Curriculum Planning

and Development Division

Narrative-Descriptive

Writing CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

COMPONENT (CAC) of SEA

You would remember that

expository writing: • Informs, explains, clarifies, defines or

instructs.

• Uses factual language.

• Uses a formal tone.

• Has a logical sequence.

• Tells a story making the reader feel that he or she is in it.

• Uses figurative language

• Has a storyline (plot)

• May include informal conversations.

Narrative-Descriptive writing has a different

purpose, and therefore the structure and

language are different.

Narrative-Descriptive writing

involves:

•

Adjectives

Similes

Metaphors

• interesting,

character in

poem, story,

calypso,

rap, setting

or scene…

Telling a story…

As I walked past Mr Tam’s

yard, his julie mango tree

caught my eye. My mouth

watered as I thought of those

delicious, succulent mangoes

and in a flash, I was jumping

the fence and…

…including

details that

appeal to the

reader’s senses.

Narrative-descriptive pieces can

come in different forms:

Poems

Songs Raps

Calypsoes

Short

stories

But they all tell a story…

When writing a narrative-descriptive

piece, students will need to remember:

Elements of a narrative:

• Characters (People)

• Setting (Place and Time)

• Plot: B-M-E

• Conflict (Problem)

• Theme (A Central Idea)

Descriptive

details

(which may

include):

• Adjectives

• Similes

• Metaphors

(As far as

possible,

appealing to the

senses).

Narrative-Descriptive Writing

Across the Curriculum:

Find the stories within the subject areas:

Students will have opportunities to use the

knowledge they gain in these subjects areas and

create narrative-descriptive pieces based on a

variety of writing tasks:

Use Description to Enhance

Elements of Narrative

see hear touch

taste smell

Let’s Write a Narrative-Descriptive

Piece!

• Please form yourselves into groups of 6

• Please retrieve the writing task slip from

your folder.

• Assign the role of writer, editor, presenter,

time keeper

Remember that writing is a

PROCESS

• Pre-writing (gathering ideas)

• Writing a rough draft

• Revising (making structural changes)

• Editing (fine tuning)

• Publishing (showing off your work)

The Task 1

As I stared at the picture I created

yesterday, I realized I was slowly being

pulled into it. Write a story beginning with

this sentence.

Be sure to include details about what

happened when you were drawn into the

picture for example:

• The people you met.

• The places you saw.

Your piece should be approximately 200

words.

Task 2

Trandu used to be a wonderful person and a

responsible teenager. Now he is a vagrant living

on the streets in my neighbourhood. Write his

story.

Be sure to include descriptive details about:

• His appearance

• Where he now lives

• Your feelings about his condition

Created by Juliet Jones & Gillian

Pilgrim, Curriculum Officers,

English, April, 2012

Pre-Writing Activity: The Narrative

Ask yourself

What

person/persons will

you meet?

What obstacle will

you face? How will your story

end?

What part(s) of the

picture will you

explore?

This word bank may help…what would

you add?

Sig

ht

• sparkling

• turquoise

• Shimmering

• Huge waves

• Clear

• White

• Foamy

• Frothy

So

un

d

• crashing

• squawking

• Rustling

• Splashing

• Whistling

• Chirping

To

uch

• Icy

• Wet, sticky sand

• Cold breeze

The Picture…

Pre-Writing Activity: What descriptive details would you use?

Begin to write a rough draft of

your story…

• Pick your best ideas from

the pre-writing stage.

• Try to let them flow.

• You have 15 minutes

It’s time to revise your draft!

Read it and try to make improvements:

• Use the checklist in your folder to guide

you.

• You have 10 minutes

Don’t forget to edit!

Check the fine details:

• Spelling

• Grammar

• Word usage

• Sentence structure

(Use the rubric to guide you.)

You’re almost done…

Write your final draft

• One group’s piece will be randomly chosen to be

typed and projected.

Publishing your work!

• This step in the process

is very important.

• Show off your

masterpiece!

• Print it and hang it up.

• Give it to someone to

read.

Thank you for your wonderful narratives!