chapter 6 developing paragraphs using narration revised

Get Writing: Paragraphs and EssaysChapter 6: Developing Paragraphs

Using Narration

Prepared by: Dr. Mercedes Torres Almodóvar

M. Connelly © 2013 adapted by M. Torres Almodóvar

ObjectivesObjectives

•Understand the elements of narration.

•Use clear transitions.

•Appreciate the use of dialogue in narration.


What is Narration?What is Narration?

Narration tells a story or explains a chain of events.

• Second Edition Page 87• Third Edition Page

82


Narrate one of the following events The surprise ending of a favorite movie or TV

show An event that led you to make a decision An incident that changed your opinion of

someone or something


• Narration can be fiction or non-fiction.- Short stories- Fables- Screen plays- Comedy routines- Biographies- Police reports- History books- Newspaper articles

What is Narration?What is Narration?


• Effective narration has a clear purpose.

• It does not only explain what happened – it also explains WHY that event is important.

• It does not always have a topic sentence – but it DOES always have a controlling idea.

Writing Narration: Making a Writing Narration: Making a PointPoint


1. Guide your writing by keeping in mind the most important thing you want your reader to know.

2. Delete minor details that do not support your main point.

3. Focus on conflict or contrast to create tension or drama.

4. Organize details to create strong impressions.

5. Use concrete words rather than general or abstract terms to provide dramatic but accurate depictions of events.

Tips for Making PointsTips for Making Points


6. Avoid Shifting point of view (from “I” to “you” or “they”) unless there is a clear change in focus.

7. Use tense shifts to show logical changes between past and ongoing or current events.

More Tips for Making More Tips for Making PointsPoints


Making a Point p. 89 Second EditionMaking a Point p. 84-85 Third Edition

Do exercise 1 in your notebook Using the following subjects, narrow the topic and

establish a controlling idea An argument or scuffle you witnessed The most dramatic event that happened in high school

or at your job A turning point in your life or the life of a friend An accident or medical emergency

Topic: The way someone delivered bad news Narrowed topic: The news about my father’s death Controlling idea: My husband’s face projected

distraught the day I was told about my father’s sudden death,



The six reporters’ questions are:

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

• A narrative paragraph relates events over a period of time.

• To prevent readers from becoming confused, signal shifts in time with transitional words or phrases.

Writing Narration: Writing Narration: Using TransitionsUsing Transitions


• Before • After• After a while• Next• Following• While• Now • Later• Immediately

• The following day• In the meantime• Then • First• Finally • Suddenly• Hours, days, weeks

later• That morning,

afternoon

Key Transitions for Key Transitions for NarrationNarration


Exercise 2 Identifying Transitions Page 91 or Page 86

Study the student paragraphs pp.94-97 (Second Edition)

Study the student paragraphs pp.89-92 (Third Edition)


In the book!

If you are explaining an event that involves people talking, using direct quotations can advance the story better than an indirect summary of a conversation.See page 93 (Second Edition)

See Page 87 (Third Edition)

Writing Narration: Writing Narration: Using DialogueUsing Dialogue


Writing Narration: Using DialogueI was taking a nap

on the patio when I heard Mrs. Gomez next door screaming for help. I woke up and jumped over a small hedge between our yards. I asked her what the problem was, and she said her son had fallen into their pool. Timmy was lying on the ground. His face was puffy and bluish white.

I was taking a nap on the patio when I heard Mrs. Gomez next door scream, “Help me! Help!”

I jumped over the small hedge between our yards. “ What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Timmy fell in the pool. I found him floating in the pool,” she said, sitting next to Timmy, who was lying on the ground. His face was puffy and bluish white.


• In writing dialogue, start a new paragraph each time a new person speaks.

• Because dialogue may include many short paragraphs, your essay may appear to be longer than the assigned length. Use a computer word count.

• A 3-page essay with dialogue is often no longer than 1 ½ pages of description.

Point to RememberPoint to Remember


1. Study your topic and use critical thinking by asking key questions.

2. List your point or message as a topic sentence to guide your writing (the topic sentence does not have to appear in the finished paragraph).

3. List supporting details that establish your point.

Steps to Writing a Steps to Writing a Narrative ParagraphNarrative Paragraph


4. Review your list, deleting minor details and highlighting significant ones.

5. If people speak in your narrative, consider using dialogue rather than indirect summaries of conversations.

6. Write a first draft of your paragraph.

More Steps to Writing a More Steps to Writing a Narrative ParagraphNarrative Paragraph


7. Read your paragraph out loud and consider these questions:

• Does my paragraph make a clear point?• Does it tell readers what I want them to know?• Do I provide sufficient details?• Are there unimportant details that could be

deleted?• Do I use concrete words, especially verbs, to

create action?• Do I avoid illogical shifts in point of view or tense?• Do I provide clear transitions to advance the

narrative and explain the passage of time?

1 More Step to Writing a 1 More Step to Writing a Narrative ParagraphNarrative Paragraph


1. Narration paragraphs should make a clear point, not simply summarize events.

2. Narratives can be written in 1st person (“I”), 2nd person (“you”), or 3rd person (“they”). Avoid illogical shifts.

3. Narration can be stated in past or present tense. Avoid illogical shifts.

Points to RememberPoints to Remember


4. Paragraphs should have clear transition statements to advance the narrative, indicate the passage of time, and prevent confusion.

5. Dialogue – direct quotations – can be more effective than summaries of conversations. Remember to use quotation marks and to begin a new paragraph to indicate a shift in speakers.

More Points to More Points to RememberRemember


Writing Assignment Study carefully the steps to writing a narrative

paragraph page 98 (second edition) or page 92 (third edition)

Select a topic listed below and complete exercise 4.

Write out your first draft, then submit final copy.

SEE ASSIGNMENT IN MOODLE!


References Connelly, M. (2013). Get Writing:

Paragraphs and Essays. Boston: Thomson Publishing Co.


chapter 6 developing paragraphs using narration revised

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