Introduction to Narrative Essays

The Narrative Essay

Welcome!

Narration

Recounting Events

What is Narration?

• Relates a series of events, real or imaginary, in an organized fashion

• A story that makes a point

Characteristics of Narrative Essays

Makes a Point

• Makes a point or supports a thesis by telling about an event/series of events

• Point may be directly stated – (explicit thesis statement)

• Point may be implied – (implied thesis statement)

• Details of story support the point the author is trying to make

Conveys action and detail

• Gets the reader involved– Dialogue– Physical description– Recounting action

Presents a conflict & creates tension

• Conflict– Struggle, question, problem

the characters try to resolve

• Tension– Suspense created as the

story unfolds and reader tries to figure out how the character will solve conflict

• Climax– Point just before the conflict

is solved

Sequences events

• Arranged in an order easy for readers to follow

• Often chronological• Non-chronological

– Flashback• Returns reader to events

happening in the past

– Foreshadowing• Hints at events that MAY

happen in the future

Uses dialogue

• Should resemble everyday speech

Told from a particular point of view

• 1st person– Key participant talks directly to

reader– Allows personal tone & sharing of

attitudes, feelings, etc.– Good when narrating an event from

your own life

• 3rd person– Narrator is unknown and describes

what is happening to others– More distance from the action, and

generally more objective– Allows narrator to reveal insights

about a character’s actions & personality

Graphic Organizer for a Narrative Essay

See p. 100, figure 5.1

Writing a Narrative Essay

Planning the essay

Choose topic

• Select an experience that is memorable and that you would feel comfortable talking about

• Decide whether you will use 1st or 3rd person

Gathering Details• Replay the experience in your

mind– Write down notes (sights, smells,

sounds, tastes, touch, dialogue, emotions)

• Describe the incident to a friend– Write down any questions they

might have• Describe the experience aloud• Consider different aspects of

the incident by asking who, what, where, when, why, and how questions

Key details to include• Scene

– Choose RELEVANT sensory details that direct your readers to the main point of the narrative

• Key actions– Choose actions that create

tension, build it to a climax, and resolve it

• Why did the conflict occur?• What events led up to it?• How was it resolved?• What were its short- and long-

term consequences?• What is its significance now?

Key details to include, cont.

• Key participants– Appearance and action of

people directly involved in story

• Key lines of dialogue– Interesting, revealing, &

related to main point of story

– Make sure it sounds natural

Develop your thesis

• After looking at all of the key details, decide what point you will be making with your narrative

Drafting a Narrative Essay

Guidelines for writing

Introduction

Should…• Capture the reader’s

attention• Provide useful

background information• Set up the conflict• Include the thesis (if you

are going to directly state it)

Body of Narrative

• Build tension as it leads up to the final resolution or climax

• Devote a separate paragraph to each major action or distinct part of the story

• Use transitions to connect events

Conclusion of Narrative EssayDo not summarize – instead…• Make a final observation about

the experience or event• Ask a probing question• Suggest a new, but related

direction of thought• Reveal a surprising piece of

information• Refer back to the beginning• Restate the thesis in different

words (use this method sparingly)

Analysis, Revision, & Editing

Revision

• Let your essay sit for a day or two

• Reread and analyze, focusing on the overall effectiveness of the narrative

• See revision flowchart 5.3 on pp. 105-6

Editing & Proofreading

• Check for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation & mechanics.

Editing Tips & Troublespots• Check for varied sentence

structure– Different length & word order

• Check punctuation on dialogue• Use strong, active verbs

– Active verbs (use these)• The subject performs the action

– Lisa told me…

– Passive verbs (avoid)• The subject is acted upon

– It was told to me by Lisa…

• Use consistent verb tense– Most narratives are told in the past

tense

Reading a Narrative Essay

• Don’t forget the value of previewing and rereading a narrative so that you can follow the events and action as well as concentrate on its meaning.

What to Look for, Highlight and Annotate• Understanding the

Reading– What is:

• The role of the participants• The conflict• The climax• Conflict resolution

What to Look for, Highlight and Annotate• Examining the Characteristics of

Narrative Essays– Main point of the writer?– Writer’s thesis? Direct or

implied?– Does writer create tension?

How?– Sequence of events?– Purpose and intended audience?– What is the lasting value of this

essay and what does it say about life, people, jobs, friendship, etc.?

– How does the writer achieve his/her purpose and is he/she successful?

Building Critical Thinking Skills• Inferences

– “a reasoned guess about what is not known based on what is known.”

– Writers do not always directly state the ideas they intend to communicate about, so you must infer or read between the lines to understand the message.

Building Critical Thinking Skills• Point of View

– The perspective from which an author tells a story

– Writers generally use the first or third person P.O.V. when writing a narrative.

Building Critical Thinking Skills• Connotative Meaning

– The meaning of a word that expresses a feeling or idea that is associated with the word (generally a positive or negative association)

Building Critical Thinking Skills• Symbolism

– Use of things, ideas, or words to represent something else.

– Analysis of symbols used in writing can allow a reader to better understand the writer’s themes.

Building Critical Thinking Skills• Colloquial Language

– A style of conversational and informal writing

– Can be very useful in fiction and less formal types of writing in which a character’s use of slang, dialect, or “colorful” language can reveal a lot about his/her thoughts, attitudes, and ideas.

The End

• Only the beginning of Narrative Essay Writing