Narrative

"When the writer uses [the narrative] technique, he or she must be sure to include all the conventions of storytelling: plot, character, setting, climax, and ending [, using] details that are carefully selected to explain, support, or embellish the story. All of the details relate to the main point the writer is attempting to make." ("Narrative. EssayInfo)

Use of narration or story telling

Set the scene

Introduce a complication [the conflict]

Consider: Who or what is in conflict?

Consider the conflicts that are identified in literature:

man vs. self

man vs. man

man vs. society

man vs. nature

Evaluate the complication

What happens?

Resolve the complication

the resolution of the conflict

State the point

the main idea: the thesis

(Johnson-Sheehan and Paine 426)

Use of narration to communicate a point

Includes story conventions:
- plot, conflict, character, setting, climax, and conclusion
  - conflict: who or what is "at odds"
  - plot: the sequence of events and their relationship
  - character: who is involved
  - setting: where the story takes place
  - climax: the resolution of the conflict
  - conclusion: the "take away"
- a recreation rather than a generalization
  - the reader should share the experience
    - description
    - imagery (appeal to the senses)
    - location
    - dialogue and thoughts
    - movement
- pacing: what is important to the central idea
  - - choose who and what is important
    - "advances the plot"
      - eliminate anything that does not contribute to the point of the story
Theme vs. Thesis
- May have a theme, an implied central focus
- Tone contributes to theme
- Instructor may require a stated thesis
  - In this composition course a stated thesis is required, but you may not be certain of that thesis until you have drafted the body of the paper and the conclusion
Conventions

· Maintains consistent point of view

· Use of concrete nouns, vivid verbs, sensory details

· All details contribute to theme/thesis

· Uses dialogue to advance story and reveal character

- Who to include as "characters"?

• Include only those main characters who have a real part in the story.

• Identify those characters whose voices will contribute to the story.

- Establish the setting of the essay: time and place

• may be established in the telling of the story

• may be established in the introduction

• may use a general paragraph to set the time and place before actually beginning the action.

• may be established in the first paragraph of the body

• may change but does not have to change; the action may occur in a single time and in a single place.

- Establish the sequence of events in chronological order:

What happened?

• Outline a sequence of events that are essential: list them in order: Choose those that move the story forward (pacing)

• Use chronological order once the action begins.

so that readers can follow the sequence.

• Always make sure that readers know where and when the action is occurring.

• If you must describe two or more actions that happen at the same time as other action, make the relationship clear

• If you use a flashback, use the chronological order once you start the flashback.

- Establish the point of view: Who is telling the story?

• What person is being used? Be consistent.

a first person narrator (a participant)

a third person narrator (an observer)

Note: Do not run too much action together in one paragraph

Paragraphs give readers’ brains a chance to catch up, even if for the millisecond that it takes them

to pass over the paragraph indentation.

Start new paragraph when setting, speaker or action changes.

However, too much paragraphing creates a lack of continuity.

Sources

"Narrative Essay." EssayInfo. 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2011. http://essayinfo.com/essays/narrative_essay.php

Johnson-Sheehan, Richard and Charles Paine. Wrtiting Today. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Also, see "Doing the Narrative Essay." http://www.northland.cc.mn.us/owl/Doing%20the%20Narrative%20Essay.htm