1st Formal Writing- Narrative

ENG I Honors

What is Narration?A narrative relates a series of

events, real or imaginary, in an organized sequence.

It is a story, but it is a story that makes a point.

Narratives provide human interest and entertainment, spark our curiosity, and draw us close to the storyteller.

Narrative Plot Structure In “The Most Dangerous Game,” there

was a series of events told in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, which told a story.

If you could place into the Plot Structure order we have discussed: Exposition: Rainsford and Whitney on a

boat to the Amazon to hunt. Rising Action: Rainsford falls

overboard, swims to “ship-trap,” meets and gets hunted by Zaroff, builds traps, dives into water and swims back to castle

Climax: Duel Resolution: Rainsford wins duel; Zaroff

killed.

The Writing Process for EssaysPrewriting: Getting IdeasDrafting: Writing them down

worry- freeRevisions: Clarifying and

ElaboratingEditing: Fixing ErrorsFinal Draft: Polished for

Perfection

Prewriting Activities which are used to get

ideas about the topic you are assigned to write about

Anytime you are going to write an essay, you must complete at least two PREWRITING ACTIVITIES

Two Methods: brainstorming, clustering

Brainstorming This means to LIST any and everything

that comes to your mind about a topic—impressions, emotions, reactions, examples, facts.

Brainstorm the following topic:The most important events of my life so far

Clustering/Mapping A visual way to discover IDEAS and

RELATIONSHIPS. Steps: Write your topic in the middle of a

blank sheet Think of ideas that are related to the

topic and write them down in clusters AROUND the topic. Think of your topic as a TREE TRUNK and the related ideas as BRANCHES.

Draw arrows and lines or use highlighting to connect groups of related ideas.

Add more ideas, clustering them around the ideas already on your map.

Cluster the TopicAn EVENT which had a

significant impact on my life (Name the event)Branches

What happened?Who was involved? Where and

When was it?How did it work out?Why does it matter now?

Class Writing Assignment On ONE side of one or two sheets of

paper, using INK (blue or black) write between 1 and 2 pages, 3, 4, or 5 paragraphs on the following topic:

Write in logical order about the MEANINGFUL EVENT that you have brainstormed and clustered. Include as many details as you can. Write NEATLY. Grammar and spelling don’t count on this first draft.

Peer Collaboration One partner Feel comfortable reading your

written work aloud to your partner You will help each other organize

your thoughts, revise your work, proofread and edit

Peer Collaboration Form groups of two or three; move your

desks so that you are all facing each other Each student will read his/her piece aloud to

the group. Then, the group member to the right will

answer these questions: I remember what you said about… I liked what you said about… One question I have about what you

wrote is… The writer must write down the

responses at the bottom of the page.

Homework Do the First 10 sections of Reading

Plus by Friday Type up the SECOND DRAFT of your

NARRATIVE ESSAY by Monday. Get as close to finishing your

independent reading novel as possible by tomorrow. Bring it to class tomorrow for your first reading assessment.

Finish Vocabulary Unit 2 bookwork by tomorrow.

Format for TYPED PAPERS 12 point font, plain-ish font Must be double-spaced Use the shown below

THESIS-Making Your Point Somewhere towards the beginning of

your essay, you should have a thesis statement.

The thesis statement for your narrative essay will state the event and describe the significance of the event or events.

The thesis may also present an observation pertaining to that event.

Conveying Action and Detail A narrative should be like a camera lens

zooming in to the event. It makes readers feel as if they can picture the details and experience the action.

Writers of narratives can involve readers in several ways—through dialogue, physical description, and by recounting action.

Conflict and Tension An effective narration presents a conflict

—such as a struggle, question, or problem—and works towards its resolution.

The conflict may be between participants or between a participant and an external force, such as a law, a tradition, or an act of nature.

Tension is the suspense created as the story unfolds and makes the reader wonder how the conflict will be resolved.

Exercise• With one partner, set up a conflict in 3-4

sentences for each of these starters:– You are ready to leave the house when

suddenly…– You have just turned in your math exam when

you realize that…– Your child just told you…– Your best friend phones you in the middle of the

night to tell you…

Sequencing Events The events in a narrative must be

arranged in an order that is easy for readers to follow.

The simplest is chronological order, but some writers incorporate flashbacks or foreshadowing into their storytelling technique.

A flashback returns the reader to events that took place in the past, whereas foreshadowing hints at events in the future.

Dialogue Dialogue can be used to dramatize the

action, emphasize the conflict, and reveal the personalities of the key participants.

Dialogue used in narratives should reflect everyday speech and not sound forced or overly formal.

Exercise• Pick one of these situations and write a 5-6

sentence natural sounding dialogue imagining what the participants might say:– An assistant manager is trying to explain to a

supervisor that an employee offends customers.– A man or a woman has just discovered that he or

she and a best friend are dating the same person.– A babysitter is disciplining an eight-year-old girl for

pouring chocolate syrup on her brother’s head.

Point of View First person point of view is usually

chosen to tell a narrative about oneself (using the pronoun “I”)

Third person point of view presents an unknown storyteller describing what happens to the key participants

Graphic Organizer for Narrative Essay Title Introduction----Background, Setting,

Introduction to conflict, thesis

Action and Tension—Events

Climax- turning point of the narrative

Conclusion—Resolution, final impression, and/or reference to thesis.

Homework Get your textbook and bring it in next

class and every day from now on. Type up your first draft of your

NARRATIVE ESSAY for Saturday, adding revisions and/or improvements.

Read Chapter 11, pages 227-239 of your textbook. Take two pages of notes on it.

Make sure to read the TWO SAMPLE ESSAYS: “Right Place, Wrong Face” and “The Lady in Red”

Grammar Lesson 1- Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is a group of words

that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. A fragment may be missing a SUBJECT, a VERB, or BOTH. Are hatched in the sand. Jamal is a basketball player of many

talents. Especially rebounding. To notice a friendly smile. Because the number of voters declined. Which scientists have studied for years.

Turn all of the above into complete sentences.

Worksheet with Peer GroupComplete the worksheet with

your peer groupThen, trade your pieces of

writing with ONE person in your group.

Look for any possible FRAGMENTS is your partner’s essay, and underline them.

HomeworkProcure the text and read Ch.

1-2, pages 4-41 tonight. Take three pages of notes on your own about what you are reading.

Add these notes to the notes you took today. Bring the notes in next week for a grade.