Organization in Writing

If you are writing a narrative, what is the most common way to organize the story?

• Tell the most exciting part first, then tell the rest.

• Tell the story in chronological (time) order.

• Tell the story by explaining the solution to the problem first.

• Wait until the end of the story to describe the characters.

Which of the following is a good transition to show time has passed?

• Eventually,

• However,

• On the other hand,

• Also,

Sometimes writers give us too much action. Other times writers give us too much description. Balancing these two elements in order to keep the story moving in an interesting way is known as-

• transitions

• plot

• character development

• pacing

At what point of the story should your reader be able to understand the idea/topic?

• Only at the beginning

• Only in the middle

• Only at the beginning and end

• In the beginning, middle and end

Read this 5 paragraph story and decide which paragraph should be moved to the top. In other words, which paragraph should be at the beginning of this story? 

 

• Keep it like it is.

• The 2nd paragraph belongs at the beginning.

• The 3rd paragraph belongs at the beginning.

• The 4th paragraph belongs at the beginning.

Read this 5 paragraph story and decide which paragraph should be moved to the end, In other words, which paragraph should be at the conclusion of this story? 

 

• The 1st paragraph needs to be the ending

• The paragraphs are in the best order already.

• The 4th paragraph needs to be the ending.

• The 3rd paragraph needs to be the ending.

Which of the following lines from the story is a good transition to show time has passed?

(You may reread the story if you like.)

 

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway-it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all of his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off, and take a step up.

• Life is going to shovel dirt on you,

• A few shovel loads later,

• He would shake it off and take a step up.

• He quieted down.

What would you say is the pebble idea for this story?

• A donkey gets trapped

• A farmer decides to fill in his well

• Neighbors help neighbors

• Donkeys are always in trouble

What is the theme of this story?

• Shake it off, and take a step up.

• Crying about it is helpful.

• Pets are always causing problems.

• Everyone should work harder.

When the paragraphs are in the proper order, how do you feel about the organization of this story?

• This story is organized in a confusing way.

• This story has way too many transitions.

• This story needs a better conclusion.

• This story has good organiztion.