about the character… Behavior she walked into the gym sprawling across the floor. Others Appearance Maura’s dress didn’t fit correctly, and her shawl had a hole in it. Speech Thoughts I’m tired of being ignored When I walk into a room, it’s like no one sees me. No more—I’m going to get noticed at the dance I’m tired of being ignored, Maura thought. When I walk into a room, it’s like no one sees me. No more—I’m going to get noticed at the dance. When the big night came, though, nothing went right. Maura’s dress didn’t fit correctly, and her shawl had a hole in it. Worst of all, as she walked into the gym, the heel broke on her right shoe, sending her sprawling across the floor. WHAT THREE TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION CAN YOU FIND IN THIS PASSAGE? Write down the examples you find and what they reveal you about the character.

Warm-Up Sept 22  The enormous house had never been so dark. I tried every switch, but none of the lights would turn on. Each turn ended in a stumble. The only light was the moon through the half open curtain; the light radiated throughout the house.  Find the lines that reveal the SETTING.  Write them down.

Setting  The enormous house had never been so dark. I tried every switch, but none of the lights would turn on. Each turn ended in a stumble. The only light was the moon through the half open curtain; the light radiated throughout the house.  The words in red reveal the setting. Setting is time and place.

Plot (definition)  Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story.  Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

Plot Diagram

1. Exposition  Setting is usually established  Characters are introduced  Main conflict is usually introduced

2. Rising Action  This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

3. Climax  This is the turning point of the story.  Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict.  Sometimes the main character will change in some way.

4. Falling Action  Most if not all questions are answered.  The main conflict(s) has been resolved. *Some stories are exceptions.

5. Resolution  The story comes to a reasonable ending.

Putting It All Together 1. Exposition 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution Beginning of Story Middle of Story End of Story *This order is only for typical stories.

Scooby-Doo Episode  Use the plot line to identify the following in the episode:  Exposition – Setting, Main characters, conflict  Rising Action – Events leading up to the climax/building of the conflict  Climax – Most intense moment of the episode/When we realize “who done it”  Falling Action – What happens after the mystery is solved  Resolution – What happens at the very end of the episode

Word Choice  Description building with word choice

Voice  Use of dialogue  Building Suspense