Narratives

1. Narratives Everybody loves a good story

2. Alfred had always been a loner. Many students avoided him and felt that he was strange. Perhaps it was the way he wore his shirt or maybe it was the way he walked. They just laughed at him. Alfred did not like being laughed at and he was determined to “fix” things. He felt the cold metal of the blade under his shirt and thought, “Now I’m going to be famous, nobody is ever going laugh at me again…

3. Tell me what you think? • Was this abstract interesting? • Why? • How did the author achieve this?

4. Warm up Activity • In a moment I will hand you a worksheet with just a phrase (a part of a sentence)… • Your task is to take turns to develop a narrative…together… • Once I call out “change” you are to pass your ‘story’ to the next person in line… • I will call out end…then read out what we have…let’s get creative

5. Feedback • What was the most challenging part of this activity? • Coming up with the story idea? • Joining sentences? • Trying to make sense out of the whole story • Learning points: • Need a plan (for the actions to flow) • Need to create tension between characters • Need to write in lively, interesting manner. It is the same with writing narrative compositions!!

6. Planning before Writing • Before putting pen to paper understand: • What is the purpose of your writing? • Provide information? Entertain? • Instruct? Persuade? • Who is your audience? • Senior managers, Children, Young adults??? • Based on your purpose and audience, what should be your style? • Formal, Informal, Irreverent?

7. Now lets look at Narratives… • Narrative text-type is by far the most interesting text-type you will encounter. • It “builds on” existing ideas for stories and on the structure of stories we have always heard. • Not difficult to master! Learn the structure and steps.

8. How to write a successful narrative? (adapted from the Longman’s Complete Guide to Upper Secondary Compositions, Patricia Irvin (ed.) Third Ed, Singapore:2011. p172) • Steps: • Step 1: Follow the topic (read the question) • Step 2: Plan an original story (see structure of narratives) • Step 3: Choose lively expressions (Grammar, sentence structure etc) • Step 4: Check that your writing is sensitive and mature • Don’t make serious issues too “funny” or humorous (unless irony) • Try to use conclusion to reflect on the event…share what you have learnt

9. Step 1: Read the Question…. • Make a note of what the examiners are expecting • E.g. “unexpected visitor” often conveys a negative experience whereas “unexpected visit” may refer to more than one visitor and likely to be a surprise visit…” • “A Dream” and “Dreams” – first topic is narrative (past tense used), second topic is factual – need to provide facts about beliefs, superstitions connected with dreams etc.

10. Step 2: Plan an interesting story! • Follow the structure below: • The Hook – Introduction • Start your writing with a statement about your story that catches the reader’s attention • Orientation – Middle • Where is the action happening • Who are the characters • Hint at what could happen – don’t reveal • Problem or complication – Middle • Something unexpected is going to happen • How the characters react • Some kind of resolution (although not always) – Conclusion • How do the characters react at the end • How have their lives changed?

11. Step 2: SHOW not Tell • Telling means: Simply providing a description about the character and what he or she is doing. • Showing means: Providing more than basic information, it allows for the reader to be present during the event. • Develop the character’s reasons for actions • Develop the sequence of events towards a high point (climax) • Resolution: They all lived happily ever after…?

12. In Class Practice 1: A Simple Story • Examine the story: The Boy who cried Wolf! • Orientation: • Where: The hill country, quiet, still, nothing interesting happening • Who: The shepherd boy and his father, villagers, the wolf (the villain) • Any other details about the orientation: ?

13. Simple Story • Problem or complication: • Father told him to look after sheep…but very boring…no excitement. Comes up with a plan to trick villagers to come up the mountain to ‘rescue’ him. Loves to see the reaction • Tries two times…he is warned…but can’t resist the temptation • Problem: The wolf really comes…calls for help but villagers come…too late. All sheep are killed.

14. Simple Story • Resolution (or closure): • Father is very angry and admonishes shepherd boy • Punishment – needs to look after the sheep of the other villagers for the rest of the season. • Can you think of another conclusion?

15. In-Class Practice 2:A Narrative • Let’s try to identify the parts of the narratives: • Read the sample story: “The Climb” • Jot down the parts of the story that follow the structure of the narrative.

16. Step 3: Choose lively expressions • Choose appropriate Grammar : • Check Tenses – past tense • Use of adverbs, adverbial clauses etc to enhance action. (e.g. describe actions in detail) • Involves the reader’s senses for descriptive power. • Devices Used: • Similes • Metaphors • Personification -

17. Step 4: Are you sensitive enough? • Check whether you are handling the issues and action of the essay properly: • Are you making something too funny? (death, injury, etc) • Are you making the action to serious? • Look at what is the purpose and audience that is required of your essay • Children’s narrative? • General audiences

18. Good Narratives • Get the reader interested in what you are reading. • Help the reader “enter” into the world of the character. • Do not allow poor grammar to spoil the story. In other words…they follow the rules of grammar.

19. Personal Recount or Narrative?

20. Key Points • What must you identify before writing? • P________ and A______ • What are the 4 steps to Narrative writing: • Step 1: Read the __________ • Step 2: Plan an interesting story (what is the structure) • Step 3: Choose _____________ • Step 4: Are you __________enough? • Does your tone match with the question expectation?