WHAT IS A NARRATIVE?

narrative
noun

dictionary.com

1. a story or account of events, experiences, whether true or fictitious. 2. a book, literary work, etc., containing such a story.

A narrative (or story) is any account of connected events, presented to a reader or listener in a sequence of written or spoken words.

What is a narrative?
It begins by introducing the main characters and setting in an interesting way. Details and dialogue show, rather than tell, about characters, events and settings. It describes events in chronological order. It uses strong, vivid words that capture the characters feelings.

What does a narrative have?

It begins by introducing the main characters and setting in an interesting way. Details and dialogue show, rather than tell, about characters, events and settings. It describes events in chronological order. It uses strong, vivid words that capture the characters feelings.

How would you label the parts of this narrative?

Interesting Introduction
or Bold Beginning

Details Dialogue

Click on each box for answer.

Click HERE to go on.

Lets read a story and look for strong parts of a narrative.

Day 2: Ideas

Where do you start?

 What is my message?

As you brainstorm ideas to write about ask yourself

Do I have enough information?

How will I make it interesting?

Idea Walk

Name your Idea Book

As we walk, write one topic per page at the top.

(Only one general topic per page.)

Click next slide after Idea Walk

Choose one from these sub-topics and try again.

Visiting Make a web of thoughts for a topic to Family Museums Disneyland Test Your Reunion Idea

Beach Trip/ Sea Shells First Airplane Ride

Vacations
Seeing New Places

Topic:

Camping
at Yellowstone

Being with My Family

Day 3: Order

First:

Next:

When writing a narrative, writers often put events in chronological order, or the Last: order in which they happen.

Then:

A&W

I ordered a Coney Dog and medium french fries. The Coney Dog at A&W are hot dogs smothered with a tomato meat sauce in a hot dog bun. My mouth was watering and my stomach was growling when I got to A&Ws. As soon as I went inside, I could smell the greasy but delicious tasting food. My first bite was worth the wait! I could taste the salty, spicy, and tangy hot dog as it slipped down my throat. It was yummy! The fries were long and stringy and smelled greasy. I wish I could eat at A&W every day. I also ate some of my moms fried chicken. The chicken skin was crispy and the meat was tender and juicy. There were lots of people crunching and munching their food and slurping their drinks. Reorder this story

First: We meet Molly Lou Melon and

learn about her grandmothers advice. away from her grandmother.

Next: Molly Lou Melon has to move

Then: At her new school there is a bully.

Lets read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon and look for the chronological order the author created.

Last: Molly Lou Melon uses her

grandmothers advice to make friends and be happy.

Day 4: Word Choice

 Good narratives show (not tell) how the characters feel.

Good writers use strong words to express feelings and ideas.

Click on the text box with descriptive word choice.

A. My brothers and I were very close. B. We three stuck together like the pages in a brand new book.
Click to go on.

Using the picture books in the classroom, find a sentence with . Then, rewrite the sentence with simple words. Read the sentences to your table, simple sentence first.

Day 5: Dialogue

What is a dialogue? Natural, life like words that sound like real speech and show expression.

What does this dialogue tell you about the birthday girl? Did it tell you she is a tom-boy, or show you?

What can you learn about the different characters by their speech?

What dialogue could the two characters with empty speech bubbles say?

Draw two simple stick figures. Add speaking bubbles. Write short dialogue that will SHOW us what your characters are like.
What did you learn about the characters by what they said?

1. Choose an idea. 2. Test your idea.

3. Chronologically order your events.

4. Start writing. Dont forget vivid word choice and dialogue.

Now its time to