NARRATIVES

Yr 11 English – Mr. Modra

Top Ten Rules for Narratives

1. Think of a central idea, such as a quest, journey or goal.

2. Describe an interesting setting (time and place) where your story will take place (e.g. your neighbourhood, another world in the future, a time in the place).

3. Create a main character (protagonist) who changes or develops during the story (e.g. they were cowardly, greedy or selfish but become brave, generous or caring).

4. Create another who is the main character’s enemy (antagonist).

5. Plan for at least three things to happen to your protagonist in your story. Include a conflict, a climax and a resolution.

Top Ten Rules for Narratives (cont.)

6. Start with a zinger first line and some action.

7. Include some dialogue or direct speech but not too much (balance with some description of the action).

8. Include a twist if you like.9. Use the show-don’t-tell technique.10. Create some suspense if you can.

Narrative Structure

Orientation (who, what, when, where)

Complication (conflict)

Climax (worst thing happens)

Resolution (crisis is resolved)

Conclusion

Things to avoid…

Using too many characters Writing about things and places you

know nothing about Writing about the weather at the start Write “and then I woke up” at the end!

Some structural considerations Experiment with the structure by using a

flashback or telling the story from two different perspectives

Decide whether you will write the story in the first person or the third person.

Indent paragraphs, missing lines only to indicate a change of time, place or narrator.

Language

Use language to suit the genre, era and social context of the story.

Use a blend of action, description, dialogue and reflection to create variety.

Use evocative to create atmosphere e.g. Still the moon beams in on her and the clock ticks.

Use figurative language in descriptions e.g. The words dance in front of her eyes.

Dialogue should be realistic e.g. “Lights off, Abbey”.

Grammar

Use a variety of short and long sentences.

Using short sentences and fragments can create drama and impact.

Use a variety of sentences beginnings. Use the correct conventions for using

dialogue (see next slide). Use correct paragraphing (indent rather

than miss lines). Choose present or past tense.

Using Dialogue (Direct Speech) Quotation marks are placed at the

beginning and end of each person’s actual words spoken.‘Give me the key,’ pleaded Ned, ‘it’s dark in here!’

Start a new paragraph (indented) for each new speaker.‘Where is Ned?’ asked Luisa.‘I’m not sure,’ lied Hunter, trying to glue pieces of his lucky scarf together.

Using Dialogue (Direct Speech) Cont. When a speech extends for a couple of

paragraphs, quotation marks are placed at the beginning of each paragraph, but only at the end of the last paragraph.

Punctuation marks (full stops, commas, question marks and exclamation marks, etc) go inside the final quotation mark if they relate to the quoted words, but outside if they relate to the whole sentence.Who said, ‘I am a drama queen’?Vesna said, ‘Am I a drama queen?’

Task 1

Look at the following pictures, pick one to write about.

Write a paragraph about the scene, which characters would fit there? Describe the feeling, smell, what you would hear, the taste and feel

Describe in detail what you: See Hear Smell Taste Feel

Task 2

Picture one of the photos and describe the character.

Who is this person? What is their back-story? What are they feeling? What can they hear, see, smell?