Tales of Responsibility: Taking Charge When Needed

1. Narrative paragraphs Dr. Toumi

2. A narrative paragraph  tells a story  gives background information in the opening sentence(s)  has a beginning, a middle, and an end  entertains and informs  can be fiction (made up) or nonfiction (the retelling of an incident that actually happened).  develops the topic of the paragraph.

3. The story/events in narrative paragraph should be arranged chronologically (time order), that is in the order in which they have happened.

4. There must be a point to every story; otherwise, no one will be interested in reading it. Therefore, every narrative paragraph you write must have a clear point or purpose. That purpose should always be to develop the topic and controlling idea of the paragraph. This might seem like an obvious and easy point to follow in a paragraph, but too many writers lose sight of it. The best way to get to the point of the story is to examine the topic sentence and see what makes it interesting to the reader. That will be the point of the story.

5. Example  When my mother had hip surgery, I assumed responsibility for running the household.  Subject: Running the household  Controlling idea: Assuming responsibility for running the household  Point of the story: Acting responsibly in a time of need

6.  In the following topic sentences, underline the subject once, the controlling idea twice, and in your own words, summarize what you think the point of the story is in the space provided. 1. I studied day and night for two weeks and passed all my exams with A 2. I voted for the challenger even though he was behind in all the polls. 3. Although my first camping trip was not at all what I expected, I eventually had a good time. 4. I relied on my parents’ advice when I bought my first car. 5. I read three fashion magazines before I went shopping for winter clothing.

7.  The easiest way to develop a subject and maintain focus is to use the reporter’s six questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Who Who are the people involved? Who is affected? Who is interested in this topic or event? What What story are you telling? What are you describing? What is most significant about your topic?

8. Where Where did the event occur? When When did the event happen? Why Why is your topic important? Why did the event happen? Why does the reader need to know about this topic? How How did the event happen? How does the event impact you or others? How do you feel about your topic ?

9. When my mother had hip surgery, I assumed responsibility for running the household. First, I had to take care of a stack of bills for the month. After that, I planned a menu for the week, and I went to the supermarket to buy food. In addition to cooking daily meals, I prepared some meals in advance; afterward, I placed them in the freezer. I tried to clean part of the house each day, so I wouldn’t have an overwhelming job on the weekend. Besides all of these chores, I had to take care of my younger sister and brother. Although I was very nervous at the thought of shouldering all these responsibilities, I was up to the challenge.

10. In this paragraph, the topic is developed using those activities that support the what focus question: paying bills, food shopping, cooking, cleaning, and babysitting. The list of chores is linked by the use of words and phrases that order the events: “first,” “after that,” and “in addition.” Instead of a choppy list, the paragraph reads smoothly and rhythmically

11. When my mother had hip surgery, I assumed responsibility for running the household. The total time period for my running the house was four weeks. First, my mother had to stay in the hospital for an entire week; afterward, she came home, but she had to stay in bed for another week. Finally, when she could get out of bed, I had to be at her side to help her on short exercise walks. This lasted for two more weeks. All the while, I still had to do all the household chores by myself. After the four weeks had passed, my mother made me a special dinner, and she thanked me for being so mature in running the house. It was a proud day for both of us.

12. Notice that this paragraph uses “time” words and phrases to facilitate the development supporting the when focus question: “when,” “time period,” “four weeks,” “entire week,” “afterward,” “another week,” “two more weeks,” “all the while,” and “four weeks had passed.” Also, notice the order of events is chronologically sound: The mother is in the hospital, then comes home, convalesces at home in bed, and finally, gets out of bed to exercise.

13. When my mother had hip surgery, I assumed responsibility for running the household. I knew that I could not take care of everything, so I enlisted some help. My brother and sister were very young, so my Aunt Jessie came every other evening to help babysit; consequently, I could do laundry and prepare some meals for the following week. My neighbor and best friend, Celeste, also helped with food shopping and yard work. After my mother came home from the hospital, there was even more to do. So every Saturday, I paid a maid service to come in and clean the house. When my mother finally was able to get up and around, we went for a walk, and she had tears in her eyes when she told me how proud she was of how I had handled all the responsibilities.

14. This paragraph develops the focus question how by describing how the chores were completed (the writer enlisted friends and relatives to help out): Aunt Jessie (babysitting), friend and neighbor Celeste (food shopping and yard work), and a maid service (housecleaning). Notice that this focus also could satisfy the who question. Often, one focus helps in developing ideas that are relevant to another focus. The important aspect to remember is that each paragraph develops the same topic, yet uses information that places emphasis on a different aspect of the situation.

15. • A good narrative paragraph normally requires three necessary components: o background information, o the story/event (a summary), o and the conclusion

16.  1. Background information The background information sets the scene for the audience. It includes the following pieces of information: A topic sentence, What story/event is about, Who it is about, When it happens, Where it happens, Where is the source of the narration

17. The Story / Event The story or event happens at 3 different stages: the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story or event. • The beginning of the story – the beginning tells what happens first in the story. It can be the problem which makes the story or event happen. • The middle of the story – the middle tells the main events or important activities of the story/event. • The end of the story – the end tells the final events, i.e. the result or what brings the end of the story/event.

18. 3. The Conclusion It is a concluding sentence. The writer can either • restate the topic sentence, • give a concluding remark, • make a prediction about the story, • or make a suggestion.  Commonly Used Transitional Expressions in Narration After first soon afterward last(ly) Then as later third as soon as meanwhile upon before next when During now while finally second

19. (1) Tum Teav is an interesting story. (2) The story is a real love tragedy happened in the 16th century in presently Kampong Cham province. (3) It is widely taught in high school. (4) The story begins when Tum and Teav fall in love at their first sight. (5) Their love is so deep that they have abused the traditional barriers– it is strongly prohibited in Khmer culture. (6) Not long after, Teav’s mum arranges a marriage with rich guy for Teav, but fails. (7) Then, Teav is selected as a concubine and sent to the capital. (8) The king admires her so much, but with mercy he offers Tum and Teav a wedding. (9) As dissatisfaction grows, Teav’s mum rearranges the marriage with the previous guy. (10) Teav is deceived and comes back home. (11) With worry, Tum follows her. (12) Tum arrival at Teav’s wedding marks end of the story. (13) Tum is caught and executed.

20. (14) Teav, with love for her husband, commits suicide. (15) The couple death outrages the king that he orders execution for those involved in the tragedy. (16) The story, I believe, is so appealing.

21. Sample Explanation • The topic sentence is sentence (1). It tells the purpose, that's what the writer will write about. • The background information includes sentences (2) and (3). Sentence (2) tells what the story is about, and when and where it happens. Sentence (3) tells the source of the story. • The story comprises of sentence (4) to (15). – Sentence (4) and (5) tell the beginning of the story. – Sentence (6)-(11), which is middle of the story, tell the main events happen in the story.

22. Sample Explanation • Sentence (12)-(15) tells the end of the story. • Sentence (16) is the concluding sentence. It restates the topic sentence.

23. My Shopping Norte’s Nightmare (1) I’ll never forget the first time I got lost in La Paz City. (2) I was traveling with my parents during summer vacation. (3) We were in a department store, and I was so excited to see such a huge place. (4) Suddenly, I turned around to ask my mom something, but she was gone! (5) I begun crying and screaming at the top of my lungs. (6) A salesclerk came up to me and dad came running toward me and ask if I was okay. (7) She got on the public address (P.A.) system and notified the customers that a little boy with blue jeans and a red cap was lost. (8) Two minutes later my mom and dad came running toward me. (9) We all cried and hugged each other. (10) I’ll never forget that day as long as I live

24. One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” The boy replied, “Very good, Dad!” The father continued, “Did you see how poor people can be?” The boy just said, “Yeah!” The father asked again, “And what did you learn?” The boy answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars; our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon. When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless. The son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!”

25. Thank you