Narrative Structure Onc time e upon a Karen

Narrative Structure Onc time e upon … a Karen Silvestri, Instructional Specialist The Learning Center at Robeson Community College

Telling a Story Something that happened to you Something that happened to someone else Something you saw Something you read

Structure Chronological order (the order in which events took place) First person (I, we) Third person (he, she, they, etc. )

Paragraphs Topic Sentence What will your narrative be about? Supporting Details Where did it happen? When did it happen? Who was there? What happened?

Essays Introduction Thesis Statement Supporting Paragraphs Conclusion

A Good Narrative (Story) Be clear Did you provide enough information for the reader to follow your story? Be interesting Use descriptive words to paint a picture of the scenes to your reader. Stay in order Use time order to help your reader follow the story.

Don’t forget! Transitions Add transitions to help your narrative flow well. Formal language Consider your audience; who are you writing the narrative for? Word choice Remove or change slang, clichés, and excessive words. Title Come up with a creative title for your narrative Proofread Use spell check or have someone review your work

Sample Narrative Paragraph Transitions Topic sentence Descriptive language

You try! What story would you like to tell? A story about someone who succeeded A story about how you got your name A story about a time you overcame something A story about someone or something you lost You get the idea…. . y p p ! a H ing it r W