TCAP Narrative Writing 10th Grade

Writing Review

By Donna Kapa

Alexander Calder

​American Artist (1898 - 1976)

Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known for creating playful, moving artworks. He invented the mobile—a type of kinetic sculpture that moves with air currents. Calder's work often features bold colors, abstract shapes, and a sense of motion and balance.

Narrative Writing

​Craft a Compelling Narrative

Today, you’ll practice writing powerful narratives using excerpts from texts about artist Alexander Calder.

​The Prompt Breakdown

Multiple Choice

You’ll write a narrative from Alexander Calder’s point of view about how he became an artist, using ideas from two passages.

What point of view should you write this narrative in?

• First person

• Second person

• Third person omniscient

• Third person limited

Multiple Choice

Hook the Reader: Crafting an Opening Scene
Excerpt from a Calder biography:

“Gazing east, he found a fiery red sun just rising above the calm sea... He felt the urge to paint it.”

Task: Choose the best first line for your narrative from Calder’s POV:

• “Alexander Calder was on a boat.”

• “He awoke on another ordinary day.”

• “Calder felt sad and confused.”

• “The sea glistened like fire, and I...”

​Building a Coherent Narrative

Strong narratives unfold in a logical, clear sequence. One event should naturally lead to the next. Let’s look at how different types of events can be sequenced to tell a smooth, compelling story.

Reorder

Reorder the following events into the most logical story sequence.

• Calder has a moment of inspiration.

• Calder follows his dream.

• Calder suffers a setback.

• Calder overcomes challenges and discovers his passion.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Open Ended

What makes this story arc with a setback more emotionally satisfying than a direct road from inspiration to success?

​Narrative Techniques

Dialogue, Description, and Pacing

Match

Match each technique to its purpose.

• Dialogue

• Description

• Pacing

Builds character; develops plot

Builds the world

Controls tension and suspense

• Builds character; develops plot

• Builds the world

• Controls tension and suspense

​Explanation

These techniques help writers show rather than tell.
Dialogue makes characters sound real.
Description puts readers in the scene.
Pacing builds suspense or slows things down for reflection.

Multiple Choice

“Colorful trapeze artists swung and somersaulted, tightrope walkers balanced on a slack wire, and acrobats did flips and handstands.”

Question: What technique is being used in this excerpt to bring the scene to life?

• Dialogue

• Foreshadowing

• Description

• Onomatopoeia

​Style and Tone

The tone needs to match both the situation and the character’s emotional journey. A mismatch can confuse or weaken the impact of the story.

Multiple Choice

A character finally stands on a mountaintop after a hard climb. What tone fits best?

• Triumphant

• Sarcastic

• Bored

• Gloomy

​Word Choice and Sensory Language

Sensory details pull the reader into the moment. Vivid words = vivid experiences.

Multiple Choice

Original: The dog ran through the yard.
Question: Which revision uses sensory language best?

• The dog went across the lawn.

• The dog was energetic, loud, and furry.

• A blur of golden fur zigzagged across the dew-slick grass.

• It ran quickly across the grass barking.

​Endings with Meaning

An effective ending reflects on what the character has experienced—not just what happened, but what it meant.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best ending for a story about someone discovering their true calling:

• “And then I ate a sandwich.”

• “I guess I was okay with how it turned out.”

• “So I gave up.”

• “Looking at my sketch, I finally knew: I was born to do this.

​Formatting Dialogue

Multiple Choice

“I can’t believe you painted all this in one day,” said Maria. “It took all night,” Calder replied. “I didn’t even sleep.” He flopped into a big comfy chair and smiled lazily at her. “You’re going to be famous,” she said with a grin. Marie moved closer to the painting to get a better look. "Don't get too close, the paint is still wet," Calder warned.

What feedback would you give this student on their dialogue?

• The dialogue is missing quotation marks.

• The paragraph includes too much descriptive detail.

• The writer didn’t start a new paragraph when the speaker changed.

• The paragraph doesn’t explain what the characters are doing.

​Formatting Dialogue

When a speaker changes, you should start a new paragraph. This makes it easier for readers to tell who is speaking and keeps the conversation from getting confusing.

Multiple Choice

David looked up and said, That wasn’t supposed to happen.

What feedback would you give this student on their dialogue?

• Remove the dialogue altogether.

• Add quotation marks around what David says.

• Start a new paragraph.

• Use all capital letters to show surprise.

​Formatting Dialogue

All spoken words by a character must be enclosed in quotation marks so the reader knows which words are being said aloud.

Multiple Choice

“Do you think we’ll make it in time”? asked Ben.

What feedback would you give this student on their dialogue?

• Put the question mark inside of of the quotation marks.

• The "A" should be capitalized in the tag “asked Ben”

• Add a period instead of a question mark.

• Use an exclamation mark instead.

​Formatting Dialogue

A question mark should come before the closing quotation marks if it is part of what the character is saying.