1. Adapted from Patterns for College Writing
Narration
Adapted from Patterns for College Writing

2. What is it, exactly?
Narration is a MODE of writing by which the author tells a story by presenting events in an orderly, logical sequence.
This sequence is often, but not always, chronological.
Narrative vs. memoir –
memoir is defined as a narrative, but the key difference is that a narrative focuses on an event, while a memoir centers on an individual, who is usually the writer of the book.
Ultimately, a narrative will zoom into a singular moment and expand it, and some reflections and even themes may be present, but the purpose is to detail an isolated incident.
A memoir is typically focused on certain incidents in a person’s life, and those incidents make up the individual stories that contribute to the overall work.
Narrative example can be someone recounting their time escaping the Twin Towers on 9/11—this could become a memoir if the writer then expanded on it and wrote further about the after effects and how life continued

3. Things to Include: All the parts of a story
This means that you must include an introduction, plot, characters, setting, climax, and conclusion. The order doesn’t have to be chronological, but it must make sense by the end.
Dialogue
Speech between characters varies the reading experience. Your dialogue should be relevant and purposeful (not random). You must format it correctly (see additional PPTs).
Effective Pacing
This means that your narrative tells a clear story and you move through the story at an appropriate pace for the effect you’re looking to achieve. You don’t spend forever describing a conversation that doesn’t matter, and you don’t describe the most important part in one line.

4. Things to Include, continued
Effective Transitions.
You should signal shifts between scenes, events, and time using appropriate transitions.
Write down five different TRANSITIONAL WORDS
First Second Next Then Later
Meanwhile Immediately Soon
Before Earlier after

5. Things to Include, Continued:
The paper should be written from a clear and consistent point of view.
Discuss what POV will more than likely be used in a narrative?
Explain the significance of using this POV
1st or 3rd—first will allow you to connect personally to the author/narrator; third omniscient can reflect multiple perspectives of the story

6. Details, details, details!
As with any type of writing, you must have rich, specific details in a narrative if you want it to be convincing (and you do). You must also use clear, specific language to evoke specific emotions.
Sensory details are especially effective because they appeal to more than one of the five senses. You must include sensory details!

7. Maintaining Clear Narrative Order
In most narratives, the narrative order is chronological; however, yours doesn’t have to be.
You may want to consider beginning with an event from the middle or end of the story and filling everything else in. This makes use of flashbacks.
Think about modern television. Discuss 2 examples of flashbacks used in today’s society.
How was this flashback effective (indicate if you found it NOT to be effective)?
Remember to choose a narrative order that is most beneficial to your purpose.

8. …please!
Keep your tense consistent unless there is an actual temporal change that necessitates the change in tense.
Weak: When I was five, I hit my first home run. I step up to the plate and squeeze the bat hard with my hands.
Strong: When I was five, I hit my first home run. I stepped up to the plate and squeezed the bat hard with my hands.

9. You will be starting a paper this week that will utilize the narration elements, so make sure to look them over and ask if you have any questions.