Writer's Workshop: Narrative Writing
Writer's Workshop: Narrative Writing
The focus of this workshop is NARRATIVE WRITING.
A narrative is simply a narrated account; a story. It can be a piece of something (like a moment in time) or a full story with a developed plot.
You choose what to write…
Should be a fictional narrative BUT can contain elements of truth if you wish (based on historical events or places, etc.)
May be told from first or third person (limited or omniscient) point of view.
May be told from present or past tense.
Suggestion—for such a short piece, try to narrate a scene/story taking less than ten minutes!
Your work will contain the following elements:
✓ A specific, well researched setting, essential to the plot. Must contain at least one exposition paragraph that describes the setting using sensory details (appeal to a minimum of three senses).
✓ Must follow typical narrative pattern (exposition, inciting force, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) At least three complications, attempts, etc. (rising actions) which lead to the climax of your story.
✓ Must include at least one dynamic character with at least one strength and one weakness (the reader should get a feel for who the character is, what kind of person he/she is, etc.)
✓ Dialogue between two people.
✓ Sensory detail and active voice should be present. Your job, as a writer, is to SHOW, not TELL.
✓ Must be at least 300 words in length (no more than 750, please)
✓ Must be divided into paragraphs (whenever time, place, perspective, or speaker shifts)
For this workshop, we will follow the writing process and look at the importance of each step. We will prewrite to both think and organize those thoughts, draft, revise and produce a second draft, and, finally, edit. Both Mrs. Bean and your classmates will help with this process until you produce a
FINAL DRAFT which is DUE DECEMBER 20.
Tentative Schedule is as follows**:
|Date |Activity/Goal |Homework |
|Thursday, November 21 |On-demand sample for formative assessment | |
|Friday, November 22 (short classes) |Brainstorming for your plot |Graphic organizer(s) |
|Monday, November 25 |Getting started |Begin outline |
|Tuesday, December 3 |Set the stage/work on outline/conference on|Graphic organizer (differentiated) |
| |formative | |
|Thursday, December 5 |Outline; begin draft once approved |Outline; must conference prior to drafting |
|Friday, December 6 |Draft | |
|Monday, December 9 |Conference on draft | |
|Tuesday, December 10 |Conference on draft | |
|Wednesday, December 11 |Character | |
|Thursday, December 12 |Add/revise dialogue | |
|Friday, December, 13 |Show, Not Tell |TBD |
|Monday, December 16 |Show, Not Tell revision |TBD |
|Tuesday, December 17 |Mechanics/How to Use Commas | |
|Wednesday, December 18 |On Demand Narrative |TBD |
|Thursday, December 19 |Revise (lab 121) |TBD |
|Friday, December 20 |Final changes (lab 121) |Paper Due |
** During this time, choice journal writing will be suspended in favor of working on this piece.
This piece should display your very best writing ability.
✓ Ideas should be well developed. Details should be added, and the story should not feel rushed. The reader should not feel him or herself asking, what’s the point?
✓ The piece should be well organized with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Paragraph divisions should be used to clarify shifts for the reader whenever time, place, perspective, or speaker changes.
✓ Word choice should be mature, precise, and purposeful. Words chosen should aid in the description and mood.
✓ Sentence structure should be varied and fluent. Sentences should not begin with the same words and should be different lengths rather than choppy and repetitive. There should be no run-ons or fragments.
✓ Conventions should not distract the reader. Capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling should be checked and double-checked carefully after typing. Assistive devices such as spell check should be used carefully, and the author should read the piece aloud four or five times to find careless mistakes.
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