How do we write a narrative?

1. Karen S. Wright

2. Everyone likes a good story. . . .
• We go to movies.
•We read books.
•We listen as others tell their stories.
•We tell our children stories.
•We tell our friends “what happened
last weekend.”

3. S ometimes when we hear or tell a s tory
we as k, “ What was the purpos e? ”
• When we write, as k— What is the
purpos e?
• E ntertain
• Inform
• Ins truc t
• Pers uade

4. A brief narration = can als o be
called, an anecdote.
Sometimes we use anecdotes
• To make a point
•To draw a picture
•To produce an emotional
response
•To emphasize a point

5. Ask yourself:
What is my point?
What is my purpose?
Who is my audience

6. Who How
What When
Where Why

7. S elec t narrative details
c arefully, making s ure all
piec es fit together.
• A void boring detail .
• C arefully choos e which
ques tions to ans wer (who,
what, when, where, why,
and how).

8. • A rrange
details in
c hronologic al
order.
• Perhaps us e
in medias res
or a flas hbac k.

9. Which sentence is more
interesting?
A. “Why Schwartz, what seems to be
troubling you?” I asked with
irony, vigorously working the
salt shaker.
B. In an ironic manner I asked Schwartz what was
troubling him, while I vigorously worked the salt

10. 1.“Most people overestimate their ability
to handle threatening situations,”
the police officer explained.
2.“How will price controls affect foreign trade?”
the senator asked.

11. 1.The police officer explained,
“Most people overestimate
their ability to handle
threatening situations.”
2. The senator asked, “How will
the price controls affect foreign
trade?”

12. 1. Most people,” the police
officer explained, “
overestimate their ability to
handle threatening situations.”
2. Most people overestimate
their ability to handle
threatening situations,” the
police officer explained.
“They mistakenly believe
they can talk themselves
out of danger.

13. 1.Topic Selection:
Pick a story you want to tell for a reason.
• To entertain
• To express feelings
• To relate experience
• To inform
• To persuade

14. 1. The Point: Write out a statement on
the point of the narration.
2. Generate Ideas: Answer who, what,
when, where, why, and how questions.
3. Paint a picture with words.
4. Write
5. Revise
6. Proofread