NarrationCollege Writing Skills College Writing Skills with Readingswith Readings
What is narration?•Narration is writing that tells a story.
What is a narrative paragraph?•Topic sentence –tells readers the point of
the paragraph.▫Supporting ideas – arranged in time order
What Makes a Good Story?•A good story touches readers in some
way.
What Makes a Good Story?•A good story has substance.
What Makes a Good Story?•A good story creates vivid imagery.
What Makes a Good Story?•A good story is appropriate for your
audience.
What Makes a Good Story?•A good story is a story that you love to
keep telling!
Modern Storytelling•Blogs•E-mail•Television•Film•Books•Comics•Newspapers•Magazines
Group Activities•Questions 1 (#s 1-10 on pages 206-208)
in response to the student essays beginning on page 204
•Questions 2 (#s 1-10 on pages 215-217) in response to the professional essay beginning on page 214.
Questions 11. Possible thesis: My church’s “Sensitivity Sunday”
introduced me to a few of the ordeals disabled people confront every day.
2. Thanks to a new building program…3. Pine street had a lot of antique stores…4. “A Night of Violence”: I hope my parents and I 5. a. My palms reddened and my wrist and forearm…
b. the club thudded loudly6. Victor, the biggest of us…7. My view was blocked, the church’s aisles were
narrow, strained my neck8. Coping with the wheelchair; dealing with additional
problems in the wheelchair9. After, suddenly, when, as – transitions of time10.Broad, general statement narrowing to a thesis
Questions 21. A possible way to restate the thesis: On a very simple level, the
theme could be stated: Vingo returned from prison to find that his wife still loved him.
2. Possible topic sentence: The young people were curious about Vingo.3. In the morning they awoke…4. B.5. Possible responses: He tells his story “slowly and painfully and with
great hesitation.” He asks his wife to leave a signal. 6. Doesn’t express any self-pity about being in jail; owns up to his
crime; offers his wife her freedom.7. Place names: Fort Lauderdale, new Jersey, 34th St. Terminal,
Washington. Other Transitions: In the morning, After a while, And soon, Now.
8. But if she didn’t….9. He interviewed one of the young people on the bus.10. He ends the story’s last event as experienced by the young people.
Vingo’s welcome was joyous; the many yellow handkerchiefs leave no doubt about that. Hamill doesn’t tell about the welcome because the young people didn’t see Vingo walk into his house.