1. Narrative Essays
Chapter 4

2. Narrative Across Fields
Science
To describe the process and significance of methods, experiments and discoveries
Social science
Anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists write narrative-based cultural histories, field reports, and case studies to record their observations and findings
Business communications
Valued as a way of illustrating methods, profiling successful people, and supporting solutions to problems

3. Basic Elements of Narratives
A narrative essay addresses:
A central issue
And supports a view
Four basic elements
An event
A setting
Descriptive details
A point
Find the above elements in the passage on pg. 121

4. Writing a Rough Draft A formal essay/academic argument/research paper
Includes a thesis, supporting paragraphs in a deductive format
A narrative essay
Organized informally, and in inductive pattern

5. Writing a Rough Draft The opening
Begin with a compelling presentation of the central issue
“in the moment”
Read the passage on pg. 141, why is it successful as an opening?

6. Writing a Rough Draft Using description and detail Show, don’t tell!
Describe significant incidents, scenes, and conversations that move the story forward and bring the central issue to life

7. Writing a Rough Draft Using dialogue Verb tenses
Narratives are meant to mimic real-life, and real-life includes dialogue
That said, overdone dialogue can read as tedious
Verb tenses
The past tense is typical, but you may make the stylistic choice to write in the present
Whichever verb tense you choose, make sure you are consistent!