Writing a Narrative - Grade 7 Lesson

Writing a Narrative - Grade 7 Lesson

Let's learn how to write a good story that engages our readers.

Multiple Choice

The word Narrative is related to the term 'narrator'

• true

• false

Multiple Select

What are the five elements of a narrative? Choose FIVE options.

• Setting

• Plot

• Theme

• Characters

• Conflict

Writing the Narrative

Let's tell a story

There are many types of narratives. We will only focus on two

• Personal Narrative - telling a story from your point of view based on a life experience

• Fictional Narrative - telling a story that is made up

POINT OF VIEW

Narratives must ALWAYS have a point-of-view. A point of view is WHO is telling the story. In personal narratives the story is told in 1st person and uses the pronouns 'I', 'Me', 'My' and 'We',

Multiple Choice

Which person point of view uses the pronouns 'he', 'she', 'they' and 'them'?

• 1st person

• 2nd person

• 3rd person

Multiple Choice

Which person point of view uses the pronouns 'I', 'me', and 'my'

• 1st person

• 2nd person

• 3rd person

Multiple Choice

Read the paragraph below. Which point of view is it written in?

I saw the ‘Closed’ sign dangling from the shop window, but I could hear someone moving inside. I stood on tiptoes to look through the glass and saw a pair of eyes staring back at me.

• 1st person

• 2nd person

• 3rd person

Character

A character is a person, or being that is in the story playing a part. Characters in a personal narrative include the narrator and other characters.

Multiple Choice

A narrative must have characters.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The narrator is NOT a character in a personal narrative.

• True

• False

Characters must have:

• physical characteristics - a description of what they look like

• behavioral characteristics - a description of what they behave like

Multiple Select

Behavioral characteristics include:

(choose all of the correct answers)

• What the character says

• what the character does

• What other characters say in response to the character

Always name your characters

Give the character a name that has meaning.

eg. Pirate Peet

This tells us he is a pirate

This tells us that his name is Peet

Just by reading his name we have an idea of how he will behave.

Describe your character's looks

Use figurative language to make descriptions of your characters. That way, the reader stays interested.

eg. His face was as ball with a small olive stuck to its front and his hair and dirty looking, like wet sand.

We learn that his face was round and his hair was sandy-brown.

Multiple Choice

We should use figurative language to describe our character's looks.

• True

• False

Character Behavior should be seen

• in what the character does

• in what the character says

• in how other characters describe or work along with the character.

Multiple Select

When we create characters we should use which of the following to show how they behave: (Choose all correct options)

• their words

• their clothes

• their looks

• their behaviors

Dialogue

Dialogue is what is said between two or more characters.

Multiple Choice

Dialogue is a conversation.

• True

• False

Tips for writing dialogue

• Remember how you want your character to behave

• Use words to show how your character thinks or acts

• Start each sentence or line of dialogue said by different people indented and on it's own 'paragraph'.

• ALWAYS use quotation marks

Let's look at this dialogue. Look at how each person speaking takes a turn.

The correct way to write dialogue

Notice that the first line of dialogue says who is speaking first (and what the speaker is doing.

Notice that the second line is the other character's response to the speaker and the character is clearly identified.

Look at the punctuation: quotation marks and full stops.

Multiple Choice

Should each line of dialogue begin on it's own line?

• Yes, it should

• No, it shouldn't

Multiple Choice

Should each new line of dialogue have it's own 'paragraph' that is indented?

• Yes

• No

Setting of the Narrative

The setting is where and when the story takes place.

Tips for writing a good setting:

• Identify the actual date: season, a special day

• SHOW the reader where you are. Use very specific and appropriate details to show the reader the location of the setting

• Give the setting a name that gives a clue about where the story is set.

Multiple Choice

We should use figurative language to write a good setting

• true

• false

Organizing the Plot

The plot is a series of events in the story

The Plot & Conflict (or problem)

The plot tells the story of how the main character(s) solve the problem or conflict.

The conflict could be an issue with another person, or an issue with the environment or nature, an issue with government organizations or the character can struggle with themselves.

There must ALWAYS be some type of problem to solve.

Multiple Choice

What is the problem that Jeanelle needs to be solved in this paragraph?

Jeanelle was hungry but she was in Mr. Cormor's class and she couldn't eat while there. She also didn't want to have the other kids beg her. She was so busy helping someone else at lunch she didn't get to eat. Oh, boy. What was she going to do?

• She didn't want to disrupt Mr. Cormor.

• She missed lunch helping another teacher.

• She didn't want to eat in front of the other kids.

• She was very hungry.

Open Ended

How would you end this story?

Jeanelle was hungry but she was in Mr. Cormor's class and she couldn't eat while there. She also didn't want to have the other kids beg her. She was so busy helping someone else at lunch she didn't get to eat. Oh, boy. What was she going to do?

When writing a narrative organize the sequence of events.

Choose a problem that one of your characters must solve

Write how the problem started

Write how the character tries to solve it

Write what happens when the character has solved the problem

Write what the characters learn; also called the resolution.

Open Ended

Read the series of events below. Then write how you think the situation started.

_____________________________________________

The children decided to look for the ring.

They remembered that they saw a strange man lurking around the desk.

Then they decided to speak with him about the ring.

They soon found out the ring had fallen behind the desk.

They learned not to judge a book by the cover. After all , accidents do happen.

Open Ended

Read the story below. Which step do you think is missing from the story?

It was a cold day in June, which was strange for The Bahamas.

Andy had left home early, thinking the day would heat up eventually.

Unfortunately he sat in the classroom shivering. No one had a spare jacket.

_________________________________________________

He was so happy that he found a jacket. Being kind to other people really does pay off.

Theme or Message

Your story must always have a theme or message. There must always be something you want the reader to know or learn whenever they read the story.

Popular themes

• It's better to give than receive

• Be kind to others

• Whatever you give, you get in return

• Life is precious

• Love yourself

Open Ended

Write a theme for this story. What do you want people to learn from Jeanelle's story.

Jeanelle was hungry but she was in Mr. Cormor's class and she couldn't eat while there. She also didn't want to have the other kids beg her. She was so busy helping someone else at lunch she didn't get to eat. Oh, boy. What was she going to do?

Poll

How confident do you feel about parts of the narrative essay?

• I know what to do

• I'm pretty confident

• I'm okay

• Send help!