1. - NARRATION - TELLING A STORY

2. What is Narrative Writing? 1 A strategy used by writers to tell a story, possibly to enlighten or explain something to their readers.A strategy used by writers to tell a story, possibly to enlighten or explain something to their readers. Narrative Writing = Personal Expression Letters Poems Diaries Journals Songs Discussions Reflective Essays

3. Narration- On a Daily Basis 1 We tell stories We explain things We explain things We illustrate points We illustrate points We report information We report information We argue/persuade We argue/persuade

4. Narrative Shape & Purpose 2 Narrative Shape & Purpose 2 All narratives need a PurposeAll narratives need a Purpose Purpose depends upon Audience***Purpose depends upon Audience*** After purpose/audience is determined, a writer can shape’….After purpose/audience is determined, a writer can shape’…. Structure, Point of View, Tone, Diction and Syntax Structure, Point of View, Tone, Diction and Syntax

5. Narrative Thesis Statement 3 Narrative Thesis Statement 3 Thesis is usually revealed at the end!Thesis is usually revealed at the end! Why? - to build suspenseWhy? - to build suspense A thesis stated too early will ‘rob’ the reader of watching the suspense buildA thesis stated too early will ‘rob’ the reader of watching the suspense build Suspense is the ‘key’ to good narrationSuspense is the ‘key’ to good narration

6. Narrative Point of View(s) 4 NARRATOR NARRATOR The teller/speaker of a personal experience; the one who was there.

7. Narrative Point of View(s) 4 1 st Person Point of View (I, me, my, mine, etc) Story is your own experience Story is your own experience The telling is Subjective and Biased The telling is Subjective and Biased Details & language reflect feelings, thoughts, opinions Details & language reflect feelings, thoughts, opinions 3 rd Person Point of View (he, she, they, him, her, etc) Story is NOT yours; you are a witness not an ‘actor within’ Story is NOT yours; you are a witness not an ‘actor within’ The telling is Objective and Unbiased The telling is Objective and Unbiased Details & language are factual, dispassionate, and accurate Details & language are factual, dispassionate, and accurate

8. Narrative Tense- Pros and Cons 5 Present Tense -PROs- Gives a sense of immediacy- everything is happening Now Gives a sense of immediacy- everything is happening Now-CONs- Seems artificial Seems artificial Difficult to sustain Difficult to sustain Past Tense - PROs - Easiest tense to write in and sustain Easiest tense to write in and sustain-CONs- Seem removed Seem removed Lacks immediacy Lacks immediacy

9. Questions to Answer 6 The 5 w ’s a 1 h The 5 w ’s a 1 h What happened? When did it take place? Where did it take place? Who took part? Why did the events happen? Why did the events happen? How did it happen?

10. Importance of Information 7 Importance of Information 7 Good story-tellers always have more information than they needGood story-tellers always have more information than they need Depending upon purpose and audience, good story-tellers make careful choices about what they will include and delete?Depending upon purpose and audience, good story-tellers make careful choices about what they will include and delete?Why?

11. The Two Narration Strategies 8 Scene Visualizing an event as if you were there Visualizing an event as if you were there Extended version of an event Extended version of an event People and events using dialogue/description People and events using dialogue/description Takes up a lot of time and a lot of space Takes up a lot of time and a lot of space Summary Just the essentials; no great detail is provided. Just the essentials; no great detail is provided. Concise version of an event Concise version of an event People and events are simply ‘mentioned’ People and events are simply ‘mentioned’ Takes way less time and uses fewer words. Takes way less time and uses fewer words.

12. Organizing a Narrative 9 Simplest Approach = Chronological Order Why? The story is already organized, so just list the events as they occurred. Professional writers do not always follow this pattern

13. Flashbacks, Transitions, Dialogue 10 -Flashbacks- - Creates suspense/provide background detail - Creates suspense/provide background detail -Transitions- - Helps audience to follow events (can be a - Helps audience to follow events (can be a word, brief phrase, or whole sentence) word, brief phrase, or whole sentence) -Dialogue- -Reveals information; creates suspense -Reveals information; creates suspense and provides ‘legs’

14. Verbs, Imagery, Tone 11 Verbs- Use strong action verbs; maintain a consistent tense Verbs- Use strong action verbs; maintain a consistent tense Imagery - Use all forms of sensory imagery; use strong adjectives and adverbs for detail Imagery - Use all forms of sensory imagery; use strong adjectives and adverbs for detail Tone- Use your natural voice and everyday Tone- Use your natural voice and everyday speech/vocabulary; be conversational speech/vocabulary; be conversational

15. Narrative Essay (prelude) In the next few weeks you will be writing a Narrative Essay. Be sure to connect all of this information to the pieces we read in class and become familiar with the manner in which the authors write- purpose, audience, style, organization, etc Also, start to brainstorm ideas for your own essay. ‘Junk’ that is handed in will be graded as ‘junk’.