Narrative WritingNarrative Writing

Be creative, be honest.

Be creative, be honest.

Expressive writingExpressive writing

Primary purpose = explore & communicate personal experience and opinions to the world.

Primary purpose = explore & communicate personal experience and opinions to the world.

Three examplesThree examples

EX 1: expressiveEX 1: expressive

My first political awareness began in elementary school, when I remember wearing silver MIA bracelets with names on them. Those names were mysterious and terrifying. I staged my first political protest in sixth grade assembly. I think these early experiences had a lot to do with my political leanings today.

My first political awareness began in elementary school, when I remember wearing silver MIA bracelets with names on them. Those names were mysterious and terrifying. I staged my first political protest in sixth grade assembly. I think these early experiences had a lot to do with my political leanings today.

EX 2: expositoryEX 2: expository

Public protest against the Vietnam War eventually brought that war to an end.

Public protest against the Vietnam War eventually brought that war to an end.

EX 3: PersuasiveEX 3: Persuasive

The Iraq War is as much a quagmire as Vietnam. It's time for us to face reality, admit failure, and leave.

The Iraq War is as much a quagmire as Vietnam. It's time for us to face reality, admit failure, and leave.

What it meansWhat it means

Each example is a different way to show the writer’s protest.

In an expressive piece, write for yourselfShare with audiencePeople love stories about people

You have an audience

Each example is a different way to show the writer’s protest.

In an expressive piece, write for yourselfShare with audiencePeople love stories about people

You have an audience

Qualities of good expressive writing:Qualities of good expressive writing:I. 1st Person POV

I. Appropriate voice and word choiceII. Narrative devices…

I. 1st Person POVI. Appropriate voice and word choice

II. Narrative devices…

Your NarrativeYour Narrative

1. Describes a sequence of events.Communicate the significance of the

events to your audience. Remember? PLOT!

1. Describes a sequence of events.Communicate the significance of the

events to your audience. Remember? PLOT!

Write a reflective personal narrative that:Write a reflective personal narrative that:

2. Set the scene with specific times and places.

Is the story during the day? Did the weather play a role? How about the season?

The fireworks display was breathtaking. Although the rain continued to fall, it had died into a light sprinkle, making this typically scorching July evening in Phoenix tolerable, and one to remember.

2. Set the scene with specific times and places.

Is the story during the day? Did the weather play a role? How about the season?

The fireworks display was breathtaking. Although the rain continued to fall, it had died into a light sprinkle, making this typically scorching July evening in Phoenix tolerable, and one to remember.

3. Describe w/ specific detail: sights, sounds, and smells of scenes.

These are called sensory details

Rubbing the sleep out of my drowsy eyes, the bright light of the morning sun a spotlight through the kitchen window, I smiled as I inhaled the one-and-only aroma of my father’s bacon breakfast burritos.

3. Describe w/ specific detail: sights, sounds, and smells of scenes.

These are called sensory details

Rubbing the sleep out of my drowsy eyes, the bright light of the morning sun a spotlight through the kitchen window, I smiled as I inhaled the one-and-only aroma of my father’s bacon breakfast burritos.

4. Describe w/ specific detail: actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the character(s).My father, with his morphine-injected

face and tubes crawling out from various parts of his body, smiled at me and motioned for me to sit with him on his hospital bed.

4. Describe w/ specific detail: actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the character(s).My father, with his morphine-injected

face and tubes crawling out from various parts of his body, smiled at me and motioned for me to sit with him on his hospital bed.

5. Use dialogue (verbal communication between more than one character).

“Are we there yet?” Bart asked.Homer replied, “no.”Bart asked again, “are we there yet?”“No!” Homer barked.

5. Use dialogue (verbal communication between more than one character).

“Are we there yet?” Bart asked.Homer replied, “no.”Bart asked again, “are we there yet?”“No!” Homer barked.

6. Use interior monologue.As I scrambled to find my car keys, I

thought to myself, “you cannot be late to class this time Tippett!”

The curator felt a surge of adrenaline. How could he possibly know this?

6. Use interior monologue.As I scrambled to find my car keys, I

thought to myself, “you cannot be late to class this time Tippett!”

The curator felt a surge of adrenaline. How could he possibly know this?

7. Use figurative language…

…”like a box of chocolates.”

7. Use figurative language…

…”like a box of chocolates.”

Need help getting your story started?

Need help getting your story started?

Pg. R36-37 in the textbook.o Breaks down three styles of narrative

writing:o Chronological Ordero Flashbacko Focus on Conflict

Pg. R36-37 in the textbook.o Breaks down three styles of narrative

writing:o Chronological Ordero Flashbacko Focus on Conflict

Essay Prompt: Reflect on a time you remember demonstrating loyalty to a friend (or family member). Use vivid words and images to make your narrative came alive for your readers.

Essay Prompt: Reflect on a time you remember demonstrating loyalty to a friend (or family member). Use vivid words and images to make your narrative came alive for your readers.