Effective NarrationTaken from Seeing the Pattern

Kathleen T. McWhorter

Narratives Make a Point Event or series

of events portrayed

Writer’s thinking changes› About self› About world

Epiphany shown

Point (your thesis) › directly stated › implied

Narratives Present a Conflict

Reveals a struggle, question, or problem

Works toward its resolution

Can be internal or external

Narratives Create Tension

Tension suspense created as the story unfolds› how will the

conflict be resolved?

Climax the point just before (or as) the conflict is resolved

Freytag’s Plot Triangle

Narratives Sequence Events

Chronological order Flashback returns to

events that took place in the past

Flashforward jumps ahead in time

Foreshadowing hints at events that will happen in the future

Narratives Incorporate Dialogue Reveals

character Builds tension Emphasizes

conflict

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Eva said to her grandmother, “The stories you tell of your childhood in Mexico are very interesting. I wish I could go there with you.”

Eva told her grandmother, “I love your stories about when you were a kid in Mexico. Do you think you could take me there someday?”

Narratives Are Told from a Point of View 1st I, my, me

› Personal› Direct to

Audience› Feelings and

Commentary

› USE THIS!!!

3rd he, she, his, her, him her› Distance› Objective› Insights not

available to protagonist

› Not Personal.

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Graphic Organizer for Narrative Essays