Narrative Writing

Narrative Writing

Fictional Genres

There are general rules to follow, for example, manuscript length, character types, settings, themes, viewpoint choices, and plots. Certain settings suit specific genres. These will vary in type, details, intensity, and length of description. The tone employed by the author, and the mood created for the reader, must also suit the genre.

Why Does Genre Matter?

Genres are great because they fulfill reader expectations.

Personal Narrative

• author writes about a sequenced event or experience in his or her life

Realistic Narrative

• author writes about a sequenced event in the form of a story

Fantasy Narrative

• Author tells a story that are set against the backdrop of fantastic worlds where high-fantasy races, such as elves and hobbits, exist

Historical Narrative

• Author writes through the eyes of a fictional character or even as the story of a real person from history who experienced the event. 

HISTORICAL FICTION

In this project, you will create a story that takes place in a historically accurate time and setting. The characters and some events are fictional.

Multiple Choice

a story about the first time you ever broke a bone

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about three kind aliens landing on Earth and helping kids learn about space

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about three kids missing the bus on their first day of school

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a first person narrative of someone living on a Medieval manor

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about the time where you went cave diving with sharks

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about a boy adopting a small kitten from a local shelter

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about a boy who adopts a small kitten from a local shelter, and the kitten turns into fire breathing dragon

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about your fondest memory with your best friend

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Multiple Choice

a story about a little girl whose father had to fight in the Civil War, while she took care of the family farm

• personal

• fantasy

• realistic fiction

• historical fiction

Narratives

Tell the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and HOW of the event.

1. Introduction to the Event

• How can you hook your reader?

• How can you get their attention while introducing your story?

• ​What makes a good hook in narrative writing?

Verb Usage: “ To be or not to be”

The verb “to be”: Resource #1 Resource #2, #3

Forms: is, am, are, was, were, been, have, had, has

Your writing is much more interesting and exciting if you use
action verbs, instead of “to be” verbs.

Example 1: “One thing I remember is that I was climbing on the
kitchen counter to get a cookie.”

Example 2: “I vividly remember scaling the kitchen drawers like
a ladder, attempting to steal a sweet, forbidden dessert.”

2. Body - Sequenced Events + Details

• Does your story follow a logical sequence of events?

• What events happen first, next, then, and last?

• Did you include who, what, where, when, why, and how things happened?

• What is the main conflict?

• Did you develop your characters?

• Did you include actions and feelings?

• Did you use literary devices and figurative language?

• Did you include dialogue?

3. Conclusion

• How can you wrap up your piece or resolve the events?

• Is there a final resolution?

• Did you share a final thought?

Multiple Choice

The sequence of events in a story or novel is called the ___?

• Action

• Setting

• Conflict

• Plot

Multiple Choice

Turning point in a story; moment of greatest suspense; conflict at most intense or dramatic moment.

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

• Resolution

• Climax

Multiple Choice

The story's time and place is

• Tone

• Plot

• Voice

• Setting

Multiple Choice

Characters and setting are introduced. Reveals or sets the stage for conflict.

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Exposition

• Resolution

Multiple Choice

Introduces obstacles that make conflict more complicated. Includes incidents or dialogue that propel action.

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

• Resolution

• Exposition

Multiple Choice

Interest and suspense are built during which part of the story?

• Exposition

• Rising Action

• Climax

• Falling Action

Multiple Choice

What is climax of the story?

• The main action or turning point of the story

• The struggle between two characters

• The beginning of the story

• The point when the conflict is resolved

Multiple Choice

The part of the story that ties up all the loose ends and takes care of the conflict

• The Resolution

• The climax

• The introduction

• The theme

Multiple Choice

Which list shows the plot elements in the correct order?

• Exposition, Falling Action, Climax, Rising Action, Resolution

• Exposition, Falling Action, Rising Action, Climax, Resolution

• Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution

• Rising Action, Falling Action, Exposition, Climax, Resolution

Multiple Choice

What is a simile?

• Comparing two unlike things without using like and as

• Comparing two things in a text

• Comparing two unlike things using like and as

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

What is a metaphor?

• Comparing two things in a text
• Comparing two things using like and as
• An over exaggeration 
• Comparing two things without using like and as

Multiple Choice

What is personification

• Giving human qualities to a human
• Giving non living qualities to living things
• Comparing something to a nonliving thing.
• Giving human qualities to a non human things

Multiple Choice

Onomatopoeia is...

• An exaggerated statement
• A sound effect
• A comparison of two things using like or as
• The use of a word associated with a sound.

Multiple Choice

What is a hyperbole?

• An exaggerated statement not to be taken literally. 
• Telling the truth
• Comparing a rock to a island
• Break a leg

Multiple Choice

"Life is like a box of chocolates." is an example of

• Alliteration
• Metaphor
• Simile 
• Personification

Multiple Choice

The assignment was a breeze is an example of a

• Metaphor 
• Simile 
• Alliteration
• Onomatopoeia 

Multiple Choice

The firework exploded in the air, making a big BOOM!

This is an example of

• Personification
• Onomatopoeia
• The 4th of July
• All of the above

Multiple Choice

I am dying of shame is an example of...

• Metaphor
• Personification
• Simile
• Hyperbole

​Foreshadowing

​What is it?

Why use it in our narratives?

Multiple Choice

Define foreshadowing.

• A flashback of what happened previously
• A hint at something that will happen later
• Giving human-like characteristics to non-living things
• Comparing two unlike things using like or as

Multiple Choice

One way a writer builds suspense is...

• by creating a mysterious setting
• by introducing characters through out a text
• by providing clues of a future event
• telling the facts

Multiple Choice

What is the Paragraph foreshadowing?

Usually fire met civilization but as the ship approached the red glow, The Argonauts weren't so sure. They heard deep voices shouting from the shore, but the fog muffled the sound so badly it was impossible to tell whether the voices were even human.

• The Argonauts saw fire so they thought they saw humans

• The fog muffled the voices, so they thought they just had the first close encounter with aliens in history.

• The voices were not human at all and they are in danger.

• The voices are not human and are friendly voices

Multiple Choice

Read the following passage carefully. Which sentence foreshadows that the wedding will not go as planned?
Joe and Jill had been planning their wedding for months. In the weeks leading up the big day, they had checked the weather forecast obsessively to see if they would be able to get married in Jill's mother's rose garden or if they would have to move the ceremony indoors. All the forecasts said the weather would be sunny and warm, perfect for an outdoor ceremony. On the morning of the event, while Jill and her bridesmaids got ready, Joe and his groomsman set up tables and chairs in the garden. They decorated each table with a crisp white tablecloth and a vase of flowers. As they headed inside to change into their tuxedos, one of the groomsman noticed a dark cloud far off in the distance. 

• All the forecasts said the weather would be sunny and warm, perfect for an outdoor ceremony.
• As they headed inside to change into their tuxedos, one of the groomsman noticed a dark cloud far off in the distance. 
• On the morning of the event, while Jill and her bridesmaids got ready, Joe and his groomsman set up tables and chairs in the garden. 
• They decorated each table with a crisp white tablecloth and a vase of flowers.

​Imagery and Symbolism

​After watching the video, you should be able to:

• ​Define Imagery

• Define Symbolism

• ​Recognize each in writing

Multiple Choice

The use of an image or an object to stand for something else 

• Imagery
• Symbolism
• Theme
• Denotation

Multiple Choice

Why does an author use symbolism in their literary piece?

• To convey deeper meanings about a topic or subject
• To show the importance of symbols

Multiple Choice

What does the apple symbolize in the image

• Snow White's loss of innocence

• Snow White's beauty and charm

Multiple Choice

What does the apple symbolize in this photo?

• Gratitude for a teacher who has done a good job
• Assistance for a teacher who needs help?

Multiple Choice

What is the difference in the apple between the Snow White image and the teacher / student image?

• The meaning of the apple stayed the same. It was still a symbol
• The meaning of the apple changed because the context stayed the same.
• The meaning of the apple changed because the context of how it was used changed. In Snow White it was negative, in the teacher / student image it was positive.
• The meaning of the apple changed because for Snow White it was positive and for the teacher / student image, it was negative

Multiple Choice

What is the best definition of imagery? 

• Imagery is the author’s use of language that appeals to the five senses in order to help the reader imagine what is being described.
  
• An act of saying what will or might happen in the future.
•  A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as.
• Exaggeration

Multiple Choice

What kind of imagery is used in this passage:

"The sickly-sweet aroma of night-blooming jasmine was inescapable.."

• Taste

• Smell

• Sight (see)

• This passage does not use imagery

Multiple Choice

What kind of imagery is used here?

"Gregor's eyes turned next to the window, and the overcast sky - one could hear raindrops beating on the window gutter - made him quite melancholy."

• Sound and taste

• Sight and touch

• Taste and touch

• Sight and sound

Multiple Choice

Based on the poem, what sort of place is Camelot?

• cheerful 
• a city
• gloomy 
• crowded

​Using Dialogue

After watching the videos, you should be able to answer the following questions.

• ​What is dialogue?

• Why use it?

• How do I punctuate dialogue?

• ​What are the rules?

• What is a "speaker tag"?

Multiple Choice

Dialogue is

• a conversation between/amongst characters
• a verb
• when the narrator tells you what is happening in a story
• boring

Multiple Choice

Put __________________ around a speaker's exact words.

• commas
• speaker tags
• quotation marks
• An indent

Multiple Choice

_______________ the first word of a quotation and first word of each sentence.

• Indent
• Capitalize
• Underline
• Delete

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that uses quotation marks correctly.

• Polly shouted, "I want a cracker!"
• Polly shouted! "I want a cracker."
• Polly shouted, "I want a cracker"!
• "Polly shouted," I want a cracker!

Multiple Choice

Is this sentence written correctly?
Cliff exclaimed, "Seventh grade is the best year yet!"

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Is this sentence written correctly? 
"Dogs are the most amazing animals", said Mrs. Hutchens.

• Ye

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Is this sentence sentence written correctly?

Chad told me, "the movie begins at 7:30."

• Yes
• No

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is correct? 

• Jane said, "I really want to eat Cheetos."
• Jane said, "I really want to eat Cheetos".
• Jane said "I really want to eat Cheetos."
• Jane said, "I really want to eat Cheetos,"

Multiple Choice

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

• "Hi," Shelly replied, "my name is Shelly Rutt."
• Hi Shelly replied. My name is Shelly Rutt.
• "hi" Shelly replied "my name is Shelly Rutt
• Hi, Shelly replied "my name is Shelly Rutt."

​Tone and Mood

• ​What do they mean?

• H​ow are they different?

• ​How can we use tone to create mood in our narrative?

Tone

• Tone is the AUTHOR’S or NARRATOR’S attitude

  towards the audience, the subject, or characters.

  
  

• The tone influences the story’s mood /atmosphere.

• Tone = author's attitude

How to find tone

• Tone is not stated directly.

• You must read between

  the lines to see what the author’s or narrator’s

  attitude is on the subject.

• Tone can be revealed through:

  - Dialogue between characters

  - Descriptions

  - Author’s diction (word choice)

  - The themes that emerge

MOOD

• Mood is the emotion that the READERS feel while reading about the subject.

Multiple Choice

What is meant by the TONE of a text or image?

• the reader's attitude about the topic

• the author's attitude about the topic

• the reader's feelings about the topic

• the author's feelings about the topic

Multiple Choice

What is meant by the MOOD of a text or image?

• The author's feelings

• The author's attitude

• The reader's feelings

• The reader's attitude

Multiple Choice

The tone is determined by the...

• descriptions in the text

• length of a written text

• words and dialogue

• descriptions, words and dialogue

Multiple Choice

The words that determine the tone in this passage are...

"although I had tried hard and had followed the steps of the scientific method, my experiment didn't work. I dragged myself into class and slouched in my seat, not raising my hand

• experiment, science

• method, class

• dragged, slouched

• raising hand

Multiple Choice

_________ is the feeling the reader gets as he/she reads the text.

• mood
• tone

Multiple Choice

The mood in this passage is...

"My enemy was making his way down the hall, bursting open door after door. I needed to break through this window in two tries to make it out in time."

• cheerful

• scared

• sad

• pessimistic

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does NOT create mood in a story?

• Setting Description
• Imagery
• Imagination
• Character Speech/Feeling

Multiple Choice

The tone and mood of a text can be very different

• true
• false