Instruction:

1.Read the slides about narrative writing and

write down main ideas in your notebook.
2.Write the date and topic.
3. Use your dictionary and write down new words
in your notebook.
4. Do the homework tasks, type your
compositions on a word document and send
them to my e-mail.
Narrative writing
Purpose
The purpose of a narrative essay is to tell
a story.
 Narrative writing

Narrative tasks may require you to

write a story or part of story; they may
also ask you to write a true account.
The purpose of your writing is to
entertain the reader through the
situation you have imagined and also to
explore that situation and the
characters involved in it.
 Key ideas:
 Planning what you are going to write is crucial; the opening
sentence allows you the opportunity to develop a story in many
different directions. Think about what direction you will take- and
where it will end- before you start to write.
 For example, the sample question below could be the start of a
mystery story. What will you find behind the closed door? Or you
could write about a more everyday experience. Perhaps the corridor
is in a school, the closed door is that of the Head teacher’s study,
and you have been summoned there.
 Wherever you decide to set a story, you must make it convincing to
the reader by including background details. For example, at what
time of the day /or night/ is the story going to start? Who else, apart
from the central character, is going to be involved? How much detail
or description will you give of the characters involved in the story?
For example, in the sample question below how much time will you
spend in describing the corridor, the walk to the door and what is the
be found behind it?
 Are you going to write your story in the first person
or third person? It’s your choice, but a first person
narrative will be centred on the experiences of the
narrator; a third person narrative will allow a wider
viewpoint but may lead to an over-complex
account.
 Make sure that your continuation is consistent with
the tense used in the opening sentence. As an
example, the opening sentence of the sample
question below is written in the past continuous
tense; the rest of the story should continue in the
same tense.
 Sample question

 Write a story that starts with

these words:
“At the end of the corridor, the
closed door was waiting.”
 Sample answers -1
At the end of the corridor, the closed door was waiting. The clock
that sat in the middle of the narrow passageway counted down the
minutes, before the interrogation would begin.
‘Heena Patel!’ came a cold voice from behind the Head master’s
office door. Heena stood up, leaving only Sally in the corridor. She
dragged her guilty feet along the freshly varnished floor of the menacing
corridor. She turned to see Sally hiding behind the long blonde hair that
covered her face. Just for a second, Heena caught a glimpse of her
face, as a grey tear camouflaged itself in the miserable expression that
now enhabited her face.
There were no lights in the corridor and as the afternoon became
evening, a casting shadow gradually made its way the length of the
corridor. Sally sat slouched, terrified that Mr. Shah, the Head master,
would find out their terrible deed.
 Examiner’s comments
 This student has tried hard to create a threatening
atmosphere through both the details and the vocabulary
she/he has chosen. Words such as narrow, interrogation,
menacing and camouflaged all suggest a sense of fear and
the feeling of something wrong which is being kept hidden.
This is reinforced by the fact that it is getting dark and that
evening is casting a shadow over the scene. The student has
chosen the describe the events by using a third person
narrative and has set the story in surroundings with which
she/he is familiar. She/he has introduced two further
characters, sally and the Head master, and has given
sufficient details about them for the reader to have an
impression of what their characters are like and what part
they are going to play in the story. She/ he has created a
convincing scenario and provided a clear direction in which
the story can develop. There are a few spelling mistakes but
they don’t impair understanding.
 Sample answers- 2
At the end of the corridor, the closed door was waiting. I tried to
focus on it, but every time I did my mind was distracted by the misty
atmosphere. We couldn’t turn back now. Not after coming this far. Our
destiny was now within arms reach but something felt strange, not
right.
‘Are you sure about this?’ asked Harry.
‘ No,” I replied, ‘but it must be done anyway.’
I looked at Harry; he seemed nervous and lost. But come to think of it, I
was too.
As we inched closer to the huge, dark door I felt adrenaline
pumping around my body and although nothing felt normal, Harry and
myself kept on walking slowly, step by step.
‘We can turn back now,’ whispered Harry.
I tried to ignore him. I didn’t speak, because I knew if we walked
through the door, our lives would never be the same again.
 Examiner’s comments
 This student has taken a different approach from the other,
but an equally successful one. (S)he is writing in the first
person and is concentrating very much on the state of mind of
the narrator and the one other character in the story. (S)he has
deliberately not revealed full details of the surroundings or
the situation in order to create an atmosphere of suspense.
This has been added to by the use of short, taut sentences
and the effective inclusion of direct speech. The pronoun ‘it’ is
repeatedly used to refer to the deed which is to be done, and
this is another effective way of involving the readers in the
narrative as it implies that we are already part of the events.
The final sentence of the extract prepares the readers to
expect that something significant is about to happen and
allows the writer the opportunity to move on the next stage of
the story.
Organization

 Narrative essays are organized in chronological order.

They tell a story in the order that the events happened.
 Like any other essay, the narrative essay should begin with
an introductory paragraph, which will set up the event
being related.
 This paragraph will be followed by a minimum of three
body paragraphs.
 Always end your essay with a memorable and strong
concluding paragraph.
 Always remember to stick to one point throughout the
essay. Each paragraph should flow smoothly from one to
another.
Viewpoint

 Because narrative essays are sometimes personal in nature, the

writer can use the first-person point of view. All other essays
require the use of the third-person point of view.
 Since narrative essays allow the writer to tell a personal story,
they can be the most enjoyable to write, so have fun with the
assignment!
 Homework: Write about 350 to 450 words on two of the following
questions.
Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and
up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing.

1. Write the story of what happens when someone opens a box

labelled ‘Do Not Open’.
2. Write a story which includes the words “ I tried to stay calm”.
3. Write a story with the title, “It’s Now or Never”.
4. Write a story with the title, “A Quiet Life”.
5. Write a story about an event you dreaded but which turned out
differently from how you expected.
Please send your compositions to my e-mail by February 5th!

amarjargal@newera.edu.mn
Амралтын явцад хугацаандаа над руу хийж явуулсан бүх даалгаврууд
чинь оноонд тооцогдож дүнд нөлөөлөхийг анхаарна уу!