1. STRUCTURES: NARRATION ENGL 1301 Dr. R. Ramos Revised 10/29/2014

2. OVERVIEW DEFINITION: Narration answers the question “What happened?” by telling in its body paragraphs a story through a sequence of events in chronological (time) order, from earliest in time to the most recent. THESIS: In a Narration essay, the thesis = point of the story. What’s the lesson? Why are you telling this story? What is your overall opinion of what happened -- sad? happy? mixed? Your answer becomes the thesis statement.

3. BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: PLOT LINE Beginning: Characters, Setting Middle End: Resolution

4. OUTLINE: THE “SKELETON” OF NARRATION Intro with Thesis: the overall point of the story I.Body or Section 1: Exposition = Overview of settings (time and location) and characters (the key people in story); Early Rising Action = the start of conflict between characters, nature, society, or even the self. II.Body or Section 2: Increasing Rising Action (conflict getting much worse) that leads to the Climax = where the story “peaks,” either the best or worst thing that happened; usually some sort of discovery, revelation, or decision. III.Body or Section 3: Falling Action to Denouement = what happened after the climactic moment, a resolution of everybody involved. Can be a happy, sad, or mixed ending. Conclusion: Restate point of the story; comment on its effects today; end with strong concluding statement.

5. SUPPORTING DETAILS: DESCRIPTION  Relying on your five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste), explain the physical characteristics of the people, places, and things in your story.  While a journalist or scientist uses Objective Description to describe these things as logically (that is, objectively) as possible, a personal essayist uses Subjective Description to describe those same things as emotionally (that is, subjectively) as possible.  Avoid using “you” in the body paragraphs.