2. What Is Narration? Narration means telling a story A narrative paragraph tells a story about something that happened to you or to someone else, or about something that you saw or read.
3. The Narrative Relies on specific details Covers events in a time sequence Always about happenings, events, actions, incidents A good narrative helps the reader become involved in the story by providing vivid details
4. Give the Narrative a Point Include your point in the topic sentence The point of the narrative is the incident or incidents that you’re writing about What did I learn? What is the meaning of this story? What is my attitude toward what happened? Did it change me? What emotions did I feel? Was the experience a good example of something?
5. Looking at Effective Topic Sentences I’m going to tell you about the time I flunked my driving test. When I failed my driving test, I learned not to be overconfident. Yesterday my car was stalled in rush hour traffic. When my car stalled in rush-hour traffic, I was annoyed and embarrassed.
6. Let’s Practice! Exercise 1 The terror of the experience was the sudden loss of control. When the police showed up at our party, we knew the fun had gone too far. Suddenly I realized that my sister was not a superior being, but a woman trying to cope with her own loneliness.
7. Let’s Practice Exercise 2 By facing my fears , I was able to speak in public. Once I joined the computer club, I felt like a part of the college. Even adventurers have to come home sometime.
8. Hints for Writing a Narrative Paragraph When you write your story, be sure to: Be clear Be interesting Stay in order Pick a topic that is not too big
9. Using a Speaker’s Exact Words In Narrative When using a speaker’s exact words – use quotation marks. “You’re being silly,” he told me. He told me that I was being silly My sister said, “I’d love to go to the party.” My sister told me she would love to go to the party.
12. Let’s Practice Exercise 4 (all questions) 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, & 9 Exercise 5 A talk with my aunt helped me to understand my father’s behavior toward me. My last meeting with Melissa was a shocking time for me.
13. Devising a Plan After you’ve completed your pre-writing and created a topic sentence, your next step is to write a rough outline. Your rough outline should have the following qualities: Relevance: Do all the details connect to the topic sentence? Order: Are the details in a clear order? Development: Does the outline need more details? Are the details specific enough?
15. Let’s Practice Exercise 7 Paragraph 1 It’s also fun to go to the theme parks in Orlando. Sometimes it is hard to figure out which lane will be the fastest moving. I’m always afraid of losing the card that indicates how much toll to pay.
16. Revising for Sharper Details Jot down the underlined words in the first draft. Match them with the additional details in the second draft. What details do you find effective? Why?
17. Combining Sentences Exercise 8 I had just entered the hall of my apartment building when I saw several envelopes and flyers on the floor near the mailboxes. I was glad that the man was conscious and speaking. At that moment, I under what it is like to life a person who can’t help himself. We lifted the old man, carried him between us, got him into his apartment, and rested him on the sofa. Because of me, two people were safe and happy.
18. Adding Better Details to a Narrative Draft Exercise 9 for two years met for coffee or for a meal ignoring and brushing off my questions with one-word answers speaking to her in a cutting ton, using as few words as possible treating me as if I didn’t exist selfish and immature trust our friendship
19. Using Transitions Effectively in Narration Look at info box on page 97 Exercise 11 When Immediately Soon Next Meanwhile Then Finally before
20. Using Transitions Effectively in Narration Exercise 12 When/After Before/At first Immediately/Again Next/Last Always/Finally At last/Frequently
21. Polishing and Proofreading Exercise 13 Save as: [Assignment Name] [First Initial Last Name] [Block Number] Example: NarrationReviseCJefferson01
