STRUCTURES: NARRATION

ENGL 1301Dr. R. RamosRevised 10/29/2014

OVERVIEW

DEFINITION:

Narration answers the question “What happened?” by telling in its body paragraphs a story through a sequence of events in chronological (time) order, from earliest in time to the most recent.

THESIS:

In a Narration essay, the thesis = point of the story. What’s the lesson? Why are you telling this story? What is your overall opinion of what happened -- sad? happy? mixed? Your answer becomes the thesis statement.

BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: PLOT LINE

Beginning: Characters, Setting

Middle

End: Resolution

OUTLINE: THE “SKELETON” OF NARRATION

 

Intro with Thesis: the overall point of the story

I. Body or Section 1: Exposition = Overview of settings (time and location) and characters (the key people in story); Early Rising Action = the start of conflict between characters, nature, society, or even the self.

II. Body or Section 2: Increasing Rising Action (conflict getting much worse) that leads to the Climax = where the story “peaks,” either the best or worst thing that happened; usually some sort of discovery, revelation, or decision.

III. Body or Section 3: Falling Action to Denouement = what happened after the climactic moment, a resolution of everybody involved. Can be a happy, sad, or mixed ending.

Conclusion: Restate point of the story; comment on its effects today; end with strong concluding statement.

SUPPORTING DETAILS: DESCRIPTIONRelying on your five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste), explain the physical characteristics of the people, places, and things in your story.

While a journalist or scientist uses Objective Description to describe these things as logically (that is, objectively) as possible, a personal essayist uses Subjective Description to describe those same things as emotionally (that is, subjectively) as possible.

Avoid using “you” in the body paragraphs.